4/17/01
SNOWSTORM # 2 blasted in last night! The sound of precipitation pelting onto the tent around 2 a.m. woke me. I thought it was rain but didn't bother turning on my headlamp or opening the tent door to see. When the alarm went off at 6:30 it had stopped, but the sides of my tent were sagging inward so I knew it was snow. Of all the thru-hikers tenting, I was the first one up. After clearing the snow from the tent inside, I opened the vestibule to find 3' of heavy wet snow on the ground. After eating breakfast and packing up, a short lived snowball fight erupted. Seems the Rabbit couldn't resist bombing a couple of tents and a couple of people! Denis, Freebird, and Dimples reciprocated, and despite all three of them originating from cold snowy states, the Rabbit was triumphant with the offensive onslaught (I haven't lost my touch throwing things accurately!)
The skies appeared to be clearing and I started hiking by 8:30. The wind was howling and it was very cold, but without snow falling it seemed at the time that the worst was over. Boy was I wrong! After climbing 1000 feet, the snow on the trail was much deeper. About the time I reached the ridgeline where winds are the strongest, the snow began falling. Within minutes I was in a white-out, with snow viciously pelting my face to the point I had to turn my back to the wind several times to regain my vision. My best estimate of wind chill is -10 degrees, an unbelievable change in conditions after hitting 85-87 degrees just a week ago. The snow finally stopped but I didn't, because stopping meant getting cold. I finally made it to Jerry Cabin shelter by 11:30, but it seemed like FOREVER with intermittent snow showers and the incessant violent wind gusts blowing snow all over the place. After a quick lunch and no stopping for water (the bottles were freezing up), I kept hiking. At times on the higher sections of trail today the snow was 1 foot deep with higher drifts. Haven't we already done this routine back in Georgia? By mid-afternoon I was sick and tired of the cold and snow, which many people who know me will be shocked to learn considering I'm a snowholic like little brother Eric. OK, I admit it. I hate hiking in the snow when it's cold and windy! Why do people want to live up north?
After arriving at Flint Mountain shelter and reading trail register entries and writing one myself, I moved out of that cold windy shelter to a campsite about a mile beyond the shelter. The tent will be warmer and absent of wind and I know it will be extremely cold tonight. There are four tents in our site tonight. Tadpole is right next to me, and Freebird and Dimples and Denis and Alex are a few yards below us. I cooked soup and supper within the confines of my tent and vestibule, and only ventured out briefly just minutes ago for a quick water refill, bathroom relief, and to hang the bear bag. It is absolutely miserable outside with the wind blowing 40 mph (per the weather radio and temperature at 25 degrees). It's only 8 p.m. but everyone was in the respective tents by 6:45 and I am getting ready to get in my sleeping bag which is only rated to 25 degrees. It's cold, cold, cold tonight and I'm ready for spring to get here and stay for awhile. I'm too cold to write anymore tonight, so here are the stats: Low 24 degrees, high 27; snowstorm. Happy one month on the trail to me. Wish I was back in Hot Springs in a room. Today's mileage: 13.5; cumulative 304.0. Oh happy day, crossed the 300 mile mark and felt like I was hiking on Mt. Everest instead of the sunny south. RABBIT
