| April 23, 24, and 25, 2005 |
| PAGE
2 |
|
Newfound Gap to Pecks Shelter - 214.6
miles from Springer Mt. |
| When we arrived at Newfound
Gap the rain had turned to light sleet with gusting winds. the wind
was so strong that it just about blew me over when I stepped out of
the car. The wind was so strong that it just about blew me
over when I stepped out of the car. My backpack rain cover was
unhooked which caught the wind making my pack and me a giant balloon
ready to take off with the next gust of wind. The young man
who was quite patient hooked the snaps of my rain cover into
the buckle on my pack. |
| The three guys took off to
the restroom and I started North on the AT towards Icewater Shelter
a distance of 3 miles. The sleet and wind was beating against
my rain hat and face. I was on the trail about 10 minutes when
I came to vertical rocks that I had to step up on with my short legs
and pack weight. My pack weight shifted backwards causing me
to loose my balance and down the rock slide I went on my back with
poles flying everywhere, I gathered myself up, got my poles,
managed to get on my knees and crawled up the rocks to where I could
finally stand up. A little while later I met two day hikers
coming south toward Newfound Gap, I remarked to them, "If you guys
would have been here a few minutes earlier, you would have seen the
acrobat from the Three Ring Circus," I was certainly glad that no
one was around to see me fall. We exchanged greetings and they
ask if I was OK. |
Sleet was beginning to pile up on the
rocks and roots in the trail making it very slick
and difficult to travel. Old Mr. Wind was blowing furiously,
its shilling wind from the west; ice pellets beat like daggers
against my jacket and face. I finally arrived at Icewater
Spring Shelter to rest a few minutes, eat a smack and move on
towards Pecks Corner six more miles away. |
|
Swing'n Jane |
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