Evening was fast approaching, my camp was all set up and dinner was almost cooked. I noticed dark clouds quickly gathering above and I could hear distant thunder rolling down the valley, growing ever louder and closer with each ominous clap. Not liking the sound of Old Man Mountain's applause, I decided to take some precautionary steps and moved my stuff inside the tent.
I had just finished filling my bowl with a hot meal of beef tips and broccoli on rice when the first heavy raindrop fell and on the heels of that first drop a deluge. I grabbed my food and wine and dove in the tent. There I was huddled in my tent in the darkness as a veritable tempest raged unabated outside it's thin, cloth walls. To the not so soft glow of lightning flashes, I ate my meal and drank my wine.
The storm had been raging unabated for more than an hour when the park ranger drove through the campground, repeating an announcement over his PA system, "attention campers, there is a severe line of storms approaching the area with damaging wind and hail. You are advised to seek shelter in your vehicle immediately."
As the ranger drove away, I sat in complete darkness pondering my predicament. My vehicle was locked to the picnic table some 20' away.
The next morning, I awoke to silence and crawled out of my tent. A heavy fog blanketed the area.
As I prepared and enjoyed a few cups of coffee,
My dear readers, I beg of thee, heed my sage advice. If you ever venture into the wild, something I hope you do, spend some extra money and get some good gear. Cause I'm here to tell you, it's not a question of if, but when, you will encounter the fury of Mother Nature. Your gear will be the only thing standing between your comfort or your desperation. Oh yea - when the winds blow, the lightning flashes, the thunder booms and the hail descends, it wouldn't hurt to utter a prayer as well.
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