Date: 2017-10-25
To: Abingdon Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 9.9
Weather: few clouds

10/25Abingdon Gap Shelter9.9 milesAfter another good night's sleep, and good breakfast, I was ready to go. I kissed my beloved a tender goodbye and headed up the mountain out of town. I didn't go to the other end of town to do the roadwalk first. With a pissy foot and the future of my hike in some jeopardy, I decided that I'll be skipping any roadwalking that it is convenient to skip. Roads damage my feet more than nearly anything else, and they aren't terribly scenic either. I stepped carefully going up the hill. My foot actually felt pretty good after a day of being taped, with lots of food and rest. I wish it would stay that way, but I know it won't. Nonetheless I was happy with my first few miles. I walked slowly and carefully, choosing my foot placement with an eye to stability. I hope that this becomes automatic over time. It was quite cold. I was on a ridge line in the wind most of the day. I couldn't tell exactly how cold it was. Cold enough to hike wearing my fleece, buff pulled up over my ears, hands sheltered under my pole covers. I eventually put on my rain skirt to keep my legs warm. I pulled my water filter out and stowed it in my fanny pack near my body heat. Highlife walked up from behind me. He commented that it was quite an outfit, but it looked warm. I guess he was right. Between my rainbow gaiters, plastic looking rain skirt, and blaze orange cap and buff, I must have been an arresting sight. Later as it started to sleet I put my brilliantly blaze orange pack cover on. I was warm enough. Not toasty, but warm enough. I rolled up to the shelter at 4. Two section hikers were down getting water. I looked for the privy before realizing that there wasn't one. Dammit! At least there's a shovel leaning against the shelter. But it's bad enough using a privy in cold weather. Being completely exposed to the wind makes me pucker just thinking about it. I'd forgotten that Tennessee isn't a big believer in privies. The walk down to the water here is the longest .2 I've walked. My foot started to ache as I slowly filled my water bag at the trickle flowing from the pipe. On the way back up it was quite painful, so that I was limping badly as I made dinner. I tried to throw up a bear line and managed to get my rock bag firmly lodged in a tree. It took all three of us to get it back down.  Luckily it was a small enough tree that we could bend it down. I gave up and hung my bag in the shelter. Then I read the shelter register and noticed regular bear sightings. I grumped and got up to try again with the rope, but one of the guys kindly said I could put my bag on his line. It was work getting both bags up there, but I did it. I'll sleep better not worrying about the bag. Although it's supposed to rain, and my bear bag is not particularly waterproof anymore. It's a hassle to deal with when it gets wet inside. I'm cautiously optimistic about my foot, but I'm not so sure about the cold. You can get used to many things. Maybe I'll acclimate. I managed to work outdoors in Minnesota in winter fairly happily, but I had the heated tack room to retreat to occasionally. Cold nights are nothing new, but it's harder when you never warm up during the day. I can take advantage of quite a few hostels for warm sleeping and slackpacking, and I think I will. At least if it stays chilly. We've had a ludicrously warm fall, and I think I got spoiled. Now is the time to test the mettle of the southbound hiker. I've done some winter camping. Time to remember those skills. I know I'm trying to minimize pack weight but I may pick up a Nalgene to make a hot water bottle with. It feels great, plus it's nice to have liquid water handy in the morning. Tonight I'm hoping it doesn't get cold enough to freeze my various containers solid. I neglected to get larger ziplocks and I don't much want to bring either my Sawyer bag or my hydration bag in with me without a better guarantee against wetness. It's been precipitating on and off since late afternoon. The guys are in a tent and a hammock. Not me, thanks. It may be colder in a shelter than a tent, but I've packed up a frozen tent before. If I never have to do that again, it'll be too soon. I made a hot drink to go with dinner - kiwi strawberry Propel. It was frankly delicious. I'm pretty sure that's a habit that I'll keep up.