Date: 2018-11-24
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Little Laurel Shelter, NC
Miles today: 22.8

About 8:30 last night a hiker came into the shelter. His name was Fluffy. He actually zoomed by me south of Hampton last Sunday. We talked some in the dark. I stayed in my tent. About 9 p.m. it started to rain. It rained all night. I was so glad I pitched my tent in the shelter. About 4:30 a.m. I checked the radar. Looked like the rain would stop in an hour or so. I tried to nap but then I needed to go to the privy. I got my rain gear on and headlamp. When I looked outside it was neither wet nor white. Instead all was iced. I headed to the privy in the rain and sleet. It was five minutes away. The privy sat high. It had a roof but the sides were only waist high to someone sitting on the throne. This may be so one could wave at friends. The front had no door and it faced right into the storm. The step up to the throne was iced as well as the seat of the throne. Plus rain and sleet were hitting the seat. Whatever I decided to do is proprietary information at this time. Back at the shelter I got into my tent. All was packed except the tent. I made a cup of coffee. I decided I'll leave at 6 no matter what. The delay today might dash my plan to get to Hot Springs tomorrow. I was hoping for a long day. At 5:30 the rain slowed. I quietly packed up the tent. When I exited the shelter the full moon was out! I headed up to the trail arriving at 6:05. Initially I had the headlamp on at the shelter but turned it off because the moon was so bright. I briefly shined it on a trail sign to check the mileage to the next shelter. Ice hung down from the sign. On the trail the moon was right in front of me. The trail looked like a white line as the ice and water reflected the moonlight. Anything iced was shining. A beautiful morning. The trail descended and the forest was just wet at lower elevation. Lots of water running and lots of puddles. At 8 a.m. I took a break. A guy came down the trail behind me. I said "Fluffy?" And he responded "Lake?" We talked in the dark last night so this was the first we saw each other. We talked for 10 minutes then he headed out. The trail dropped and went by some waterfalls, crossed two roads then up to a ridge again. I took my rain gear off and my jacket. Before Flint Mountain Shelter the sun came out for a short time. Then a few showers hit and the rain gear went back on. At the shelter I made coffee and took a long break. As I left fog came in and it would persist into the evening. A few hours later I stopped at Jerry Cabin Shelter at 3:30. It was windy and getting cold as I have been going up in elevation. I got a liter of water then packed up. When I saw it was already 4 p.m. I thought I better get my headlamp out but I couldn't find it. I began pulling everything out of my pack. No light meant no night hiking. I wouldn't reach Hot Springs tomorrow. But finally it was right where it was supposed be but it slid down under two plastic containers. Relieved, I continued hiking. Due to the wind and the fog I opted to take two short bad weather trails. Around 6 p.m. the headlamp was in use. The trail climbed from Jerry Cabin Shelter for three hours to Camp Creek Bald. Since I couldn't see more than ten feet in front of me due to the fog and darkness I only knew I passed the bald when the trail started to descend at about 7 p.m. A bright white eye really scared me for a moment. Then I realized it was just a reflective thumb tack. The fog was so thick I feared I'd miss the shelter. At 7:45 the trail split. I wondered which way to go then my headlamp lit up a building. I was at the shelter. I put my gear in the stone structure then searched for the water source. I had to look in my guide which said it was down a blue blaze trail behind the shelter. It took me five minutes to find the trail in the dark and fog. After getting water I put my tent up in the shelter since no one else was there. A not so interesting day due to the fog limiting what I could see. I now have less than 300 miles to go. And I made it to my planned destination despite the rain delay. Looks like Hot Springs tomorrow after all.