Date: 2014-06-11
From: Byrds Nest #3 Shelter

To: Gravel Springs Hut
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: overcast clouds

The first landmark I passed was Mary's Rock, "a towering granite outcropping." Marys Rock was part of a mountain that Francis Thornton presented to his wife Mary in the early 1800's. I didn't take the side trail to take in the view because the cloud engulfing the mountain reduced visibility to a hundred feet at times.The South bound climb to Marys Rock is known locally as a challenging climb. The clerk at one wayside said he held the record of running the 1300 feet to the top in 14 minutes. As I descended I noticed it required a lot of attention to stepping carefully from stone to boulder and I thought I did not want to attempt to challenge his time on this terrain. The climb from Thorntons Gap was a comfortable climb, not quite as high and a comfortable grade.The next destination on my mind was Elkwallow Wayside. As I walked the 11 miles to the store/grill my appetite increased from stopping for cold soda to an ice cream bar. When I walked into the split rail corral that formed the picnic area in front the store two dozen hikers were already seated at two picnic tables eating, laughing and chatting.They all yelled "Hay Blueberry!" And I greeted them back. It's always a joy after hiking all day as if I were the only person in the woods and suddenly happen upon a whole group of people I know. By this time I had a good appetite so I ordered a cheeseburger with everything on it. I even got to choose Swiss cheese. It was late enough in the afternoon to call this my dinner meal so when I got to shelter I would not need to cook again.After a couple of hours eating, visiting and relaxing, I headed off for the shelter--another six miles. After walking for a while, I decided to text Marcia to let her know my destination for the night while still high on a ridge with a phone signal. I remembered overhearing a ranger say something about more rain for the night. (Earlier, it had thundered right over me but that storm missed me.) I thought I would check the weather report and discovered there was a tornado watch as well as a prediction of severe thunderstorms. I didn't want to be caught out in a severe thunderstorm due to falling branches or even trees. I texted Marcia telling her I was 3 miles from Gravel Springs Hut and a storm was coming. She replied "God guide and protect you." I made it to the shelter before the storm by going for a 3 mile trail run. I thought as I ran along the prayers were probably doing more to protect me from my self than from the storm.I was happy to beat the storm and get a spot in the shelter also. All of the others who had been on the trail also were safely in camp before the wind and rain began. From my vantage point in the shelter I could watch the tops of the tall poplars swaying back and forth in the wind. The wind above us on the ridge was roaring so loudly I guessed it may have been blowing 80 MPH and at our level the tree tops about 60 MPH. We kept our ears tuned to the sound of the wind for the possible tornado that we were to watch for. We were in shelter the best we could be however. It was awesome to so closely experience the power of nature. (The next few days I saw some trees down and lots of twigs and leaves but no severe damage, so probably had no tornado touch downs.)I also met Sunshine and her husband. He had run the Badwater Ultra Run and finished so I had lots of questions for him about his experiences with that race.