9/4/03 We got to the Spruce Ledge shelter around 2:30pm. Esther and her daughter Candace greeted us (SoBos). Esther had just celebrated her 70th birthday. With no rain predicted we set up our tent near the shelter without consideration for wind direction, but for a view. Rough had to hike back down the spur trail to filter water. While he was gone a lot of gunfire erupted on either side of our location and kept up for about an hour. It sounded very close. Esther said hunting season had opened a few days earlier and Tumble worried about Rough until he got back safely to camp. We cooked dinner near the shelter on a picnic table under a pavilion.