Date: 2010-05-11
From: Punchbowl Shelter

To: US 60 Buena Vista VA
Miles today: 11.3

¢Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.¢               - Roger MillerLittle Ottie¢s ghost did not disturb me during the night. I slept well and woke early. The day was quite gray, but it wasn¢t raining. Yet. It certainly looked like it would be soon. Even though I was up first, Gerda got packed up and left before I was ready to go. I still hadn¢t seen anything of the third hiker other than a sleeping-bag-encased body that turned a little from time to time.I had told Gerda of my plan to stay with Lois and Earl and maybe do some slackpacking. She had seemed interested in the possibility and had said she would see. I wondered if, with my late start, if I would see her on up the way.Even though the day was gray, I was in good spirits and felt fine except for my right ankle which was more tender than usual. Will I now have a warning whenever the weather is about to change? I crossed the Blue Ridge Parkway and dropped off my accumulated trash in the handy receptacle. (Trash disposal is always an issue for hikers. After a few days that foil pack that used to hold tuna gets to smell almost as bad as the hiker!)Shortly after I started the next climb I started to sweat, so I stopped to peel off my T-shirt, leaving my sports bra. I always feel rather underdressed that way, but it sure is a lot cooler and more comfortable. The sky looked more and more threatening, and it wasn¢t too long before the rain started.The first sprinkling felt refreshing and welcome. But before long it started to feel cold. My choices seemed to be to stop and put the T-shirt back on or to hike on dressed as I was. If I put the shirt back on it wouldn¢t be long before it, too, would be soaked. I would be warmer as I hiked, but when I stopped I wouldn¢t have the dry shirt to put on. So I picked up my pace hoping to stay warm that way. It was a cold rain and the wind was blowing so I was pushing hard to keep my temp up.I passed a rather bedraggled, southbound group of young men, all shrouded in dark green ponchos. I was soaked to the skin by this time and didn¢t want to be drawn into a conversation during which I would chill down completely. So I called out a hearty greeting as I passed through their ranks and nodded to any of the guys that made eye contact with me. There were very few of those, and it was my impression that most of them were there under duress and were disheartened by the rein. I splashed on up the trail and left them behind.The trail followed the curve of Pedlar Lake but well above it. Eventually it followed along Brown¢s Creek and through a long-abandoned area that had been settled by former slaves. The day had been gloomy when I was here a few years ago, and now there was a steady drizzle. Someday I¢d like to see this peaceful, pretty area in the sunshine.Gerda was at Brown¢s Creek Shelter when I got there. She was having a hot lunch. What a great idea! Once I reached the dry interior of the shelter I immediately pulled out dry clothes and put them on. I topped it all off with my warm hat, and then started heating water so I could follow gGerda¢s example of eating a hot lunch to warm up.While we ate we discussed options for the day. Stay out of the rain here at the shelter? It was awfully early for that, but it was a pleasant location. Go on and stay at Cow Camp, where the water was well off the trail? Have an exceptionally long day to Seeley Woodridge Shelter? We¢d still need to get water at Cow Camp, and there was a stiff climb to get over Cold Mountain. Camp out in the rain somewhere. A possibility, but not an especially attractive one. Any other options? Wait! Lois at Dutch Haus B&B had said oI could call from US 60, just a ways up the trail. She had assured me that someone would be able to shuttle from and to the Trail. Slackpacking the next stretch would be an option. Not one to turn down a chance to slackpack, I suggested to Gerda that we could call ¢ if we could get a signal out.We sloshed along until we crossed US 60. Once there I checked my phone. No bars. How disappointing! Ah, but I remembered what Lois had told me when I had called before. I climbed up onto the eastern-most picnic table at the rest area, stood in the center, wondering if holding up my trekking pole would help any. I checked the phone again. Bars! Yes!Lois answered the call and said that Earl would be along and pick us up in about 20 minutes. The rain had abated to a light sprinkle for the time being, and the wind had died, so the wait was not uncomfortable. Even so, Earl was a welcome sight when he arrived. We piled our packs in the back and climbed in where it was nice and warm. Soon we were in at the Dutch Haus, freshly showered and wrapped in fluffy bathrobes while out wet and smelly clothes were laundered. Decadence.Sipping tea next to the stove in the sunroom, reading, and chatting with others filled the balance of the afternoon. The dinner was delicious and very satisfying. I played a game of chess with another hiker. Unfortunately, as I write this now, more than a month later, I can¢t remember with whom, but I do remember that I won. Then it was time for bed.