Date: 2010-05-17
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Fish Hatchery Road - Dutch Haus B&B
Miles today: 18.1

It was nice to listen to the rain hit the shelter roof all night long. The only bad thing is the rain is still falling as I am getting ready to leave the shelter. My tarp is now dry, the wind is not so bad, and the temps, although not warm, are also not cold. So I was up at 6:40 and on the trail at 7:30. A bit late, but with only 18.1 miles to the start of a good stay, all is good.Right from the shelter, I have a big climb. Just over a 2,600 foot climb, a 600 foot drop, then back up 600 feet. During the first couple of miles, I warmed up. I am considering taking off my rain jacket and hiking wet. As my elevations became higher, wind was picking up and the temps are slowly starting to drop. Decided that with just my one shirt under my jacket that I would leave all things as-is and see how it is on the top. There is a shelter on the first big down and I could adjust my layers either up or down at that point.At the first top, I decided that I was a bit cold and would put on a layer at the shelter. Once at the shelter trail entrance, there was a sign that said the shelter was 1/2 mile. I checked this with my page and my page said the shelter was 0.6 miles. Crap. I don't go that far off the trail to go to a shelter. I was wet and cold but still OK to go on as long as it does not get any worse. Big, big, big mistake.The next up was, in reality, the beginning of a mile plus exposed ridge walk. On top, I was clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time. The exposed area was on the wind side of the mountain. A horizontal wind somewhere between 5-60 mph hit me hard from the side. The rain hit so hard it felt like pellets hitting me in the head. Temps are now like 38-40 degrees. I am now head into the storm. The big three are in full force. Cold temps, strong winds, and wet to the core. Too late to put on extra layers. The conditions are stripping every ounce of heat out of me. I realize that for the first time in my hiking experience, I am in real trouble. I need to get on my extra layers, and quickly. But if I wen to do it now, everything would get instantly wet if exposed for even a second or two. So, my plan is to get to the next gap, find whatever protection I could, and go for it. Another mile and a half I hit the next gap. A bit better. I was entering hypothermia. No question. No games. I need to make this work or in 30 minutes I know it would be a life threatening situation. So pack down, everything out, clothes ready and go. Jacket off, shirt on, vest on, jacket back on. Done. A bit wet but done. Now I had to attempt to restart my internal heat engine. I started to climb again. "Heating up, feeling good, heating up, feeling good" I marched to for the next 30 minutes. Felt a bit warmer. More importantly, I felt that I was not getting any worse. I asked the Lord that all I needed was an hour of no rain and less wind and I would get through this. In about five more minutes, the rain started to let up, the wind decreased a bit, and the dropping temps subsided for a bit. For the next 30-40 minutes, the conditions were good enough to begin to feel some warmth. I knew it was just enough to get me back to at least a point where I was not going to die.In short, my laziness of not going into the last shelter almost got me killed. My experience and my Lord got me to the other side of this potentially life threatening event. This was my first real bout with hypothermia. It's real, it happens very quickly and I have a new, real understanding of it.With me back in reasonable condition, I decided that with only 2.2 miles to go to Fish Hatchery Road, I went past the next shelter. I made it, got off the ridge, and headed to a dry, warm stop.I was met by Earl, who offered me a hot cup of coffee. He gave me a robe, got out of my wet clothes, and into the house. Took a long hot shower and reflected on my day. Good to be done. Good to be warm and dry. Good to be alive.As it was, my day's events were not exclusive to me. As the hikers came in, each one had a similar story to tell. I think... no, I know, we each have a better respect for hypothermia and how quickly it can come on.The rest of the evening was spent attempting to dry things out. I spread my things in the bunkhouse. Everything did get wet when I opened it up. On the way up to the B&B, I stopped at the store and picked up a sandwich, chips, and a large pickle. I ate it since at 5:00 it was all I had to eat all day. At 6:30 I went to the main house and had another full meal. Three rolled turkey potpie-like things, and some carrots. With that done, I went back to the bunkhouse to continue my errands. In bed at 8:30. Five other hikers here and several more in the main house.Breakfast at 7:00 then to the trailhead for a southbound 20+ hike back to the B&B. With the rain expected to continue, I will be ready for it tomorrow.A good ending to a hard day. Life is good. A lesson learned. Trials and tribulations of an AT thru hiker.