April 24, 2021

Up at daylight to get started before the rain. It wasn’t long before it started as a gentle rain but soon became steady.  Cold Wind picked up to about 20 mph.  That plus tired legs pushed me to shorten today’s hike; only 7 miles.  The combination of cold and rain are hiker crypto nite. My extra couple miles yesterday put me out in front of those hiking from the last shelter which turned out to be fortuitous as I was able to snag the last spot  in Little Laurel Shelter.  A quick change into dry clothes and into the sleeping bag to get warm.  Didn’t have to set up my tent in rain and wind.   There are strong, cold wind gusts.  So there are six of us staying warm in our sleeping bags waiting out  the storm today in the shelter.  About 8 hikers are sheltering in their tents nearby to survive the storm.

Rain should end overnight and winds diminish over the day tomorrow.  Forecast says we should get sun tomorrow afternoon.😊