Cold Mtn (4022'), Main Top Mtn. (4040')

Since we climbed so much yesterday and the shelter was so high, it was not much of a climb to the grassy meadow top of Cold Mtn. It lived up to its name by being colder and windier than its saddle with the heavily wooded summit of Bald Knob but its clear top provided awesome scenery in combination with the pockets of cloud and mist.

Misty view ascending Cold Mountain

Trail crosses Cold Mountain summit (4022')

A Rufus Sided Towhee pretended to be injured to get our attention and decoy us away from her nest. We crossed a huge burn area which clearly was a controlled burn stopping exactly at the winding AT. A rabbit took shelter under an overhanging rock as we passed by.

At 3:30 P.M., we considered stopping at the Seeley-Woodworth Shelter but made it just a short visit. There were five people there and more, with wet dogs, on their way. I love dogs but trail shelters are built for hikers, not dogs. We pushed on, feeling cold and wet, hoping to be able to make Priest shelter, 6.8 miles north, before dark. Along the trail we ran into the other group heading for Seeley-Woodworth shelter and they told us there were five other hikers and two more (wet) dogs in their group that were staying in the Priest Mtn. Shelter. Along the trail I lost my baseball cap and became seriously handicapped. It's hard to see the trail blazes when your eyeglasses are a pool of water. The hat brim was essential at keeping the lenses clear.

We climbed 4040' Main Top Mountain - a rugged, steep rocky climb. There were no views because of the rain, mist and fog. When we passed Crabtree Falls Road (3300'elev.) we decided that we probably could not make Priest Shelter before dark and that, as cold as we were, we should set up camp before it got any colder or darker. Also, the thought of sharing a shelter with two wet dogs did not appeal to us in the least. We found a clearing near a stream, put on our dry clothes, pitched the tent, filtered water, cooked supper and snuggled happily in our warm sleeping bags.