Date: 2005-03-22
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Are We Hiking yet?There was a forecast for 80% chance of thunderstorms and rain showers.  We woke up to the sound of the wind in the trees and an overcast sky.  No rain though, which is always a relief.  As we hit the trail, there was even a patch of blue above us.  The terrain wasn't nearly as bad today as it was yesterday, and my muscles were grateful.  By the time we reached Silers Bald Shelter at 5.5 mi, the clouds had won out and the wind picked up.  The body, though still fatigued was beginning to feel stronger than the past few days.  The cold I've been fighting has done a number to my appetite and I haven't been able to consume even a basically sustaining number of calories.  In daily sedentary life, this is not a problem. Out here however, where you have to propel yourself up hills and keep warm for long periods, it does become a problem.  I just couldn't bring myself to eat nutrition bars or gorp.  Fortunately the shorter day yesterday helped, and my appetite began to pick up.  After a good dinner and some rest, I surely felt on the mend this morning.  The feet have been doing so much better too, which is a HUGE relief.So, today we had a choice between 7.2 miles to Double Spring Shelter and 13.5 + .5 to Mt. Collins Shelter.  I really think my body could have done the 14, even though I'd probably be pretty tired. We decided to stop and cook a hot lunch at Double Springs Shelter, assess the weather and how we were feeling, then decide what to do.  The 1.7 from Siler's Bald was more rugged, but beautiful.  It was a knife edge ridge walk with steep drop offs on both sides.  Being a bit higher, over 5000 ft, there was a good bit of snow in the trail.  I slipped once, but nothing was hurt except my pride.  The clouds had settled low and thick, and the wind was blowing them in wisps across the ridge by the shelter.  No rain yet though.  So we cooked and ate our lunch.  Turtle and Humpty had decided to stay.  My criteria was that if it started to rain, we'd definitely stay, but if not we'd have to think about it.  Drop of icy rain, then another hit my nose.  Tough decision because I really did feel like my body could do it.  So I played the scenarios out in my head.  We could stay here, and have another very long day in a shelter with bodies not yet tired.  The shelter could fill up with thruhikers, people with reservations show up, and end up having to tent.  We could go on, over Clingman's, almost certainly get rained on, and possibly show up to the shelter wet and cold only to find it full and have to pitch the tent in the rain.  We toyed with the possibility of stealth camping on Clingman's, but with thunderstorms we decided better of it.  Staying won out, and I battled with the decision until it started raining.  Then it started pouring.  It was the right decision!  Put on the headphones, picked up the Knoxville NPR clear as a bell, and took a cozy afternoon nap to the sound of rain on the tin roof.The shelter is packed tonight, we're fitting 18 into a shelter that says it sleeps 12.  All the warmer on a cold blustery night!  Tomorrow, 11.8 over Clingman's and down to Newfound Gap.  Looking forward to a warm night in Gatlinburg, and the guide says there's a place that serves prime rib...I can practically taste it now!Danger