Even by breakfast I was aware the things were not going well. My ankles were beginning to make their old complaints and I was not walking a rocky path. My big concern, however, is the heat.
July 18, 2013
Yesterday afternoon's thunderstorm turned out to be only a prelude to the symphony that followed in the night. Act two was Thunderous Magnifico, follow by a grand finale, Rainfalliness Overpowerimisino!!! In other words, the thunder and lightning was incredible, followed by hard pounding rain. My tent has been sealed for rain and stays dry under normal conditions, but nothing could keep out a rain of that volume and intensity. The result is wet gear once again! I hate to admit it, but I'm almost getting used to this routine.
I was up and packed and on the trail before 7:00 am. My hope is to have some sunshine this afternoon to dry out my gear before the storms hit again tonight. The forecast is a 50% chance with a warning for violent storms possible. I hope to be safe in a shelter tonight before that happens.
. . . . . .
I wrote the paragraphs above while eating breakfast on the trail just a short time after leaving my campsite. It is now 1:20 pm, and I'm sitting in the shade along state route 42 to who knows where. The trail crosses the road here and there is also a little parking area and private picnic pavilion. This is the last link with the outside world for the next 50 miles or so.
It has taken me all day to come the 5.3 miles to this spot. The last few miles had me wondering if I would be able to even reach this point. Even by breakfast I was aware the things were not going well. My ankles were beginning to make their old complaints and I was not walking a rocky path. My big concern, however, is the heat. I was feeling the effects of the temperature yesterday afternoon, but by 8:00 this morning I knew I was in trouble. I have been drinking all the water that I can find, but I am also sweating at an unbelievable rate. I am glad to know that my body is still sweating and trying to cool itself, but all the signs of heat exhaustion are manifesting themselves at this point.
My fear is to press on beyond here puts me in a remote location where I might have difficulty getting help. My phone does not work, and there are no real road crossings after this one. I don't have the strength right now to even get to the next shelter and water, which is about 2.5 miles further on. I think that I have reached the end of what I can do and remain safe.
Yesterday afternoon's thunderstorm turned out to be only a prelude to the symphony that followed in the night. Act two was Thunderous Magnifico, follow by a grand finale, Rainfalliness Overpowerimisino!!! In other words, the thunder and lightning was incredible, followed by hard pounding rain. My tent has been sealed for rain and stays dry under normal conditions, but nothing could keep out a rain of that volume and intensity. The result is wet gear once again! I hate to admit it, but I'm almost getting used to this routine.
I was up and packed and on the trail before 7:00 am. My hope is to have some sunshine this afternoon to dry out my gear before the storms hit again tonight. The forecast is a 50% chance with a warning for violent storms possible. I hope to be safe in a shelter tonight before that happens.
. . . . . .
I wrote the paragraphs above while eating breakfast on the trail just a short time after leaving my campsite. It is now 1:20 pm, and I'm sitting in the shade along state route 42 to who knows where. The trail crosses the road here and there is also a little parking area and private picnic pavilion. This is the last link with the outside world for the next 50 miles or so.
It has taken me all day to come the 5.3 miles to this spot. The last few miles had me wondering if I would be able to even reach this point. Even by breakfast I was aware the things were not going well. My ankles were beginning to make their old complaints and I was not walking a rocky path. My big concern, however, is the heat. I was feeling the effects of the temperature yesterday afternoon, but by 8:00 this morning I knew I was in trouble. I have been drinking all the water that I can find, but I am also sweating at an unbelievable rate. I am glad to know that my body is still sweating and trying to cool itself, but all the signs of heat exhaustion are manifesting themselves at this point.
My fear is to press on beyond here puts me in a remote location where I might have difficulty getting help. My phone does not work, and there are no real road crossings after this one. I don't have the strength right now to even get to the next shelter and water, which is about 2.5 miles further on. I think that I have reached the end of what I can do and remain safe.
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