Nothin' Could Be Finer...
by Thomas Larkin on 03/26/13Monday, March 25, 2013:
After a wonderful breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits, blueberry pancakes, oj and hot coffee, we got a ride to Dicks Creek Gap with Ripper, an Ohio schoolteacher on break. As we left the Blueberry Patch a light snow began falling. OB (hiking buddy) and I reached Plumorchard Gap Shelter by noon, so we grabbed a quick bite and set out for Bly Gap campsite just into NC. Got there at 3:00 pm, despite the wind and snow, so we decided to push on to Muskrat Creek shelter - big mistake! All uphill, steady snow, and heavy winds, bad chill factor, gusts up to 40 MPH. Regardless, we made it by 5:00 pm, cold, tired, wet and struggled to set up our tents in the wind and falling temps. Successful, and now to get warm. I quickly blue up (not misspelled) my mattress pad and threw my pack inside. Pulled out my sleeping bag and warmed up in about 30 min. After warming I ate a quick dinner of beef jerkey. This warmed me more. Now ready to turn in. I have put on almost all of my clothes - several layers. Turning in now; expecting temps in the high 20's. See the photo of me in the snow!
PS from Tom - I just talked to Dave and he told me about his harrowing experiences today (Tuesday) in knee deep snow sliding around the mountain. He's headed to Atlanta for a few days with OB to rest and get their legs back while they wait out the weather. They hope to be back on the trail by Thursday. He'll send a post about today as well as his adventures in Atlanta...
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