The forecast kept changing, originally thunderstorms, but then later changed to just rain.
When I woke up it wasn’t raining, so I ate and got ready. I was sitting in my hammock ready to take things down when I heard the first raindrops on my tarp. I hurried to get packed before it got heavier. Shortly after I left camp it actually stopped raining to my surprise. I climbed up over the top of saddleback junior, there were no views and lots of wind.
I descended to the next shelter, which was only a couple miles from camp. As i got close to the shelter the rain started, I walked probably 10 minutes in the rain before reaching the shelter where there were two NOBO hikers taking shelter, and soon after I got there three SOBO showed up as well. Beast showed up next, then a while later Spoon, I think he got stuck in the worst of the rain. We hung out and drank coffee and waited out the heaviest of the rain. It was really cold!
After lunch we got moving again. The descent was steep in parts and slippery because of the rain, but nothing too crazy.
We crossed a River at the bottom and took a break. The sun actually came out for a little as we headed up the next side, however as we got higher we hiked into a cloud. The forest is full of mushrooms, mist, ferns and moss. It seemed almost magical. It also was amazingly humid. I’m not sure if I was soaked with sweat or condensation.
We made it to camp at Spaulding mountain lean to, which is just before Spaulding mountain.
The others are determined to get to town tomorrow to get real food, but it’s a long hike and goes over three mountains over 4,000 feet. It ought to be interesting.