A Shared Catastrophe

A family life guru once gave a lecture that encouraged families to camp together if they wanted to create lasting memories and have experiences that would bind them together.  Why camping?  Guaranteed shared catastrophes.  Such catastrophes usually include the weather, food, wild critter encounters, wild critter encounters where they eat your food, the weather, etc.

NOBOs who experienced the weather in the Smokies the first week of April 2016 shared a catastrophe.  Even into Virginia it is still an item of conversation: were you in the Smokies the first week of  April?

For those of you who were not – it was cold.  And windy.  Snow and ice rained down. I heard later that they closed 441 from Gatlinburg to Cherokee for two days.

I was on top of Clingman’s Dome, the tallest point on the AT, on one of the coldest, windiest days.  There was a half inch of ice on the ramp up to the top of the lookout tower.  Of course, you have to go to the top of the lookout tower.  The ice hung heavily on the tree branches; you had to either duck under them or  nudge them out of the way, which resulted in an ice shower.20160407_105057

Because it was so cold, I decided to do Newfound Gap to Standing Bear in two days, and overnighted at TriCorner Shelter, which was packed out, people sleeping on the ground out front, but a good spirit as we shared the experience. The ice and snow refroze overnight, and it was very slippery leaving TriCorner.  Slip slidin’ down the trail (without falling!) I tweaked a couple of tendons.  But someone had predicted, correctly, that as we lost altitude, we would go below the snow line.  Sure enough, the afternoon trail was clear, the temp  warmer.

About two thirds of the way down I spotted this critter, two steps before I would have had a close encounter.  Somehow I think I backed up 20 feet without touching the ground.  I hike without my hearing aids, so I couldn’t hear the warning it gave.  But I saw the rattlers vibrating.  Of course it was on a very steep hill, and no way to bushwack around the thing.  It took me 5 minutes or so to get up the nerve to slowly step around it with about a 5 foot space.20160411_144640

I knew that Bald Eagle and Hoodie were 10 minutes behind me, and that one of them hiked without their hearing aids.  And if they were like me, they were probably so relieved to be below the snow and ice line, enjoying the almost warm weather, that they could have their own close encounter.

So I waited for them.

Sure enough, they didn’t see the snake until I pointed it out when they were 10 feet away.

We agreed: no way should you have to battle snow and ice in the morning, and dodge rattlesnakes in the afternoon!

That is our shared catastrophe.  Cold weather and a rattlesnake.  Whenever I run into those two on the trail, they tell others that I “saved them” from a rattlesnake.  Wish I’d gotten their picture with the snake.

But we were too rattled.

Dave Michel, aka Pitchit

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Comments 4

  • Karyn : May 11th

    Loved your post and pictures. I will look forward to reading more from you. You mentioned The Whites, do you live in NH?

    Reply
  • Debbie Holley : May 19th

    I think I may have given you a ride to Damascus earlier today – around 11am? Anyway… you said you had a blog and I decided to see if I could find you – this one says “Dave Michel”… The Delaware couple…right? I had a nice time visiting with you and it brought back so many wonderful memories of my two daughters on the AT. Thanks for that – and I hope all goes well – ALL THE WAY TO KATADIN!!! If you need a hand in the next few days while you are still in the area – give me a call – 276-608-5325

    Reply
    • Debbie Holley : May 19th

      The more I re-read this port – I doubt I have the right hiker… anyway… good luck!

      Reply
    • Dave michel : May 25th

      Wrong guy. I’m from Indiana. Is there another Dave Michel on the AT?

      Reply

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