I was almost at the halfway point of a 10 mile loop hike through the Linville Gorge, spending most of the first day following the river until taking Pitch-In trail up to the middle of the ridge. Stopping to take off my pack and rest after a hot and sweaty climb, I suddenly noticed rain clouds to the south were drifting with a cold wind directly toward the exposed rock where I was laying. Shortoff Mountain is in the background.