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June 26 2001

Distance Traveled: 11.3 (+1.1 in side trails)     Total Miles: 30.4 (32.3)

Location: Rainbow Springs Campground.

Entry:

Last night it warmed up sometime before midnight. At midnight I awoke sweating and ended up uncovering and stripping down some. At 0400 a storm started. At first I didn't believe it because "Riders on the Storm" by The Doors was on the radio and I assumed the noises were part of the song until the song was over and the storm noise kept going. I woke at 0630 to light rain, after about 15 minutes I decided to get out and pack before the rain started hard. I barely beat the rain, but I made it a few hundred yards before the bottom opened up.

I was planning on going to Siler's Bald, but the lightning and heavy rain made me decide Siler's Bald Shelter would be better. The north approach down to the shelter was very steep, I would hate to go up that way. I finally made it to the shelter which was full of people still sleeping. 

A father (the only one up) his son, and three men traveling together. They were planning to stay there until the rain quit, but also wanted to move on to Cold Spring Shelter. I was just looking for a dry place to do a map check and eat some brunch. They had spread out all over the shelter and had a plethora of gear. The rain kept coming and they seemed uninterested in doing much. The father acted like he had cabin fever. I mentioned it and he told me that they had been there since 1300 the previous day.

I got some water and food, then finally pushed off saying "Don't stay too dry". A few hundred yards down the trail I yelled "The rain god is a pussy!" hoping the rain would keep on coming. I had intended in my original plan to head on to Rock Gap Shelter then go to Rainbow Springs Campground the next day to re-supply, but decided since I was so ahead of schedule I decided to go walk in and do laundry, shower, and stay at the bunkhouse, then head on the next day. 

Rainbow Springs is a great hiker friendly place, just be on good behavior and don't expect a 5 star hotel with maid service. I recommend this place to everyone. For $15 you get a nice bunk and use of the bath house. They sell hiking supplies, some gear, and even sell food down to the individual packet - stuff like oatmeal and grits.

Oh, BTW, on my way down the mountain to Wallace Gap, I said "The sun god is a pussy!"  Guess what? It quit raining and now it's beautiful here. Listening to the radio they are getting hail north of here. I wonder if those guys ever left the shelter?

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