Date: 2014-04-14
From: Deep Gap

To: Long Branch Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: light rain

AT day 9 - another wet one!This morning we got up early and left camp as soon as we could. It was supposed to rain and we wanted to attempt to get to a shelter before it did so we could hole up for the rest of the day. Having done extra miles yesterday, we wouldn't be behind schedule if we did a short day today! We made great time and covered the almost eight miles in a drizzle, just before it started to downpour! Unfortunately, when we got there, there were four other people there still sleeping, who had left their stuff all over the shelter. They had hiked overnight and weren't planning on leaving the shelter anytime soon. There was still plenty of room for the three of us so kent and I blew up our air pads to "mark our spots" and I proceeded to get in my warm clothes and set up my stuff. A couple other hikers stopped in for lunch and mentioned they were heading to the next shelter eight miles away. It's a newer shelter with two stories that holds 16 people! Much to my dismay, Jon and Kent decided we may as well go there too. It was still early in the day and surely we would be able to stay in the bigger shelter with plenty of room and be dry tonight! Begrudgingly, I packed up my stuff and we set off. The rain continued and seemed to come down in buckets. Why did we leave dryness again!?!?!? We walked quickly in silence and trudged on until a water stop. We looked at the guide book and realized we still had five miles to go and a big uphill climb, Albert Mountain. My spirits sunk. My legs are a tad sore from all the uphills yesterday and we had only had one break all day (typically we take a break every hour and a half or so). I knew I was in for a long wet five miles. We managed to find a huge rock overhang to stop under for a quick five. It was nice to be out if the rain for a second but it didn't last long. The rain was relentless and we still had miles to do! Finally, we got to the point where we could take a Forrest service road around the mountain or make the climb. Jon had warned us that is was pretty brutal, but I had to see for myself sore legs, rain, and all. Kent took the high road (he's smarter than us) and Jon and I climbed. The rocks were slippery and the climb was pretty intense but we made it up to the fire tower at the summit! Sadly because of the rain I had to hide away cameras and phone so I didn't even get a picture. We reconvened with kent and went on to do what seemed like the longest two point two miles to the shelter. The shelter was beautiful and even smelled like fresh wood, but of course a shelter that great on a rainy day was just too good for some people to leave. It was full. And filled with some people who hadn't even hiked a mile in the rain. Wah wah wah. No one even tried to make room for us. And sadly many of them were people we had camped with before. So here I lay writing in my tent next to the shelter that we hiked an additional eight miles in the rain to get to. On a bright note, I had time to make a cup of tea (Donna gave me some tea bags the other day) and update my trail journals! All is not lost! Now I'm going to drink up and read, one of my favorite things to do!Tonight is supposed to be cold and wet again. I'm crossing my fingers that my tent stays dry inside. Kent is sleeping in his tent and Jon is going to sleep under the shelter. He's insane! I think tomorrow we will head into the town of Franklin. If I know my father in law, we will end up somewhere warm with a bed and a shower. He's still not feeling well and this rain can't be helping. Cross your fingers that he gets better soon!