Day 42

Today started okay. I had a shuttle take me back to Sam’s Gap and headed towards Big Bald and then Little Bald. Big Bald was awesome! Amazing views from up there but, boy, was it windy! I really like the open field areas. I had plans to push over a 15 mile day but I fell short of that goal. I knew that there was rain in the forecast but it looked like it would be light. Shortly around 2pm, it started to sprinkle so, no biggie, I put my rain gear on and pushed on. Then it got a little heavier, big wind gusts kicked up so I started to get quite the chill and then I started hearing rolling thunder. At that point, I was walking down into Whistling Gap and next was a .6 mile climb up High Rock that’s listed as a “summit with great views” but that doesn’t sound like something I want to climb with rolling thunder. I made the call and set up my tent as fast as I could in the rain at Whistling Gap. I just needed to get dry and warm as my fingers were numb. I think I have about 700ml of water so I’ll do with that for the night. Hopefully the rain gives me a break before sundown so I can eat something and hang my food bag. For now, I’m going to sit tight in my quilt with all my layers and keep warm and dry. I’m bummed I didn’t make my mileage goal. I was hoping to make Carver’s Gap on Friday so I can get off the trail before the rain and snow scheduled for early Saturday morning but don’t think I will now. I will deal with rain and I can deal with snow but I don’t like it when it’s rain followed by snow. That means everything is frozen solid including my tent. Already did that once. So I guess my option now is to get as far as I can before Friday to a road where I can get back to town. I don’t want to spend 3 nights in a hotel but we’ll see what happens. Hopefully this is the last snow scheduled for the area. I don’t want to deal with that in the Roan Mountains. Going to call it for the day and let’s see what tomorrow brings. Edit: The rain stopped before 6pm. I was able to go get some water, eat and hang my food bag. It’s now 8pm and the rain is back to lull me to sleep. Until tomorrow…