Date: 2018-11-23
From: No Business Knob Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter, NC
Miles today: 20.7

As I was debating when to get up this morning I heard the winds start up on the ridges. I finally got up and on the trail at 5:08. The full moon was shining bright as I headed down the trail. The only sounds were a small stream flowing, the winds on the ridges, and my feet crunching the leaves. As daylight arrived the sky now was all clouds. Rain coming in tomorrow and I hoped not today. As I dropped down and crossed US 19W fog descended into the forest. Also a different club maintains the next section. The trail was pretty tough and muddy the next 12 miles. Just up from the highway I went by a grass field. There between the field and I, just off the trail, was a hunter in a hunter's blind. I didn't see him until I was very close. He's supposed to be wearing orange too. We didn't exchange any words. Just over the next hill a hunter was walking up the trail. Victor answered my questions about the hunting seasons. He was very friendly and helpful. He was surprised it was so foggy today. We both heard today was to be a nice day. I continued up the long climb to Little Bald. At one place I missed the trail and went up a steep side trail to some rocks. Then I realized my mistake when I saw no white blazes and returned to where I missed a turn. The trail continued a steep muddy climb. After getting to the top of Little Bald there was nothing there. No view, no rocks, nothing. Just over the top I hit the winds. The winds blowing the fog caused all the bushes and trees to be frosted white, a beautiful sight. I got water at a spring then continued to Bald Mountain Shelter. In the windy shelter I made a cup of coffee. Two women came in and asked if I was "the real deal"? They meant they were day hiking and I was a real hiker. They left heading back the way they came. It was 1 p.m. and I estimated I'd get to I-26 around 5 p.m. That will be later than I wanted it to be but the condition of the trail is slowing the Lake Express. I headed out and up Big Bald. As I entered the openness of the bald I was amazed. All was beautiful; the grasses, the views, the mountains and the sky. Once I got on top of the 5,526' bald mountain I could see the clouds below me. A 360° view! Every way I looked it was gorgeous. It was very windy so after pictures I headed down. There were about 10 other hikers there who probably came up from a nearby resort. The trail got down and stayed on the west side of the ridge, mostly out of the wind. I sat on a rock taking a break when I noticed a 6 point buck 20 feet from me. It was at a spring and must have walked there while I was looking at pictures on the phone. I talked to him and he wasn't frightened at all. He just slowly walked away. I continued on the trail through the woods then up into the wind. Finally the trail became nice. I cruised along the ridge then into some mowed fields. At the top I met a girl and two guys heading north to camp. The girl and one of the guys hiked the AT in 2014. Then are heading to Bald Mountain Shelter for one night. I continued and came to the I-26 underpass right at 5 p.m. After getting beyond the roads and on the trail again I stopped for a break. I estimated I'll get to Hogback Ridge Shelter at 6:40. Its just 2.4 miles but uphill. I got my headlamp out and ready. The trail did climb steadily. When I turned the headlight on I noticed flurries. For over a mile the trail followed an old barbed wire fence. A few times a short burst of snow flew by horizontally, due to the wind. As I climbed it seemed warmer. My headlamp captured a white moth flapping its wings while stationary on the ground. Is it getting warmer? I hope so. After climbing, the trail dropped and at 6:30 I came to the trail to the shelter. At the shelter I placed my pack inside then headed in the dark to get water. It was way down a side trail. It took eight minutes one way but I needed water. No one was at the shelter. I set up my tent inside to stay warm and out of the rain. A few times it sounded like sleet hitting the metal roof. I can hear the winds howling but I'm toasty inside. I wonder what the storm will bring. Will I wake up to see everything wet or will everything be white?