I started driving with no idea where to go or what to do; I only knew that I needed time to myself to release the stress that had built up over the past few weeks. Being a parent has its challenges; being the parent of a teenager...well, you get the idea. Marriage takes work; feeling like the only contributor (even while realizing that feeling is not accurate)...well, you get the idea.
So, at 12:02 p.m. on a Saturday, I found myself driving with no plans. Then I thought of Mountain Mama. I pulled my car off to the side of the road and pressed the call button for MM's number. Thinking she would probably already be on a trail somewhere, I doubted she would answer. I was thrilled when she did.
"Hey, MM, where are you? Would you like to go backpacking today?" I asked. She answered that I had caught her at just the right time and she would love to go.
I relayed my thoughts and we made plans for me to pick her up after I shopped for some trail food.
Two hours later we were at the selected trail head and ready to soak in the peacefulness. We hiked the short 1.5 miles (south on the Appalachian Trail) from Fox Creek to Old Orchard Shelter. The tread contained lots of roots, the terrain was a gentle uphill slope, and the environment was a leafless, hardwood grove, for the most part. We did hike through some rhododendrons early on.
While approaching the shelter, we noticed a hiker and then a second. Initially, I thought we would be sharing our home for the night with a couple of guys. A few steps closer, and MM thought it was a man and a woman. I was a little more comfortable with that. Another few steps closer revealed the truth: two women. I was very pleased with that. Eventually, I am sure, I will end up in a shelter with people of the male persuasion. However, as I'm fairly new to backpacking and shelter sleeping, I am thankful to be "easing" into sharing sleeping quarters with strangers.
The four of us exchanged trail names (Canvas, Bugs, Sly, and Mountain Mama) and chatted while we casually did chores. Food bags were hung, wood was gathered, and the fire stoked. Reportedly, a dozen students from Appalachia College (?) had left the shelter shortly before we arrived. One of the four fire rings was still smoldering which allowed us to transfer coals and rekindle a camp fire.
Although I had intended on pitching my tent, we decided to try sleeping in the shelter. This would be my second "shelter sleep" and, I confess, I was a bit nervous about mice. As it turned out, it was a great experience. No mice harrassed me or my gear, I was pretty comfortable, and had peace. However, with two snorers present, I did not sleep much. I normally don't sleep well the first night out, even when my husband and son are with me.
Canvas and Bugs were the first to awake and pack up. Not wanting to disturb us, I assume, they hiked off without saying good bye, while MM and I were still in our bags. A bit later, I heard more evidence of someone being up and around. When I was finally able to open my eyes, I peered outside to gauge the daylight hoping to estimate the time. What I saw was tiny snowflakes falling steadily, with a slight accumulation on the picnic table. (The picture below does not show the degree of rain/snow fall.) I think my jaw hit the floor, because I was surprised by the cooler temperature. When I found myself thinking, "I've never camped in the snow before." I was a little excited at the level of experience I've accomplished as a hiker.
Not wanting to get out of a warm bag, I lingered while mulling over my next few priorities: what clothing to hike in; and whether to stick to our original hiking plan, or hike out and call it a day. Since MM had already retrieved our food bags, I got up to prepare breakfast.
I had packed mittens and a rain jacket, but MM was braving the elements with bare hands. I suggested she use her extra socks as hand covers, but she opted to tough it out. We had planned to hike to the summit of Pine mountain and then return to the trail-head, which would have been an eight and one half mile hike. Because we didn't know how severe the weather would become, we decided to hike out after breakfast.
We cooked, ate, cleaned up, and packed up our gear. Just as we finished and were about to put on our packs, a north-bound thru-hiker came in to camp. Although we never got his trail name, he was a very pleasant young (20-something) man. We discussed the usual: where did you start, where are you headed, will you re-supply in Marion.
MM and I started back to my vehicle. We had a quick hike and met three south-bound hikers.
Overall, I am pleased with this trip for a few reasons. First, I was able to be in the woods to recover my sanity. Second, I slept in a shelter and was not afraid. Third, I survived backpacking in the snow (light as it was.) And fourth, I realized I have accomplished a degree of flexibility. Plans sometimes have to change as the input changes. The weather changed, and we adapted. I'll take that.
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