This was the most miserable night we have had on the trip so far (I say so far because we can usually sink lower). I am so disappointed with our Big Agnes gear. When our Exped sleeping pad failed before Franklin, we went to Three Eagles Outfitters and bought new Big Agnes sleeping pads. We thought we were getting the new ones which are rated high. Instead, we got the discontinued version with no R value. Sleeping directly on the ground would not be any colder. Every time we have slept on these in our tent, we have frozen and not had a decent night’s sleep. The trend continued last night.
Even though we were awake before 7, we couldn’t face getting up. Once again, ATweather.com had blown the forecast. It was not supposed to drop below 30 at altitude but was still only 25 at 8 inside of our tent (meaning it was probably 10 degrees colder outside). Around 9, we decided we couldn’t put off the inevitable any longer and were in the process of stretching when Stickers and Lady Bug passed by our camp. They had had just as miserable of a night and had a cold supper because they weren’t prepared for a dry camp either (they had missed the unmarked turn as well). They had camped just a half mile back from us at Max’s tree.
We agreed to meet at Cherry Gap Shelter (a little over 3 miles ahead) to eat breakfast and dry out our gear. I went to get our bear bags down only to realize they were more pathetic than I had thought. It would have taken a lot less effort and been just as effective to just put a bow on them and leave them under Max’s tree. I didn’t even have to raise my arms to touch them.
The four of us leapfrogged each other the rest of the day to Clyde Smith Shelter. At Iron Mountain Gap, we thought we saw a trash can and I decided to drop my pack and get rid of the extra pound I was carrying. We met a woman, Cathy, and her grandson, Ethan and talked about thru-hiking. She has done pretty much all of Georgia, North Carolina and the Whites in New Hampshire as well as Katahdin. She offered to take our trash for us since there wasn’t a trash can at the parking lot.
Once again, very few hikers along the trail. We just kept our heads down and hiked today. We were just worn out from the lack of sleep and only cared about getting a spot in the shelter. We were late getting there, but were optimistic about getting off of the ground since no other hikers passed us today. If the trail had been any harder today, I wouldn’t have been able to make it. If it wasn’t for Bunny prodding me on all afternoon, I would have sat down and slept in the trail.
I was ecstatic when we finally could see the shelter. Stickers and Lady Bug had already been at the shelter for over an hour and no one else was there. Not only did we get a spot in the shelter, we had ample room to spread out our crap and chill. Bunny set up our beds while I went to get water down a very steep hill and cook supper. Lady Bug built a fire for us to sit around.
We were perfectly placed to watch the sunset in the west while, simultaneously watching the moonrise in the east. It was much warmer tonight when we went to bed. I don’t know if it was due to the fact that we were 1700’ lower in altitude or that the weather is finally turning to spring.
EFG
So you are saying it was worse than Derick’s shelter and getting snowed on! Eeeeek! carry on, hiking warriors!
Our sleep was worse, the conditions at Derick’s were really worse