Date: 2008-03-14
From: Russell Fields Shelter

To: Double Springs Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: light rain

I woke up at 3 different times this morning because that food really upset my stomach. By 7:30a, we woke up and realized that the springbreakers had slipped out. Well, by 8:10a, we were ready to hit the trail. At 9:30-ish am, I pulled into Spence Field Shelter for a privy and snack break. While there, I ran into 8 springbreakers--one of them was an Indian kid...it's rare to meet another Desi on the trail--, but GreenBlaze, Roses, and the Red Ranger were long gone. Soon, I began to climb Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mnt. with no problem! Once I got to the top, I ate a Cherry pie that Wildcat had left with us. As I finished eating, rain began to sprinkle on my body and I knew this meant one of two things: 1)Put on rain gear or 2) Try to outrun the rain. Well, being the college educated man that I am, I opted for option #2. One thing I didn't take into account, however, is that Mother Nature is alot faster than I am. So, I eventually stripped down to my underwear and quickly threw on my rain protection--I'm either gonna get wet from rain or sweat, this way I at least have dry clothes in which to change into!!!When I pulled into the Derrick's Knob Shelter, the rain was still drizzle, but the wind was strong enough to numb my hands and I stayed until I regained feeling. So, I continued walking and eventually reached the Silers Bald Shelter. When I got there, I was gonna towel of a bit, but noticed Green Blaze and Roses there and thought it would be rude to do that infront of his wife. After talking with them, the rain picked up to an all out down pour. So, we all opted to push on to Double Springs Gap for the night. Just as I saw the shelter, a huge deer ran across the trail infront of me--a lot of deer just stand infront of the shelter and eat (I got within 30 ft of them and they still didn't move)! After collecting water, I made Hot Chocolate to warm up and began the hard task of drying off. Then, Night Terror rolled in with news that Kanati would either be coming in late tonight or that he might not make it at all. After he told us this, it started hailing and 2 guys on a weekend trip informed us that the weather was not supposed to clear up tomorrow! So, I hope Kanati makes it because he's supposed to meet his wife at New Found Gap in the morning. I do, however, recall him complaining about his shins yesterday after the climb up Little Shuckstack. Oh! One of the weekenders told us a story his father had told him when he was a Sgt. at the fire dept.: One of the guys on call came in and told them to look at what he had hit on his way to work. As they were walking to his car, he told them that it was a bobcat and he put it in a suitcase in his trunk. When he opened the trunk and lifted the suitcase, it began to move--the Bobcat was still alive. Not knowing what to do with it, they decided to leave the suitcase, with bobcat inside, under a street light and let it resolve itself. Well, a couple of hours later, a "tricked out car" drove passed it, hit the brakes, and reversed. Then they saw a hand reach out of the car and grab the suitcase and the car took off. Well, the entire dept. was watching the car roll over the hill and then they saw the brake lights come on, and saw 5 guys jump out of the car and take off running down the street as the car continued rolling uphill (incase you didn't know, they had opened the suitcase and the cat was MAD)!!!Well, it's 8:45p and Kanati's still not here. The rain and hail is picking up...I hope he's alright!!!