Kevin's AT Thru Hike

Day 15, Thursday, 3/31 – I stayed dry through the night in the shelter. The wind really was something, there were branches falling and hitting the roof of the shelter through the night.

The stated capacity of the shelter was 14, but we ended up cramming in 20 people and 2 dogs. That includes the 4 people that were sleeping on Desperation Ledge (the ledge beside the bunks that was only partially protected from the weather), and the 2 people sleeping on the benches (not at all protected from the weather).

Story Time was sleeping on Desperation Ledge right below me. Before she went to bed, I saw her putting her feet into a dry bag, preparing for the storm. I offered her my rain jacket, and she accepted. In the morning, I saw the jacket over her head. She said it was the only thing that kept her face protected from the rain. I had a good laugh in the morning.

Stitches found an inflatable pillow next to her tent in the morning. Clearly, the wind had taken it from someone overnight. I was one of the last ones out of camp, so I decided to take it with me, hoping to find it’s owner. I ran into Music Man on the hike, who claimed the pillow. He was sleeping on Desperation Ledge next to Story Time. He said the wind sucked the pillow away from him in the night. He was certainly happy to be reunited with his pillow.

I hiked 15 miles with Sprite today. I really appreciate her company. We ended the day at Cable Gap Shelter, which is at mile 159. It was a tough hike today. A lot of steep incline. Again my feet hurt, this time it was my heels. I took some ibuprofen which made things better.

I will be in Fontana Dam tomorrow after a 5 mile hike. The plan is to have a short day tomorrow, then a zero day the day after tomorrow. We all need to rest up before the Smokies. There is a 6 day hike through the Smokies without resupply.