May 17: Pickle Branch Shelter
 
Miles Today : 22.3
Total Miles : 135.2

Rain, rain, go away. Another night of downpours, last night. Titanium and Ice rolled in late to find a full shelter in the middle of the heaviest rain of the night. So, in the middle of the storm, they had to set up their tarp. We all watched this event, happy that it wasn't us, but also feeling bad for them. There just was not enough room left for both of them.

I got moving first thing this morning, trying to get warm in the cold rain. Since I am now doing the ultralight hiking thing, I don't carry a lot of clothing. Sure, I have a rain jacket, but that is also something that I wear in camp when it gets cold. So, if I wear it during the day and get the inside wet, then I can't wear it with my dry clothing at camp, so I have to get in my bag faster. Given that, if possible, I try to hike just in my shorts and tee shirt during the day, even in the 45-degree rain like today. It's not that hard, once I get moving, my body temperature goes up and I become quite comfortable, actually. However, that first half-hour or so is pretty miserable.

So it was today, me heading out into the storm, cold and shaking, trying to hike fast to stay warm while my feet splashed through cold puddles. I started out today with Colonel because we had a few tricky water crossings (because of all the rain) right off the bat today. Nothing that scared me, but if you can do a water crossing with someone, why not? After about a mile, Colonel and I were still walking together and we came across an old house, right in the middle of the woods, miles from the nearest road. This was no log cabin either, it was a big, two story house. Part of the roof had collapsed but the bottom floor was in good shape and was completely dry. It would have made a very good shelter for the five hikers that had to tent out last night, but no one had known about it.

Only a couple of highlights to report from today's hike. The first was a vicious goat attack! Apparently, several years ago, some goats escaped from a local farm and made their way to the AT. Now, generations later, these goats have learned to live near the trail and mooch off of hikers. I saw three of them today, and they all approached me and started licking my legs for the salt. When I took off my pack and started looking for my camera, one of them stuck her head inside my pack looking for something to eat. Another started licking my rain jacket. All was well, though, I got a few photos and they got some salt.

The only other highlight from today was the thicket of rhododendron that was in full bloom. For a few hundred yards, the dull and foggy trail was brightened by an abundance of purple flowers. In the fog, the flowers had almost a metallic aura surrounding them that really made them stick out. When I turned the corner and first saw them, I was really taken aback by this sight.

Later in the day, I went by the Audie Murphy monument. The most decorated soldier in World War II died in a plane crash along this ridge of Brushy Mountain. The monument was erected near the spot of his crash.

I am here at the shelter tonight with Colonel and Green Light. This shelter is a good half-mile off of the AT, and I would have never walked that far for a place to sleep, but it looks like another rainy night. Most shelters and campsites are either on the trail, or just a few hundred feet away, why they put this place so far off the trail I don't know. It is not even in a nice location, and water is still a good walk from here. This is somewhat aggravating. Well, it is now 7:30 and the rain has showed up once again, along with the thunder. Hopefully, this nasty weather system will move along soon.

-Chomp

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