Date: 2008-03-17
From: Spence Field Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 13.5
Weather: clear sky

Day 18, Spence to Double Springs, 13.5 miles.The morning starts with an over-full shelter waking. The hikers begin getting up and packing, or eating, or talking. There is much activity, It is still cold and my bag feels so good I don't want to get out of it. The sounds are hikers rolling around and walking on the upper deck, stepping down the ladder, rolling, stuffing, and much crinkling of different types of bags. The talk is soft but grows as more awake. Last night the fire in the fireplace burned late. There was much snoring and nervousness from the spring breakers. It was a nice full shelter. It seems that many thrus are now bunched up together and the next nights will probably be the same. Some will try to break away, most will not be able to get away. I am looking at Siler's for my goal today, which will break the trip to Newfound Gap (Gatlinburg) in half. I leave the shelter, walking back to the A/T, turning right (right in right out, left in left out) and walk through beautiful rolling high country, up Rocky Top to 360 views begging to be photographed. I can see Cades Cove, Fontana Lake back aross many ridges that I have climbed and ahead many miles over more mountains yet to be hiked. The vista is awesome. The wind up here is so strong and cold. The trail takes me over more high ridges, across Thunderhead then up and down many more mountains, always seeming to find the next highest point. After about 6 1/2 miles I reach the Silers Bald Shelter. I was walking along taking in the views when my right foot got tripped by a root which was attached at one end. The root caught my foot as my momentum carried me forward and I went down hard landing on my knees. It was like a shoe string tackle. I did not have any time to react and got face planted hard. Almost all my force and weight transferred to my knees. As I hit the ground I rolled over and got out of my pack. T-man caught up and assisted me so I could stand. My left knee is bleeding but my right knee is the one that took the fall. That was a very hard fall. As I gaiter myself and stand up, putting my pack on I know I will feel this for a while. I am injured and can only hope I can continue on. It is sore and I walk in pain, having to slow down. As I reach Siler's Shelter I find it almost full. I decide to go on to Double Springs and walk over this wonderful connecting ridge which is open and very windy. There's a nice climb up over a few more humps and I enter a new forest of Fir trees. The forest seemed enchanted all day but now it is very beautiful. I feel like I am in a different world in another time. The wind is roaring overhead and it is getting colder. As I walk I feel my knee tightening up and beginning to ache. All day the shelters seemed to appear like magic and as I am lost in my thoughts I look up and see the Double Springs Shelter appear like an oasis in the clouds. Up here the wind seems turbo charged. As I gather water on the NC side of the mountain I am so cold I can barely stand it. I fill my gatorade bottle but have to retreat to the shelter to get my foul weather gear on to complete the task. There is a small fire in the fireplace as the shelter, mostly filled with thru's, settles down for the night. The wind snaps the plastic tarp attached to the bear fence as the hikers fall asleep. We are packed together sleeping side to side.