Date: 2006-03-20
From: Russell Field Shelter

To: Derrick Knob Shelter
Miles today: 9.2
Weather: snow

I can't dress today up by saying it was challenging or tough. Maybe it will make a good story down the line. Maybe it gave me some authentic hiker creds. But truth is it just plain sucked.Yesterday at Mollie Ridge Shelter the ridge runner warned of incoming storm. He said he wouldn't want to be on Rocky Top when it hit. Well that's where I was.In clear weather it would have been a beautiful hike. Much of it was through open, grassy fields. As usual the trail went up and up. It would have been treat to see the Smokies unoubstructed. All I saw was pelting rain and ice with nothing to block the wind. I'd planned on a 15 mile day with a break at 9 miles for lunch. It was bad enough that there was no way to estimate my distance. Besides not seeing anything but the storm around me I could hardly see the trail. My glasses were fogged and the hood on my raincoat allows no peripheral vision. It slides down over my eyes allowing no view up the trail. All I could really see was my feet. Every 5 seconds I had to pull the hood back until it slid into my face again. Same old story with my pack, no matter how I adjusted it, it kept sliding down my butt and slipping off my left shoulder. Made worse when the clips were all caked with ice.For a while I cheered myself up. I sang. I composed letters aloud. Nothing really helped all that much. No hiding that I was cold and wet. No hiding that the trail was getting worse as it clogged with mud and ice.I passed a few dayhikers going in the opposite direction, all cheerful and smiley. One guy in his brand new NorthFace wind and waterproof jumpsuit with attached hood and holding a thermous asked me how far to the Shelter I'd come from. I'd been hiking for about 2.5 hours and guessed it was at least four miles back, probably more. He smiled and said no, it couldn't be, he'd been hiking for a long time. I said "You know man, I've been hiking a long time too." Just to make him happy I said, sure, just a couple more miles.The guy threw me off though. I he thought his last shelter was so close. I was afraid I might have passed it meaning 6 more miles to the next one. I assured myself that I was tough and that as the trail leveled out I could churn out those miles in another couple of miles. After all, I put miles behind me pretty quickly in Georgia and I'm in even better shape now.I hadn't missed the Shelter. Even thoug I was happy and relieved to see it, I had to admit that 6 more miles in these conditions was just a fantasy. Yes some people at Derrick Knob were stopping for lunch and a warm-up and then hitting the trail again for Silers Bald Shelter, my original destination. I had just missed Tree Girl and Thumper as they headed out. I was torn. I cooked hot lunch which I don't usually do. I was very cold and all of my clothes were soaked so I decided it was smarter to stay put. At 1:00 in the afternoothere were already 3 hikers in for the day sleeping soundly. Tree Frog and Show Me, who had been a little way ahead of me, also stayed. Brave Foot came in soon after and also stayed.The one thing I do like about the stone Smokey Mountain shelters is the fireplaces. There was a big fire going when I arrived. It won't heat an open face shelter, but you can warm by the hearth and hang a clothes line. I was a little too eager to dry everything. I scorched my fleece and melted a hole in the back, and did the same to one of my socks. Battle scars.I napped for a while. I woke up and took a look at who else is here. Present also are Cookie, Swanson, Gary, Stan and Carol. Gary's been here two nights to play it safe against the cold and wet. An old-time past thru hiker, he's doing again and taking his time. Stan and Carol are a couple in their 50's and stuck out here on what should have been just an overnight.Staying cheeful listening to ice on the tin roof. Big chunks fall out of the trees and make loud crashes.Had a big dinner, Ramen with pesto sauce and a cup of tea. And for dessert a nice big bowl of sleet.