Date: 2013-04-19
From: first flat spot past standing bear hostel

To: Roaring Fork
Miles today: 12.7

Day 30I walked quickly up hill in my rain jacket with my pack cover on. I could see the ominous clouds approaching with the fierce wind. I summit-ed the bald and saw a UFO. I had a tower on top a large circular building' I knew it was some government tower but it sure looked like a UFO. I took a well worn side trail to it and as I approached a truck drove by. A guy was out turkey hunting and asked me if I'd seen or heard any. Nope not me no wildlife around me. I continued on down the bald pausing to take pictures of the clouds and fog rolling in over the mountains. Just as I reached the forest it began to rain. It was sprinkling at first then it started pouring. The temperature dropped as the wind picked up. I put my rain jacket back on even though I was pretty wet from sweat already. I got super cold and didn't want to stop for lunch. I found an old dead tree hanging over the trail so I stopped under that. It wasn't the safest place to be but it was semi out of the rain. I pulled out an oatmeal creme pie and quickly ate that as I grabbed a pack of nabs to stuff in my pocket. I tried taking my glasses off in the intense rain but I tripped several times so I put them back on. I crossed a couple roads and got super frustrated. I soon came up to Max Patch anxious to get over it I started up and climbed 78 steps. The fog grew denser and turned into practically freezing rain. I hiked all over the bald stopping at each post with a white blaze looking fro the next one. I got really cold and started shaking violently. I know I was close to hypothermia so I tried to make it to the shelter as quickly as possible. There was no one that I knew close behind me so I had to keep roving. I grew colder with each step and pretty much near tears. I kept thinking dry clothes sleeping bag dry clothes, sleeping ... I finally arrived at the shelter which had 4 people in it. I immediately dropped my pack and found my dry clothes. On the trail modesty kind of disappears so I just had to take off my wet clothes in front of everybody. A lady was asking me something and I mumbled an answer. Apparently I answered her question fine because she nodded. Her and her husband were wet and getting warm and dry. I huddled in my bag and ate a pop tart. More soaked and cold people started showing up but I just stayed in my bag. We all were in our bags while we cooked dinner in the shelter. We didn't care about food smells and mice or bears at that point. I finally got out of my bag to visit the privy. I eventually got warm enough to be away from hypothermia. That night was cold and I didn't sleep much. I woke up around 7:30 and actually got out of my bag to cook breakfast. All my wet clothes were frozen and my socks and boots were too. My socks were like cardboard. I could not hold them up straight. My pants were frozen so they were hard to stuff in my stuff sack. I watched guys scream and cry as they put their feet into their frozen socks and boots. I got my pack and packed and I looked at my boots. I realized that I wouldn't be able to stand putting on my socks and boots so I kept my dry clothes on dry socks and hiked off in my crocs.