April 8, 2016 - Day 21

I received a couple of text pictures early this morning.  No words necessary, though the second picture came with the caption below.



Morning Snow

"Help, I'm freezing!  Bring me a hot cup of coffee?"

A bad storm was coming, so Ken left early and hiked fast for 6 miles to the Spence Field Shelter to ensure they could have 4 bunks in the shelter.  Limey had now joined them as a traveling companion and they were now a quad of hikers.  Ken got there around noon and the rest met up with him at 2 pm.  Even though the shelter is only 3-sided, it had multiple bunks and a fireplace.  Ken had already started to scavenge for wood (none available close to the shelter) and the others joined him.  With temperatures estimated to hit 20 or below, they wanted to make sure they had enough wood to keep the fire going throughout the evening and night to come.

 

The shelter filled up quickly and many hikers continued on to try to make it to the next shelter at Derrick Knob, 6 miles further down trail.  The Spence Field Shelter is meant to hold 12, but with the storm they stacked like cord wood and fit more in to sleep on the floor.

 

Ken had a hot meal of broccoli and noodles.  The afternoon was spent telling tall tales, I am sure.

 

Limey, Southpaw, unknown, unknown, IWOX



Ken worried after the hikers who went on ahead and hoped that they found shelter before the storm hit.

 

Mile 183.2

Elevation 4,915