March 28, 1997 (Day 9 – milepoint 85.0 – Standing Indian Mountain)
Roaming Gnome tweaked his knee and took the day off. He might be done, unfortunately, but is considering finding a way to the Nantahala River to meet us in a few days.
A little over 4 miles into the mildly rainy morning, Ned and I crossed the Georgia-North Carolina state line. One state down, only 13 to go! Our welcome to NC was harsh. A long steep climb coupled with a heavy downpour of rain, we started today at around 2900′ and ended on top of Standing Indian Mountain at 5500′. After a quick stop at the very full Standing Indian Shelter, we headed to the summit to make camp and enjoy a potentially nice sunrise in the morning. Others at the shelter mentioned concern of lightning, but we heard it was suppose to clear and were confident the worst had passed.
We were joined at the summit by Roo (from Chicago) and Yard Dog (from South Carolina). After a couple of hours up there, Ned shouted over to me from his tent to discuss the intensity of the thunder and lightning. I wasn’t sleeping and was open to suggestions. Since we were at the highest point for miles around, we agreed we should get lower for a little while until the storm passed. We woke up Roo and Yard Dog, all put on our rain coats and walked down through the woods about 30 yards. The four of us, shivering and wet, sitting on the ground in a torrential downpour, surrounded by thunder and lightning, with full appreciation and respect for mother nature. We all agreed there was no place we’d rather be.
Storm passed. Back into our tents. Storm returned. Back down the hill. Roo and Yard Dog stayed in their tent this time. Brave or lazy?
After a while, it was like being at the disco up there – heavy rain and thunder providing the beat and strobe light lightning never more than 2 seconds between flashes. A few blinding body jarring hits fortunately avoided the tents and us as Ned and I sat through the concert for over an hour.
Storm passed. Back in our tents. Storm returned.
We weren’t sleeping, so at around 4 am we accepted defeat and broke camp. Roo and Yard Dog elected to stay. Every part of me and every piece of gear was soaking wet. Ned and I walked the six miles down the mountain to Carter Gap Shelter where I now write. We actually did catch a beautiful sunrise through the scattering clouds on the way down. Everything is hanging out to dry. We arrived at 6 am and nobody’s here. That is good because I’m grumpy and probably look pretty scary.
Aquaholic
March 28, 2009
Big snow storm this week in Colorado so I took advantage and went skiing today. Another great day up there that got my contemplative juices flowing.
Though I have been able to land a few consulting projects, technically, I have been unemployed now for two months. I often feel the pressure to just go after any old job that pays… There is plenty of logic to that and it is difficult to put into words why it feels so horribly wrong at this moment.
I trust what I am feeling. I move closer to the right path when I allow my heart to lead. But when I am in my head, I get distracted, and it is difficult to progress.
Fortunately, I was not in my head today.
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