Woke up and conquered the complimentary breakfast at the hotel. I slept well last night and ate well this morning. Sweat Tea, Gene and MacGuyver were down there, so I chatted with them until Dan, Scatters and One Life shuffled in. We hung around the breakfast room until 10 or so. Check-out wasn't until noon.
We slowly packed up and organized and made our way out to Dan's truck at noon. It was hot out, but not crazy hot. We stopped by the Giant and CVS to pick up a few last minute items, and we made it back to the trail head. We futzed around with shoes, Gatorade, water and last-minute snacks until finally saying farewell to my brother and getting back on the trail at 2:30pm. We left the last of the Gatorade at the trail head, and we were back on the trail... 26.5 hours later.
Nice flat trail for a while before climbing over the "Knife's Edge" rocks for a good bit. This was the most dangerous climbing since Dragon's Tooth. I almost bit it a few times, and on this type of rocks, any fall would be VERY bad news.
The three of us regrouped at the Bake Oven Knob shelter for a very quick snack. There was thunder off in the distance, and even though rain was not in the forecast until tomorrow, we didn't want to get caught in a surprise storm.
We got caught.
Though the lightning seemed quite close, the thunder was 9-18 seconds away. I thought we'd be safe until the next shelter which was 6.7 miles away. It began to sprinkle. Then it rained a little. Then it stopped. Then it drizzled. Then it opened up and poured. We all got soaked through for 40 minutes before making it to the next shelter. Completely drenched. No sense on putting on a rain coat at that point - it actually felt quite nice while moving. It was only after 20 minutes at the shelter that I got chilled and needed to change into dry clothes.
Luckily there was just enough room for us in the shelter. After getting dry and fed, the sound of the rain on the roof will lull us all to sleep. There's a BIG BAD climb coming up tomorrow morning. Looks like five miles of necessary, exposed, rocky steepness.... Hoping to wake up early and get it done before the sun has a chance to heat up.
Thanks for the comments!! Sometimes I just wonder if anyone reads this thing anymore...
Oh and ps: if anyone is up for picking up trash at the parking lot before Bake Oven Knob, it needs it!!
(12.9mi 12st)
-- Posted from the trail...
Location:George W. Overbridge shelter
3 comments:
some people still read your lovely blogs....or at least this crazy dude is still catching them now and again. sorry i missed you in DC...i had nutso wknd with family + guests in town...was hoping to chat with you about Mt. Katahdin...i'm still game!! hit me up when you get a chance.
Here is the other half of your Florida fans. The highlight of our day is waiting for your daily blog and the descriptions of your day and the great phtography (my lifetime hobby). What a book your blogs would make. The heat is awful here too. Vermont and NH and Maine will cool you off.
Xan's Peepaw.
Quit making me worry about you! First jumping off bridges and then almost falling off mountains. As I've said before, Come Home Soon (and bring me back a mountain man)!
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