Date: 2007-06-27
From: Mohican Outdoor Center 

To: Brink Road Shelter 
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: haze

I should have stayed in bed today. It was still warm when I woke up. I packed up and headed down to the outdoor center to have some coffee.        The trail meanders along the edge of a ridge, offering good views. It¢s bloody hot and the humidity is just crazy. Our first break is at a fire tower.        We chat with two forest fire employees for a bit. The trail was highly enjoyable. I don¢t know where things went wrong, but if it wasn¢t waking up, it was here.       We stop for lunch at a water spigot. The Goats, Focus, Big Gulp, Boogie, Beach Bum, and about 15 YMCA kids. Thunder began to rumble and we had lunch. I mean its friggen¢ 12:30 for crying out loud.      We start hiking only because the group of YMCA kids did. They are headed to a lake to swim, so it can¢t possibly be dangerous. We hike up on to the rocks, and still hear the kids in the lake. Thunder is booming around us, and it¢s starting to rain. We wait at groups of trees, then scurry across the rocks, still using the principle lightning can¢t hit a moving target. As I explained in 2005, we realize that the odds of being hit are slim, but they have to increase when you add metal poles and put us on top of a rocky mountains. I¢m thinking right between a golfer and that unlucky ranger that was hit 17 times.      Anyway, Blazer falls as he is going across the rocks. It looks as though he just fell over. I ask if he¢s alright, but he just says no. I patiently wait, half expecting him to play a game of charades until I guess. Turns out he slipped on a wet rock and hit his knee. He seems to be able to move, which is good as the storm seems closer.       We were pretty sure we would head down soon. We had been on a semi-open summit of mostly rock out croppings, leaving us the highest object around. Just then a bolt of lightning, accompanied by thunder, came alarming close. I turned around and we both said ¢DOWN¢! We back tracked about 50 feet, then went down off the trail a 100 yards, and dropped our packs. Blazer dug for his poncho, I just to the lowest part with trees and sat down.       The storm was strong and violent. The only kind they have out here. It down poured so hard, I couldn¢t keep my eyes open. When the storm was right above us, the lightning zapped where it pleased. I don¢t think I really can write down what it feels like to be powerless and basically at the mercy of Mother Nature. I mean you really have to be sitting in the middle of the woods shivering, soaking wet, and praying lightning doesn¢t hit that spot.      Backyard Boogie and Beach Bum at the same time ran off Rattlesnake Mountain for cover. Boogie falling and hurting his knee. The Goats and Focus were behind us. In the end, we all lived to see another day. My camera on the other hand doesn¢t look like it will. It was in a couple of inches of water, despite being in a Ziploc. I didn¢t seal it correctly by the looks of it.       We limp the next 3 miles into camp. We also passed a strange gentleman in the middle of the woods carrying many plastic grocery bags. He had that street person quality about him and wasn¢t much of a talker. I was just happy to keep moving.      There were 10 tents when all was said and done in front of Brink Shelter. Oddly the shelter was empty with horror stories of hikers being chased by rabid skunks. The air did have a touch of skunk lingering.      I went down to the spring to filter some water. My filter handle snapped off. This day is not improving. My foot almost has a blister, lightning tried to kill me, my camera broke, and now my filter. By the time I crawl back up to my tent, it is thundering again. I look around and the trees are blowing everywhere. So I crawl into the safety of my thing orange fabric, and go to sleep.-Note: Beach Bum was asked if it would rain again, to which he said no.      Shortly later he was seen running to his tent.