Date: 2006-05-07
From: Lost Mtn. Shelter

To: VA 600/Elk Garden-then on to Bristol, VA
Miles today: 8.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It started raining early this morning, so I had a wet tent to pack up. My alarm went off at 06:00. I like to get an early start but I decided to sleep in hoping the rain would stop. It eventually slowed and stopped so I got up, packed up, had breakfast and headed on. Only 12 miles to the Thomas Knob Shelter but first a climb up over White Top Mtn. with an elevation of 5400 feet (I was at 3100 ft. last night). It was a little cool out so I wore my long sleeve T-shirt and pulled on my winter hat and gloves. Glad I hadn't sent them home yet, though I have thought about it. I haven't needed anything warmer since the Smokies. Well, the rain pretty much kept up as a slow steady rain, and the temps were in the 50's and with a 3 mile climb of 2000 ft. I knew I wouldn't stay warm. I had my precip rain jacket on which surprisingly is a little better since I washed it. I eventually zipped the legs of my pants off as wet pants are just plain nasty and hiked on in comfort. Then I got to the top of White Top Mtn. There are a series of 3 balds to go over. The wind was whipping across the bald so fiercely I had real trouble staying on the trail. The temp had dropped to 34 degrees and the rain was stinging needles. I was so cold, my legs were beet red and my hands numb. After the balds the trail went back down a bit into woods and I knew I only had 4 more miles to go but I was starting to shiver. My pants were literally soaked through. My shirt-you get the picture so, I did the smart thing, found a place to set up my tent (which was wet, but I managed to make one side dry and the other wet) and stripped out of my wet clothes. I put on my long johns and rain pants (don't ask why I wasn't wearing them earlier-they are too hot to hike in and I know I can put them on at times like this). Then I crawled into my sleeping bag and it took almost 2 hours for me to stop shivering, I eventually fell asleep for a short nap. When I woke up at 2pm I had to decide if I was going to stay put for the night or pack up and hike to the road and try to hitch into town or hike on 4 miles to the next shelter. I knew I was close to the road-I could hear cars-only I didn't know how close. (Turns out only 1/4 mile-I should have just come to the road instead of setting up my tent.) So, I packed up-this time I just sort of threw everything into my pack with the wet tent on top so it was very off balance. And yes, I put on soaking (dripping) wet socks and sopping wet boots and hiked on. I warmed up very quickly-it's amazing how the feet warm up and don't mind the wet. I got to the road and decided to go on to the shelter. One mile later I ran into Lucky Dine(?) and her brother (?) Sue heading SOBO. They said they had gone to the shelter and it was freezing cold, all their stuff was wet so they had called for a shuttle back into Damascus. It didn't take but a split second to decide to join them so, back I went one mile to the road. I called my friend Linda and she met me back in Damascus. So, here I sit again in her home with a hot cup of tea. My clothes are being washed and dried (again). The weather is supposed to be just as bad tomorrow with snow and ice on Mt. Rogers. So, I will take a zero here in Bristol and head out again on Tuesday.