Tried pushing through a storm on the Appalachian Trail and it cost me a night

I was about 8 miles south of Harpers Ferry last month when the sky just opened up. Thought I could keep going since I only had 4 miles to the shelter, but the trail turned into a creek and I couldn't see the blazes anymore. Ended up hunkering under a rock overhang for 3 hours until a ridge runner came by and pointed me to a road half a mile east. Hitched into town soaked and paid $60 for a motel room. Anyone else misjudged a weather window and had to bail?

3 comments

3 Comments

spencer_moore398d ago

Read somewhere that something like 80% of hiker injuries happen on days with bad weather. Guess that 60 bucks was cheaper than a helicopter ride.

gavins438d ago

Did I read somewhere that 80% of bad decisions also happen in bad weather... because I feel like that stat applies to me personally. I once ignored a "trail closed" sign in a drizzle because I thought I was invincible, ended up sliding down a muddy hill on my back like a human toboggan. Saved the 60 bucks on gear, but my ego took a hit that still hasn't recovered.

wren_carr1d agoMost Upvoted

So @gavins43, how's that ego doing now... still sore like a bruised tailbone?