Origin: Low Gap Shelter
Destination: Unicoi Gap (then to Helen, GA by car)
Today's miles: 9.7
Total miles: 53.9
Strong winds, temperatures in the mid 30s, freezing rain driving across the face. Today wasn't a day for meandering. We woke up to a light drizzle and I got started quickly to ensure we got a spot at Blue Mountain Shelter 7.3 miles up the trail to protect us from what we knew would be bad weather. Before long, the drizzle turned into a steady rain and I just put my head down and powered through. I finally looked up about five miles later and noticed icicles were hanging off tree branches. No matter - I knew I'd be at the shelter in under an hour and everything would be better.
I pulled into the shelter around 11am and almost immediately tried to come up with an alternative plan for the night. Ice was everywhere and strong gusts of wind were pounding the open side of the shelter (most shelters only have three walls). I pulled out my trusty AT Guide to look for the next road crossing - 2.4 miles away to get to a road to take us to Helen, GA. I found a hotel listing, dug into my pack (which was frozen) for my cell phone and turned it on and prayed for a signal. Success - two bars. I made a reservation and just had to wait for Magge. We're going to have rough nights when we won't have the option to escape, so I don't feel bad about pulling the ripcord on this one. Besides, putting in nearly 10 miles in the mountains in the weather we had today contributes enough towards roughin it status.
As other hikers arrived at the shelter, I asked the if Magge had left when they left. No was the answer each time. I was worried I'd have to wait for four hours as I tried to keep moving to keep warm. At about 1pm I heard Magge shout, "I'm here!" and I was ready to run down to the gap. An hour and a half later, we were sitting in warm car headed to Helen, Georgia's answer to Gatlinburg.
Magge went to the Dollar General to pick up "some" drinks and snacks. She came back with a 2L Coke, a 32oz Powerade, two Vitamin Waters, a six pack of Snickers, a pack of Butterfingers, beef jerky, a box of crackers, a can of Pringles, and a couple of processed meat sticks with cheese thingies. This is in addition to the two medium pizzas we ordered for dinner. I'm petitioning to have her trail name changed to Eyes Bigger Than Stomach.
We'll be back on the trail in the morning. The weather forecast over the next few days is looking pretty good and we're hoping to pick up the pace.
There are going to be some tough and inexorable days but you make the most of it as Magge did by buying lots of junk food. That's enjoying your trip!
ReplyDeleteDiscretion is the better part of valor, and there's definitely no shame in bailing out of that crap. You could have some serious health concerns sleeping outside in that kind of weather. And way to go sis, with the dinner of champs.
ReplyDeleteEyes bigger than Stomach, that's my girl. So relieved you got out of the mess yesterday, trust the rest in a bed was delicious!
ReplyDeleteWow what a ride on the trail.
ReplyDeleteI think about you everyday, sometimes twice a day