Date: 2018-10-27
From: Matt's Creek Shelter

To: Bryant Ridge Stream
Miles today: 22.7

Rain persisted until about 4:30 a.m. I got up at 5 a.m. to go check the level of the creek I must cross. Using my headlamp I could see the water was up but easily passable. At 6:20 I left the shelter, crossed the creek and began the climbing for the day. I started at 835' and will reach Apple Orchard Mountain at 4,206' later today. At 7:10 I turned the headlamp off. I had my rain gear on and was waiting for daylight to see if any rain clouds were lingering. It was breezy all day. Fog would last until 11 a.m. Around 9:30 I talked to the man and woman who hiked beyond the shelter in the rain yesterday. They said they got soaked. They arrived at Marble Spring, their campsite, at 5:30 last night. They said once they had their tents up they stayed dry. I continued climbing with some descents every now and then. The rain brought down many leaves overnight, mostly maples. The oaks are holding on. A man and twin women went by, day hiking. Then a group of Boy Scouts. I forgot it was the weekend.At the Guillotine (see picture) two hikers caught up to me. As I continued they disappeared. Up and over Apple Orchard Mountain in the clouds. At 4,206' this is the highest mountain since Moosilauke in New Hampshire. I stopped to check time and mileage. I thought I won't make it to my goal of getting to Bryant Ridge Shelter. It was a long steady climb to this point but I wasn't doing as well as I thought I should, especially after an easy day yesterday. Sometimes the clouds were dark making me think rain would start at any moment. I kept going, pushing to the next shelter, Cornelius Creek Shelter in four miles. The trail has been good almost all day. I pushed and arrived at the side trail to that shelter at 5:02 p.m. I took a break to think. It was 4.9 miles to Bryant Ridge. I figured I'd see what the trail is like and maybe camp a few miles before the shelter if I found water. The trail was great. The grade up Floyd Mountain was easy. Then it was gentle switchbacks down. The trail leveled out winding through the woodlands. I was cruising. Besides the noise of my feet and trekking poles all I could hear were train whistles in the distance. I love that sound when I'm hiking. After dropping off of Bryant Ridge the trail again had good switchbacks. I hiked as fast as I could as the darkness fell. I was enjoying my hike immensely. At 7:01 I had to turn my headlamp on. At 7:22 I reached a T intersection and to the right a sign to the shelter. I made it. I found no water between the two shelters so I would have had to come here no matter what. It was a tenth of a mile to the shelter. At the shelter a light came on and a girl spoke. Two girls were there and they are thru hiker Sobos. I heard about them a week ago. They told me where to camp. I got water first then went to the campsite. Unfortunately all the sites were on a hill and very slanted. I decided to head back to the AT. Back at the T intersection I went straight. The trail crossed a creek and began a super steep climb. I thought this can't be the trail. I looked but didn't find any trail markers. I then went back to the T intersection. The trail I thought was the side trail to the shelter was the AT. So, I headed back towards the shelter. Just before the shelter the AT turned left. I was glad I found the trail and not have to ask the girls where it was. I followed the creek for a tenth of a mile and found a site next to the stream. It was about 8 p.m. I was beat. It was warm in the narrow valley. Tonight I'll sleep well, especially with the sound of the stream next to me.