Dave Byrnes

Appalachian Trail - 1986

Overview Map Diary Pictures

Day:	038
Date:	Monday, 9 June 1986
Start:
Finish:
Daily AT Miles:	19.6
Daily Other Miles	1.4 (0.2 from motel, 1.0 to Post Office, 0.2 to Shelter)
Total AT Miles:	718.4
Total All Miles	743.6
Weather:	Very warm, humid, mostly sunny.
Accommodation:
Nutrition:	Breakfast: Two croissants, chocolate milk. Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, health bar. Dinner: Noodles and chicken, pop tarts.
Aches:	Feet still sore.
Animals Seen:	Two grouse, two black snakes, rabbit.
People Seen:	Eight AT Thru-Hikers (two by stages), one day hiker, many others.
Pictures:	Here
GPS Track:
Journal:	Got up at about 7:30am after not a particularly good night’s sleep – too much food and air-conditioning. Stu left to get his mail in Cloverdale and, after an unsuccessful attempt to ring Barb, I left at about 8:40am. It was a bit of a wrench to leave all that comfort behind. I could easily have stayed another day and was glad I had only scheduled 20 miles for today. I rejoined the Trail, which had recently been relocated, and in about 45 minutes, after a not particularly pleasant walk through waste grassland and beside the freeway, reached a road. I left the AT and walked down the road about a mile (supposed to be a ½ mile) to Troutville and went to the Post Office where I collected my mail – but no shoes. I found a phone and rang Barb at about 10:00am and had a nice chat. The comforts of home are becoming more attractive. I went into the grocery, bought some stuff for breakfast and ate that while I read my letters (Barb (2), Marj, Peter, Jean, Bill). Time was passing but I decided to take my time. I returned to the Post Office mailed some stuff to Barb, Marj, and myself at Linden and left at about 11:30am. I was fortunate to hitch a ride back to the AT and began walking. After crossing a bit of farmland, it followed a country road for a few miles which was quite pleasant in the warm sun. It then entered the forest again and climbed steadily to Fullhardts Knob on a reasonable Trail. I stopped by the Trail for lunch and read the Kew Camberwell Athletic Club newsletter and Barb’s again. After lunch I continued on the pleasant Trail and met Mike of The Greenhorns running back along the Trail to retrieve a neck charm he’d left at a stream.Shortly after I reached Wilson Creek Shelter where I met AT Thru-Hikers, Darryl and Melinda, and Frank of The Greenhorns. I stopped for a break and a chat.During the break a day hiker came down the AT from the north, said hello, and retraced his steps. I left 10 minutes later and soon caught him up the hill but he had no intention of letting me through so I slowed my pace and chatted to him. He stopped for a drink and I passed and the AT soon reached the Blue Ridge Parkway which it paralleled for the remainder of my day to Bobblets Gap Lean-To. There would good views at various points down both sides of the Blue Ridge. I reached the Shelter at 7:10pm and found Stu and Gus (a southbound AT hiker, by stages) who was a real nice guy. We had a good evening in the Shelter, which had been adopted by a local, Running Richard, who kept everything in excellent shape for AT hikers. A bear had been seen in the vicinity the previous day and there were a few jokes about the food bags hung over my bedding, but it was an uneventful night.