Date: 2012-04-19
From: Jerry Shelter

To: Spring Mt. Shelter
Miles today: 15.5

Got up today at about 0630 after an ok night's sleep. I woke up a few times because of noise being made by two hikers that arrived at the shelter close to nightfall last evening. They had no tents, and even though the shelter was full, they were able to sleep on the ground under the front overhang which was still inside the shelter out of the rain and wind. During the night they made lots of noise moving around on some tarp like material they were sleeping on, and coving up with. They had sleeping bags, but still covered up with the tarp material. Other hikers were starting to get up and cook. I got my food bag down from the cables and got out my food, ate and started packing my gear. I overheard a couple of hikers talking about how much food they had. One said he had about twenty pounds of food in his food bags, yes bags, he had three. Everyone stopped and just wanted to know, why? That was way more food than he would need before he would be able to re-supply. Why carry all the additional weight?The hiker said that he ate a lot. He was a big man, and he also said that his pack weight was about 50 pounds and some change. Most of the rest of us were carring just a few pounds of food, and our pack weights ranged from 18-25pounds, give or take.I finished packing and it was time to go. I needed water so I went to the spring and filtered two quarts. At almost all shelters and campsites I have stayed at all up and down the AT the water source is almost always down a hill,and often 50 to 100 yards away from the shelter. This water source was unusual, because it was located uphill from the shelter.I put my water in my pack and started hiking. It was not raining, but I was all wet again in about a mile, because the air was like walking in a cloud and was full of a heavy mist. The grass and trees were wet and dripping. In some places the mist (fog) was so heavy I could see only for about 30 yards.After a few miles I came to some areas where I had to climb a little over some rocks. At that time I remembered what several hikers had told me back at the shelter. They said I would have to climb over some high and rough areas. After I went through this area I kept expecting to come upon a high climb over some rough areas, but I never did. I thought to myself, if they thought what I just went through was high and rough climbing they really had no idea what was in front of them up north in northern N.H. and southern Maine. All of this area here is flat compared to what they will face later, if they continue with their through hikes.In a while I arrived at Little Laurel Shelter. I stopped for lunch and while there, I talked with a couple who had completed a through hike in 2010 and now were back out for a short section hike. I needed to get more water now before moving on. You guessed it: the water is about 75 yards away down a hill.I got my water and moved on.This 15.5 mile day included a lot of climbing and some hard down hill. I was ready to get to Spring Mt. Shelter to stop for the day. I hoped I would find an empty shelter, but no such luck, but there was room in the inn. I introduced myself to the other hikers, laid claim to a sleeping spot by rolling out my pad and sleeping bag. Needed more water, and again about 70 yards away down a hill. After getting my water I ate and talked with the others for a while. Some were through hikers, and two were just out until June 1st. At about dark guess who showed up, my favorite two hikers who have no tent. I wondered what kind of night this would be. Again, by now the shelter was full, but they wanted inside. This shelter was very small and had no overhang like Jerry Shelter. They would have to sleep on the ground again,but this time no roof over their head. They broke out their bags and yep, the noisy aluminum tarp type material they used last night.I can only wonder what this night will be like. I'm sure I will have something to write about them tomorrow, but for now,Good night,