Not much happened today. Lots of rock hopping on the downhill...more than expected. The good thing about hiking in North Carolina is that the trail (so far) is a much gentler grade. And it doesn't insist on going to the absolute top of every mountain we climb over. In Georgia you think you are at the top...then you have another 500 feet climb up to the top.
We got to deep gap and there was an old dude on his cell phone, describing some hikers who were "prepared to spend the night". Turns out he had driven from Florida with three other guys, and they were planning to section hike to Franklin. Except, the 3 guys took off and got themselves lost before they even got on the AT. He was on the phone with the forest service to get help finding them.
We went on to the shelter. Met a dude named Dozer (like bulldozer, because he just goes through anything on the trail). He hiked the northern part of the trail last year, and is back to finish the southern half. Pretty nice guy. He was a little concerned about sleeping cold; the low in Franklin was supposed to be 24, and we were 2000 feet higher. (The rule for predicting temps in the mountains is 3.6 degrees cooler for every 1000 feet higher). Dozer had a hammock and a 30 degree bag, so he was going to sleep in the shelter.
The lost hikers were found, and got to the shelter way before sunset. They went the wrong way on a trail and hiked a couple miles before dead ending and realizing their mistake. They acted like it was no big deal but I think the guy did the right thing by calling for help when he they didn't show up 6 hrs after they were supposed to.
OWL washed her shorts, and hung them to dry in the sun. They froze solid before the sun went down, and had icicles hanging off the corners!
We slept in our tents (slightly warmer than the shelter). One trick Is to heat up water and put into a nalgene/platypus, then put the nalgene in your sleeping bag with you. Oooh warm feet are the best.
Managed to sleep okay. Old dude said his watch said it was 19 before windchill. I have a 15 degree bag, a silk liner (adds about 5 degrees), and a 15 degree insulated sleeping pad. I did wake up in the middle of the night with one hand absolutely freezing, it was outside the sleeping bag. All that technology doesn't help if you sleep with parts out in the cold!
I was super slow getting out of camp (as usual...this is no different than at home). I just kept hoping the sun would melt the frost off my tent!
I am not eating enough. I have zero appetite and it is hard to eat, even when I think of food as fuel.
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