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Posted by Tim Holloway [67.140.195.37] on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 23:09:42 :
Live and learn!
So in planning my pack, I had a decision to make. My good tent at 6 pounds, or my Sons bivy at 3 pounds. The 3 pound bivy won out. It was fine the first 2 nights, which were clear. Last night at about 4 AM it began to rain. Within 10 minutes waterwas dripping on my face and everything else. As I felt my sleeping bag soak through, I struggled into my clothes and rain suit. I stuffed my sleeping bag into its sack to try to minimize its exposure. I laid on my pad in the water until about 6:45. Still pitch dark, I got up and packed all my gear up and stood in the lee of a tree to get out of the wind and rain. finally by about 7:15 it was light enough to see the trail. I told my hiking companion Mike (comfortably dry in his tent!) that I was heading out to try to get dry at the next shelter a couple of miles away. We agreed to meet up there later as the weather cleared. I got to the shelter and cooked up some breakfast and got warmed up. I turned on my cell phone in case Mike was to call. I saw I had a message and when I listened to it, it was from Bob Spooner, who lives nearby. He was saying to call if I needed anything. It seemed like providence, so I gave him a call. I hiked a couple miles to a road crossing and was picked up by Bob. He took me to a local outfitter who was happy to sell me a proper 1 man lightweight tent (and name their new addition in my honor). We went back to his house and did my laundry, dried out my sleeping bag and other gear. Got a hot shower and a great dinner and will stay at his house tonight. Tomorrow Bob is going to take me to another road crossing and I will meet back up with Mike and Melissa and its back to the trail!
The Power Wagon community is alive and well!
Thanks Bob!
Tim
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