Rain Rain Don’t go (Day 25)

I woke up knowing that it was going to rain today. On a trail known for rain, you wouldn’t think this is big news. But since I started the AT almost four weeks ago, I only remember two days of rain. So it’s no surprise that the ATC strongly discouraged campfires in Georgia, and that we found complete burn bans in parts of North Carolina and Tennessee.

Last minute stay in a hostel?

We knew it was going to rain, but we weren’t sure when it would come. Some hikers left camp early this morning, hoping to get a place to spend the night at Standing Bear Hostel, about 10 miles from the trail. I hadn’t originally planned to stay or resupply there, so I was leaning toward skipping it regardless of the weather.

The sky opens

It turned out to be one of the most wonderful days of hiking. I normally enjoy the rain and since it’s not cold, it didn’t bother me at all. In no rush to get to a hostel, I took the morning easy. After walking about 6 miles, I stopped for lunch at the Davenport Gap Shelter and sat inside while drinking hot chocolate. Outside, I could hear the rain starting to drizzle and I knew our “bad” weather had finally arrived. I packed my things and left.

I was thinking about how much hikers sometimes fear the rain, but how much the forest seems to love it. After such a drought, everything seemed to come alive the moment the water touched it. I saw a lot of wildlife today, from snails to snakes and salamanders. They almost seemed to welcome the rain with open arms (although the salamander is the only one that has arms).

Memories

Not long after Davenport Gap, I stopped by a small stream to filter water. There was no one else around and the water flowed quickly over the moss-covered rocks. The forest was very green today and I sat and listened to the rain hitting the leaves. For a moment I imagined building a small house here and never leaving again. It’s something I would have dreamed of as a child. I wonder at what age we stop having those thoughts. When is the last time your mind conjures up a cabin by a stream?

Today I walked mostly alone, enjoying time to myself. We left the Smoky Mountains and it felt like an accomplishment. The first since leaving Georgia. There were also some interesting parts of the road to walk and at one point I saw a group of rafters take off across the Pigeon River. After 13 miles, I camped with a group of friends. The rain stopped for a brief dinner and now I’m in my tent listening to more rain. It was a good day.

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