Date: 2016-04-11
From: Standing Indian

To: Peak of Standing Indian
Miles today: 0.0

Monday April 11Up early and packing to get going. Goal today is actuall going past Standing Indian to the next shelter for a total of 12 miles. Again that would not be the case. Two big climbs and the increase in clouds suggested I stop at Standing Indian. First I knew that if I wanted to stay warmer I would have to figure out that new expensive tent I bought, and I turned my IPOD to radio mode and picked a local channel. Not sure from what town but the broadcaster stated that rain and thunderstorms had already begun in Hunstville Alabama and the forcast was up to one inch of rain in the mountains overnight. It was time to take out the tent and figure it out. Around 3pm Commissioner from the group I tagged along with came and talked. He decided to catch the rest of group and go on for another 6 or so miles. He was a good hike and strong kid so I had no doubt he would make it. The climb out of Standing Indian would be a brutal climb up about 1300 feet and require camping around 5600 rather than the 4300 were I was. Once he left I knew that everyone I tagged along with was now ahead of me but I would deal with that latter.By 4pm the sky was dark with clouds and a brutally cold wind started to set in. I along with other there simply decided to go to bed as the rain began and by 7pm it was pouring.I expected to see Joel come in but it never happended. At 3am I needed to pee and could not hold it anymore so I crawled out of the tent and peed into the rain. I knew there was a small tree about four feet from the door of the tent but the rain was so heavy and apparently we were now in the clouds that I could not find it for balance. Snow had mixed in with the rain and at that moment I knew getting a tent for Riley and I was the right decision. I was freezing in the rain yet had the best sleep to date falling to sleep at 7pm until now at 3am. As I crawled back into the tent, there was NO Riley ---- what !. I was frustrated with him and called out to heal but to no avail. I remember from that morning at the last location when I woke up that Riley was on the other side of me from where I put him. I then reach out and he was on my other side and I remember the woman from Boston told me that Riley in the middle of the night tried to crawl into her sleeping bag. My fear now was that he was wandering the camping area, lost in the heavy fog tryingto crawl into someone elses tent. I had no bearing other than how the tent waw laid out and I knew from the back that a bee line would lead me to the shelter. There were a few glowing embers left from the fire that helped me keep direction so I literally in bare feet crawling and feeling for trees and branched made my way to the shelter which literally was less than 30 feet from the tent. It took me five minutes to reach the shelter and did not see it until I was just a few feet away. I kept calling out for Riley and when I reached the shelter I felt something rub my leg. I reached down and it was himn, shaking, drenched like me trying to find his way back. I grabbed him by his collar and began the trek back to the tent quietly cursing him in my head for sneaking out. it took us three tries to find a tent only 30 feet away. The first time I sensed that I was no longer on flat ground but instead on a hill. I stopped, and decided to head back towards the shelter as that was a big structure and the best chance of getting lost on the mountain. The third time was a charm and into the tent we went. He was wet and shaking so I took my hooded sweatshir to cry him off and myself. I took of what was wet and simply crawled back into the sleeping bag, grabbed Riley and pulled him close to me , opening my sleeping bag and trying to cover him as well. Next thing I remember is it was now 7:30 am and the rain ceased. Fog was still heavy but visbility much better.