Date: 2014-03-25
From: Vandervender Shelter

To: 421
Miles today: 17.5
Weather: light snow

I was up around midnight to use the facilities, and was greeted by a great view east to the valley. Lights abounded although the stars were already obscured.The snow started blowing into the shelter around three AM.. Comfort Zone was up at 4 am. The snow was covering his bag, him being on less protected side of the shelter. Actually snow was blowing in everywhere. Seems as if every shelter faces into the wind. We were up and eating water did fine under the leaves where I buried it. Temps had gone to 28 during the night. We were not very sucessful at being quiet. But wanted to get moving before the snow got too deep. Comfort Zone took the lead about 5:30, with me checking behind us regularly to look for the blazes. WE had put new battery's in our Petzel E-lites the night before. Actually they worked quite well in the dark and blowing snow.   WE slowly followed the trail Up and down and around. Finally about 6:45 we were able to shut them off. We had not made a lot of ground but had stayed warm with our movement. We passed the campsite of the girl we had seen the night before, she had camped beside the trail, and by the look of it had pulled up no more than 1/2 hour before we arrived. The snow had let up and we thought great we have seen the end of it. Wrong!We reached the turn to the northwest and HWY 91 in light snow, but as we were leaving the kiosk and parking lot. The snow began in earnest. We suited up in our garbage bags skirts and began following four spring breakers up to Double springs shelter. We soon passed them as they were also adjusting their gear to the weather. Snow was falling heavily now. But we did reach the shelter at 2PM. Staying at a shelter with 4 college kids for a long afternoon and night did not appeal to either of us. Big mistake. It was a protected shelter out of the wind. But we did not know that at the time. We had been making good time and reasoned we could make the 8 miles to Abington Gap shelter before 6pm. The trail however when leaving Double springs , travels mainly on the western crest.   The snow and wind was coming at our left side and the drifts were becoming knee deep. The spring breakers were telling us of 12 degree temps, much different from our previous forecast.   Well winter was making a comeback for a couple days. Our progress was slowed dramatically. When we did get out of the wind, we found the water lines frozen to our platys and the water jugs frozen on the left side of our packs. Little water and what we could get out was slushy. Not a good thing. We reached the campsite above RT 421 at 4 PM. Abington Gap would be another 3-4 hours considering we would have to get water also. In hindsight we could have spent the night at the campground in one tent. . However, Comfort Zone had no dry gloves, we had no chance to dry our bags during the day. A fire would have been problematic with the snow coverage and wind. With 12 degree temps I felt we should probably pull up and retreat to Damascus. Comfort Zone felt we would be alright, but agreed to leave the trail.   Going down to 421 traffic was very light, someone going the wrong way stopped and someone else said he could get us off the mountain. But we finally reached Mt Rogers outfitters at 5 PM, and they were able to send a shuttle van to get us. Temps kept dropping and we kept moving to stay warm. The van arrived about 30 minutes later and the heat felt great.After checking the forecast we felt that we had achieved most of our objectives and after a meal at the Blue Blaze Cafe, drove to the freeway to spend the night. We awoke to 20 degrees and snow on the ground the next morning. Even Comfort Zone agreed we made a good move.All in all it was a great trip. Had some great views in the Roan Mountain area, and other than a few blisters, Knees and back were fine. I will do a equipment review as a conclusion piece.We will be back. One section at a time to Maine.