Date: 2013-05-07
From: campsite 

To: double Springs Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: scattered clouds

The next few miles to Iron Mtn shelter were not bad. We got water and carried it up to the shelter. A guy there had a 1 person Nemo tent that used hiking poles. It was still an awesome lime green. Several guys there were planning on doing the Damascusthon, hiking the next 26 miles into Damascus. I was going to take 2 or 3 days to do that. We hiked on passing a grave that said, hiked alone lived alone died alone. I thought that was pretty sad. My mom told me of the trail magic she found going south the day before and I hoped it was still there. Sure enough we crossed the bog and rounded the bend and there was a huge metal box. A church kept it resupplied everyday. There was a cooler with ice and 3 of my favorite sodas mountain dew, throwback, mountain dew and dr pepper. My my what a decision. I chose throwback mtn dew. There was also a box of mini muffins and honey buns. I enjoyed my muffin and soda while I read and signed their register. This was amazing trail magic. Most don't understand how a simple thing like a can of soda and a treat can really be a mick me up to a thru hiker. We hiked on toward the car and I organized my next food til Damascus. I ate some bars but got going after looking up to the dark ominous clouds. My mom would shuttle the car forward and me and meet me several miles north tomorrow. I hiked with Baily across a road and over a field toward our first cow pasture. She was confused and did not want to leave my mom or face the cows. The cows were standing directly on the trail and took several steps toward me and bailey. I know cows aren't aggressive towards humans but they still looked intimidating. We marched through fine acting as if we were in charge. I know I had to hike fast to beat the approaching storm so I raced up the mtn. When the thunder boomed and lighting cracked Baily would bolt up the trail 10 ft. She wasn't scared of storms inside but out here she could sense what was coming. It started sprinkling and became a downpour in seconds. I was really hot going uphill in the heat but this rain was cold. As I looked for a hemlock to take my pack off to put on my rain jacket it started hailing. Bailey looked miserable so I grabbed her and we ducked under a rhododendron. It's not the greatest cover but it mostly kept the pea sized hail from pelting us. The hail that got through stung as it hit me. By the time I got my jacket on I was cold and definitely wet. I told Bailey let's get to the shelter and we took off. About 5 min later I found a hemlock to stand under as I waited for the hail to stop. It was still pouring but at least it wasn't hailing anymore. The trail was a river as Bailey and I sloshed through it. I had no idea how close we were to the shelter or how much time had passed. The shelter soon appeared and there were only 2 guys in it. I asked if they minded a wet muddy dog in the shelter and luckily they said no. I was wet and cold so I was done for the day and I did not want to set up my tent in the rain. The older guy had set up his tent in the shelter. It was only about 4 so we figured more people would probably come. People came but decided to continue hiking. One girl fussed at the guy for taking up shelter space with his tent. But after he took it sown she went on. Bailey got semi dry before we got in bed at 8. It was almost dark when 2 guys came in and set up right next to bailey. She did really well not barking or fussing or anything. There was a drip from the roof to my sleeping pad so I dept scooting over to the left. I should've scooted to the right as that would have only been 5 inches but I could not see where the drip was hitting. I woke up and the rain had stopped but it was super foggy, I put on my wet shirt from yesterday and my rain pants. I decided I was going to hike 18 miles all the way to Damascus. My wet shirt was making me cold so I left the shelter quickly.