Date: 2014-05-15
From: Thunderhill

To: Matt's creek shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: heavy intensity rain

In which I splash through puddles, try to outrun thunder and call it an early day.I woke up wet! My quilt, mattress, tent, pack, clothing all wet! It started raining last night and has not stopped since. Despite the weather it was a lovely morning. The air was sweet with the smell of honeysuckles, rain and sweet earth. The fog engulfed the mountains all around making the grass look so green with pink, purple and yellow and white flowers emerging through the fog. The terrain was level and beautiful in some spots and rocky in others. It's the kind of day where you can't see the horizon or even 5 feet in front of you to scan the forest for movement. It's head down, watch your step, watch the path and occasionally look for the white blazes kind of day with full on rain gear which really only keeps me dry for five minutes then I'm soaked to the bones! It was a very enjoyable morning even in the rain.Then it happened in a blink of an eye. I found myself face down looking at the ground, covered in mud with my right knee aching and stinging and plants in my face. What just happened? It took me a minute to figure that out. Last I knew I was stepping up with my right foot onto a very wet, slippery log when my foot slid out sideways from underneath me. Next, I was sputtering at myself for being so careless knowing full well that a fall like this can take me out of this hike.I assessed the situation and realized that all my body parts were in working order. Blood was dripping from my right knee and it looked a little swollen. I used my bandana to clean off the mud then tied the bandana around my knee to put some pressure on the cuts and prevent my bruises from expanding. I brushed off my pride and continued onward in the pouring rain reminded to slow down, take it easy and be extra cautious.Today's walk took me over many ridges walking on top, over and along the them. The views were obscured by the clouds and the fog for the most part but the forest was still beautiful in a mystical and mysterious sort of way. As I continued on my way I was hearing thunder rumbling in the distance as I began to climb on the now open section of the range not protected my trees. This section also had many trees charred from a previous burn (or lightening strike!). Ugh! So despite my resolution to slow down and be careful I was finding myself hiking very quickly in order to get off the top of this range and descend into the forest. Thunder is such a good motivator for hiking fast, fear! I caught up with Pumba, Timon and Kalpaca on the way down the mountain and followed them in to the shelter for a brief reprieve from the weather and had lunch. We were all dripping, wet rats. Nothing was dry!The rain continues, it's pouring! I've decided to stay put at this shelter for the night even though it's still early in the day by hiking standards. I've changed into dry clothing and set up my bed after sweeping the dirt from the shelter floor. Turtur and English Girl are also here for the night. It's still early as I sit in my bed staring at the rain drops falling from the eaves of the shelter roof. It's amazing how differently the drops fall and how the size of the drop varies according to what it falls from. Really amazing and entertaining, my hiker TV for tonight. I'm finding it also takes a lot of patience to just sit and be, which is my second lesson for today behind slowing down and taking my time hiking. The sound of the raging river in front of the shelter is lulling me to sleep, awesome real, white noise.