SATURDAY STORY - MARCH 27, 2021

 SATURDAY STORY - MARCH 27, 2021

Daniel awoke.  He was sore all over.  What had happened, where was he?  

Dan was a “thru-hiker” on the Appalachian Trail.  At age 39, he was in fantastic shape.  This was his second year to work on completing the trail.  

As a professor, and single, his summers were free.  He had always hiked and completed many of the major hikes in his area of Boone North Carolina.  Last year he had down the southern half of the hike from Springer Mountain in Northeast Georgia to New Jersey.  The halfway point is at Pine Grove Furnace near Harrisburg Pennsylvania, but he pushed onward to the Delaware River Gap where the trail entered New Jersey.

This year, his route was from New Jersey to the northern terminus at Mount Katahdin in Maine.  Last summer, he had walked well-over 1,600 miles.  The whole trail is about 2,200 miles, but you do want to get off the trail occasionally and get a real meal, and a real bed and a real HOT SHOWER as well as get more supplies.  This summer was going to be a “piece of cake” - about 900 miles (plus the side trips), and more time to get off the trail for rain or hot weather.  On real good days, he could get twenty-five miles, and even on average days, he would hike about 20 miles.  With close to 12 hours of daylight in the northeast he “could” get twenty-five miles most days.  He could be back home by August 1st.  

*****

On July 13th, Dan arrived at the Lake of the Clouds Hut with Mount Washington as tomorrow’s hike.  Mount Washington was one of the “bad boys” of the Appalachian Trail.  It was the second-highest peak on the trail, but Mount Washington was notorious for its terrible weather.  The Lake of the Clouds Hut had very good accommodations to tackle Mount Washington - protection from storms.  Volunteers actually serve dinner at 6:00 p.m. and breakfast at 7:00 the next morning. 

He arrived at about 4 p.m. time to get a nap.  He had arranged for replenishments for his backpack.  Although there were some amenities, there was no electricity, no heat, and only cold showers.  

The hut did have weather forecasts for the bad boy mountain.  When he arrived (in full sunshine), the forecast for July 14th was for mixed clouds and sun.  Dan decided that was unusual and a good forecast.  There were about six people at the hut.  But, all had conquered Mount Washington that day and were heading southwest.  Dan checked in, got his supplies, ate dinner, watched the sunset, and slept like a rock.

The forecast had changed a little by morning.  Mostly cloudy, with a 10% chance for some rain (or even snow).  In talking with the others, many had hiked Mount Washington frequently (the oldest was 73 and had done it several times). He had some stories about challenging hikes.  “Never try it alone” was his warning.  But, Dan was very experienced and had rain gear, boots, lots of water, layers of clothes.  It might be a ‘feather in his cap’ to say he did a solo ascent of Mount Washington - (Dan did have a little ego)!!!

*****

After a hearty breakfast, and knowing the sooner he made the trek, the better (as weather fronts generally moved in in the afternoon).  He said goodbye to the folks heading southwest - and stepped out.

The first two hours were okay.  He was above the treeline and could see the trail nicely.  It was cloudy and occasionally he walked through a low cloud.  It was about ten when light and cold rain started to fall.  Sheltering under a cliff, he put on his windbreaker and a warm sweatshirt.  But that rain became harder by ten-thirty with some snowflakes.  The guide book said it was about 4.5 hours to the top and Dan had already been hiking about 2.5 hours so, he was over half-way to the top.  Once at the top, where there was a hotel, the famous cog-railroad, and a large parking lot for those that took the easy way up Mount Washington, he could determine whether to stay there or continue downward.  

But, by eleven, he couldn’t hardly see.  The snow, mixed with the never-ending wind, was a blizzard.  The trail was fairly well worn and fairly easy to see - when it wasn’t covered by snow.  He slowed to a snail’s pace - kicking the snow off the trail to keep his orientation.  He tried to remember the trail map - there were some downhill spots, but mostly areas where he had to scramble and climb.  Take a few steps, make sure he was on the trail; take a few more steps; make sure he was on the trail.

Dan was not one to worry, but this worried him.  You could really get lost in a snowstorm and wander off the trail or over a cliff.  By noon, it seemed like he had gone maybe a quarter of a mile.  Even with all his layers of clothes, he was getting cold.  He had his water and his snacks as he sat in a sheltered place for a few minutes for lunch.  He prayed for protection as he continued.

But, that sheltered place was not a place to spend the night, so he had to push onward.  

Then - he slipped.  His boot had been on a rock, and, boom, then it wasn’t.  He blacked out.  

<Pollyanna alert>

He had no idea where he was.  It was dry, it was sheltered from the snow.  As the fog cleared, he realized that he had somehow found a cave.  His backpack was next to him, but not on his back.  He didn’t remember taking it off.  A wave of nausea came over him and he managed to turn his head to the side and vomited the snacks he had eaten.  He could hear the wind howling outside the cave.  Wow he thought, I must have blindly found this cave!!

Light-headed, he soon blacked out again.  

The next time he woke, there was a heavy stench in the air around him.  Keeping his eyes closed, but allowing his other senses to work, his nose did sense something was near him, his ears caught the sound of growls and feet shuffling, and his body felt paws (or were they claws) prodding him.  He focused more and listened - he couldn’t hear the wind.  Maybe it was going to clear up.  

He opened his eyes a slit, and yes, there was a black bear hovering over him.  In general, black bears don’t attack humans and prefer the grubs and fish they could catch.  The last thing he wasn’t was to frighten the bear.  He was trying to remember his beer lore - should he yell and scream and scare the bear, or should he play dead and then when the time was right hightail it out of here.  Or were the rules different as this bear probably saw a lot of humans on the Appalachian Trail?  

He decided to play dead.  If the bear was to try to take a bite out of him, he could react with shouts and screams. 

As he laid there, he slowly checked his joints.  It seemed like he could move his feet and arms.  He sensed that his pants were torn and he might have some abrasions - but it wasn’t throbbing or numb.  

Awake, he just laid there.  And eventually, the stench cleared.  Dan thought maybe the bear had gone out and opened his eyes and rolled his head - and he didn’t see a bear.  Slowly and methodically, he got up, took some nutty snacks out, and left them for the bear (after all, even a good bear might like them - although he had to be careful or the bear might come after humans seeking such snacks).  Creeping to the cave entrance a few feet away, he tried to sense anything, but it seemed clear.  And, after the morning’s weather, he could see blue skies and the sun’s rays.  

Gingerly, Dan left the cave and slowly because he was sore and stiff found the trail and in about another hour-and-one-half saw the weather tower at Mount Washington!!!  

He did stay the night in the hotel at Mount Washington and continue in the morning.  He even had a hot shower and shaved!!

*****

So, another story.  I wrote a longer version of this - and may try to make it into a novel (who knows).  I also thought of a Dr. Doolight version where Dan could talk to the animals - maybe if I write more.

Two morals to this story - one is to be prepared.  Dan had the right gear for this hike - layers of clothes, food (and suppliers), and a good attitude; and the second moral is that even with the best of plays things can happen.  Nobody starts driving to work expecting an accident or that her car will break down.  But, it happens.  Nobody thinks they are going to get cancer or Covid - but it happens.  We need to know that “stuff happens” - and be ready for it.  (And, of course, prayer can help!!!)

LOVE WINS!!!

HUGS!!!

Karen