Date: 2005-04-02
From: Sassafrass Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: snow

Well, well, well! Guess what we woke to this morning. Yep, the white stuff, snow. About an inch or so and still falling. Not a lot but it looked like a lot more was coming. This storm was about twelve hours later than last years snow. I can't believe it. Time warp one year and one day! The decision not to push on yesterday was a good one. Our goal today was to reach Cable Bap Shelter about 15 miles up the trail. We hit the trail around eight. The snow was starting to come down a little heavier and the wind was picking up. It wasn't bad hiking because you generate a lot of body heat while walking. It's when you stop for a bit that you start to feel it. We stopped for a bit at one of the gaps and then I got cold. We quickly got going again when Break says,"We've only done about 3.5 miles so far".I said, "Really"? in an incredulous voice."Yep". She said.I replied, "Geez, I feel like I have been out here all day"! Ww continued on and at Stecoah Gap we ran into TreeTrunks. He was debating hitching into town but Break and I were on a roll. We were going the next 2.4 miles to Brown Fork Shelter, eat lunch there and press on. Now this is where this story starts to get real interesting. The climb out of Stecoah is a beast! Steep and it seems to never end. The snow, which has really started to accumulate by now and the wind didn't help matters. Shortly after we headed up the hill we ran into Sox and KT coming down, along with another hiker. The other hiker, who was southbound, said that Brown Fork was full and the wind was gusting around 40 MPH up there. The three of them were heading back down to hitch into town. Break and I looked at each other and we decided to give it a shot. We both felt fine and neither of us wanted to go into town. Off we went. As I have said before, Break can move uphill while I crawl along. The snow was deep with drifts up to a foot and a half. I soon lost sight of Break for two reasons. First she had pulled ahead and second I had taken my glases off because I couldn't see out of them anyway with the weather. I followed her footsteps, head down and hood shielding the sides of my face like horse blinders. Keep that last statement in mind because it plays a big part in what is aout to happen. I kept slogging along wondering when this hill was going to end. I finally reached the top and started down, still following what I thought were Break's footsteps. I came across a blue blaze and thought it was to the shelter so I turned into it but all it did was lead to a water supply. I was beginning to wonder where Break was because we are usually no more than ten minutes in front or back of one aother. I got back on the main trail and kept going still following what I thought were Break's footprints. (By now my glasses were back on.) I kept going and going, wondering where that shelter was. Several things were going on in my head by this time:1) Where was Break?2) Had I passed the shelter?3) Do I turn back or keep going? It was still snowing and blowing a lot but as long as I was moving things were fine. After about an hour or so I still had not seen the shelter or Break. Was she still ahead? Did she miss a turn on the trail? or, better yet, had I missed the turn? I was leaning toward the latter. So, I turned around and backtracked. Sure enough, near the top of the steep up that I started down an hour and a half ago was a large sign pointing toward the shelter. I had gone 2 miles north and 2 miles back for a total of 4 miles exta! I got to the shelter and there was Break along with Turbo Joe, Chuck, Jake, and Trip. The adrenaline had topped and now I was getting cold. I quickly changed and they gave me coffee and food and after awhile the shivers stopped.While this was happening stories were exchanged about what happened. Everything turned out fine and no one was in any danger. I did say to Break, "We need to make some rules on getting lost". She looks at me and says, "And rule number one is to keep your glasses on". I darn busted a gut on that one. So, our 15 mile day turned into a 9 mile day with a whole lot of snow and wind. Still loving every minute of it.