[at-l] 2003 Rain Year

[jbullar1 at twcny.rr.com (Jim Bullard)]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Hudson" <hudsom@us.ibm.com>
To: <at-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2003 7:10 AM
Subject: [at-l] 2003 Rain Year


> I've been trying to convince the guys at work that 50 degrees and overcast
> is actually about perfect for carrying a pack. I'm not sure they're buying

Yes, 50 degrees is great. Overcast is a bit depressing. Day after day of
rain is a bummer.

> Forturnately the FLT doesn't have enough foot traffic to turn to mud.

My only (vicarious) experience of the FLT is courtesy of "10 Million Steps".
Judging from Nomad's description a lot of it is underwater in wet years.

> I was also lucky that when the heaviest rains fell I was by chance in town
> or by doing some long miles in a shelter.

How do you do long miles in a shelter? :) (I know what you meant but the
phrasing gave me a chuckle.)

>Packing everything up in a
> morning downpour is about the most depressing thing on the trail (still
> better than being at work<g>).
>
> So, if I had a choice this wouldn't be my year for a thru-hike. However,
if
> I didn't have a choice I'd still go!

I had a choice and I didn't, but not because of the weather. OTOH how would
one know when setting out in March or April whether the sun would shine on
you only once or twice a fortnight? If you started and quit because you were
continually rained on the first few weeks, it could change to drought right
after you decided to postpone until the next year. Even with all our
technology forecasts beyond a few days still aren't very accurate.
Realistically it's a bit of a crapshoot. You pick a year and do it. Weather
happens.

Saunterer