Date: 2015-11-07
From: Pass Mountain Hut

To: Rock Spring Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: light rain

I woke up at 5 a.m. to light rain. So I rolled over and went back to sleep for another hour.The rain stopped. I packed and continued hiking south. Graham decided to head north to continue looking for his tent poles.Shortly after I hit the trail the wind picked up, the temperature started to drop, and the fog began to roll in. As I was climbing up the mountain to Mary's rock it began to rain.That portion of the AT is easily accessed from parking and picnic areas along Skyline Drive. Despite the weather there were lots of people out day hiking. I was amazed.I was also soaked to the bone and getting chilled. I came across a day use shelter, so I ducked in to get out of the blowing rain. My plan was to change out of my hiking pants and into my rain gear. However, every time I was just about to change my pants someone showed up at the shelter. I just had to wait and be patient. Eventually I got my clothes changed.I decided to call the Skyland Lodge, which was just a few miles further down the trail, to see if I could get a room and get out of the cold rain for the night. It was the end of fall foliage and Saturday night. Of course, they were full. So I hiked on in the rain. I passed several overlooks with views, but there was no point in stopping to look, I was hiking in a fog bank. Even with rain gear I was soaking wet. If I stopped, I immediately started getting chilled. If I hiked, I stayed warm. There was no stopping to eat, drink, or pee, and certainly not to look at a fog bank.When I was at the side trail to Skyland Lodge I called again to see if they had any cancellations. I was told they would not know about any cancellations until 6 p.m. Under the circumstances I decided I needed to keep hiking to the next shelter/hut.By late afternoon the rain finally stopped. I reached the shelter/hut just before dark, right behind a northbound couple out on the trail for just one night.Someone left a 6 pack of 16 oz cans of beer in the bear box - certainly NOT a thru hiker. Thru hikers drink beer. But no thru hiker would carry a heavy 6 pack of 16 oz cans of beer that far and then not drink them.In the valley below I could see the lights of a small town. In addition to the shelter/hut, just a little ways down the mountain, towards the spring, is a rustic cabin rented out by the PATC. The 3 guys staying in the cabin had a great view of the lights in the valley.I put my tent up in the shelter, changed into dry clothes, ate a quick snack, put my bear bag in the bear box, and jumped into my sleeping bag to warm up. I was exhausted and freezing.The couple pitched their tent behind the shelter in a posted revegetation area (which means stay out of this area). They had no backcountry permit - despite signs posted throughout Shenandoah N.P., they claimed they had absolutely no idea they needed one. They could not find the water source, despite the trail leading to it and the sign marked SPRING. For dinner they brought 1 dehydrated Mountain House meal (lasagna) for the 2 of them - they believed the 2.5 servings printed on the package. They had no idea what the bear box was for (I explained it to them). And they did not bring enough warm clothes for both of them. They also did not know the difference between a dry bag and a ziplock freezer bag. They claimed they had prior camping experience - very limited car camping experience. This was their first backpacking trip. This was also the first time they ever set up their new tent (which they had to do in the dark), and they never before used their new water filter.They might have been as dumb as a box of rocks, but at least they were quiet. I went to bed early and slept well.The AT is calling. I am SO glad the weekend is almost over.