I had to get up 3 times last night and when I was ready for my fourth, it was already past 7 and no one else was up yet. This is quite strange for a shelter. I stuck my head out of the sleeping bag and it looked very bright—snow bright. I said as much to Bunny and she told me to put on my glasses. I did and it was snow. Not only had it snowed, it was still snowing and blowing strong.
We decided to sleep in until the weather started to look better. People started moving around below and there was a lot of groaning. Dancing Dog and Trail Runner both got up to go to the bathroom and that started the guilt streak in me. I started getting dressed for my fourth as well. Bunny had zero issue with staying in the bag.
Durwood had already retrieved our bear bags, so I thought I’d go down and get water since I had been down there last night. I headed to the trail but couldn’t even begin to recognize it in the blowing snow. I gave up. When I went back in, Purple Haze was getting ready to leave and trying to convince the two Kaitlins to go, too. I put in my two cents worth that I thought travel was a bad idea until conditions got better. Purple Haze was pretty cavalier about nothing bad would happen—extremely cavalier considering she was bumming food off of people and didn’t have any gloves.
Timeout finally got to our shelter about 11:30 and said it wasn’t too bad out. He was going to continue on once he had a bite to eat and warmed up. I had built a fire and Eric, Durwood, and I had gathered a little firewood. Once Timeout arrived, everyone other than the four of us decided to move on. I blazed a trail down to the water source with Trail Runner and Eric. Trail Runner and I agreed that we didn’t want to chance it.
Not too long after Timeout got here, so did Sandals. Sandals got his name because he sent his boots home in Franklin and only hikes in sandals. His feet were solid clumps of snow but he claimed it wasn’t bad. The Kaitlins and Purple Haze took off first. Bunny Tracks and I admonished them on behalf of their parents to not go, but everyone knows women below the age of thirty don’t listen to any advice from older people while women over thirty don’t listen to advice from anyone. Mom and Dad, we tried—our conscious is clear. Hopefully we don’t find any Kaitcicles on the trail tomorrow.
Not long after the girls left, Eric followed. Then Timeout. A little later, Durwood said that they should have the trail beaten down well enough by now, so he followed. In the mean time, I tried to collect as much firewood as I could find in the snow because Timeout told us that Patches, Stickers, Lady Bug, and Finnegan were on their way. In the end, about 5 others arrived including Ringo and Reboot whom we had camped with at Locust Cove 5 nights ago.
I think we will probably have enough food and fuel to absorb this unexpected zero day. We might see if we can get a ride into Gatlinburg when we get to Newfound Gap the day after tomorrow. We are the only four who didn’t advance today, but I feel even more justified after seeing what has become of Dancing Dogs blister on her heel.
The worst part of it all was that there isn’t a latrine here. I had to dig my first hole for peanut butter. My hot water bottle trick is proving quite popular tonight.
EFG
Hi Curtis and Pam
Looks like you’re making pretty good time. Are you still thinking of the end of April-first of May for Damascus? Don’t forget to let us know two days ahead – it will take us that long to get there.
We rode bikes yesterday – our first ride since Feb. 19. It’s cold for the next few days and we’re expecting some snow this afternoon but is supposed to be in the 50s and 60s and rain by the end of the week andinto the weekend.
As always, be safe!
We can’t tell for certain yet because we hope our pace picks up as it gets warmer. We are hoping more to mid-April. We’re stuck in Gatlinburg for a few days because of snow