Day 15: Nothing is waterproof, not even your mind

Today can almost be summed up in one sentence: we walked in the rain.

The forecast said it should start raining last night, but the sun came out and… it didn’t rain. Which bothered us a little, because we slept in the shelter to escape the rain and we both haven’t slept much. That’s because we share shelter with a hiker named “Trombone.” We find out very quickly why it is called that.

Usually my dad is the loud snorer who keeps me awake, but even he, with half his hearing lost, couldn’t close an eye last night. He vowed never to sleep in a shelter again. While I feel your sentiment, I also thought it was a little funny that he, for the first time, endured the fate he is often the cause of.

And then it started to rain

It’s raining a lot. Had a tough climb to Choah Bald, followed by a climb of slippery rocks on the way down. My dad slipped and fell on his butt, which frustrated him a little. His poncho also fails him, because it keeps getting caught and unbuttoned. It’s also difficult to put it on every time. Will buy a waterproof jacket when he can.

Before we started, a friend gave my dad a pair of waterproof socks. But waterproofing is no match for the Appalachian rains. He got soaked.

When we reached the next gap, it cleared up a bit. We even have a little magic on the trail in the form of fruit! Thank you friends of the Great Smokies!

Jarrod was here too. He keeps his electronic devices in a small waterproof bag on the strap of his backpack. But he also came to the same conclusion: nothing here is truly waterproof. I hope everything continues to work.

We walked to the next shelter for lunch and a chance to dry our feet and gear a bit. The moment we wanted to start walking again, it started to rain again. This is where discipline is crucial. We started walking anyway!

The rain affected me

We still don’t care much about walking in the rain. It’s not that bad. The terrible thing is setting up camp. It was a long 15 mile day, we arrived around 7pm. Even though it was falling at high speed, we wanted to sleep in our tents. We need uninterrupted sleep. Even if we wanted to sleep in the shelter, it was already completely full.

Setting up my tent is never a problem, but of course this time I had to mess up the order. After rearranging it a bit, the zipper didn’t close properly. No! You’re not betraying me! Not now!! After a few failed attempts (and more luck than wisdom), it fixed itself. Phew, that’s a relief.

But I still need to hang the bear. And let this campsite be the place where there is not a good tree in sight. All straight like a sail in the air, without branches at the right height. But I found one! And…someone is making a hammock right under that tree. Shoot… This single task took me over an hour! I NEED that bear can!!

It’s late, I’m tired, frustrated and everything is wet, muddy and dirty. I feel defeated. The rain has affected me. Not even my mind is waterproof. I don’t even have the energy to eat anything tonight. I alone. Want. A. Sleep. Let all this end.

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit the About page of this site.