When I reached the well in the hot afternoon, sweaty and parched for the little water that flowed on this section of trail, it was already swarming with yellow jackets. I had arrived at the South Brown Mountain Shelter after a long, dry trek from the small depression where I had camped near the Hyatt Reservoir. The log cabin appeared cramped but serviceable, and even boasted an old wood-burning stove inside for cold nights. I needed to keep hiking, however, and soon turned my attention to the hand-pump well outside. Someone had attached a blue Sawyer water bag to the spigot in order to better direct the flow. Wary of the multitude of wasps buzzing violently around me (they had build a nest underneath the concrete slab covering the well) I grabbed hold of the long handle and with a significant effort began to pump.
To the delight of my thirsty body, after a minute or so a strong stream of clear water began to course from the pump. It was tricky to collect while keeping the flow going but I managed to fill my water bags and sat down at a picnic table to filter my prize. My impatience at the process was compounded by the yellow jackets, who insisted on landing on my water bottle and generally harassing me. Thankfully I managed to escape without a sting (one of my earliest memories is getting stung by a yellow jacket on the back of my hand during a preschool field trip). A group of horseback riders appeared as I took my leave of the shelter and pump, fully hydrated for the journey ahead.
Russell on the Road 