Day: |
040 |
Date: |
Wednesday, 11 June 1986 |
Start: |
|
Finish: |
|
Daily
AT Miles: |
26.0 |
Daily Other Miles |
0.2 (to Shelter) |
Total
AT Miles: |
765.9 |
Total All Miles |
791.5 |
Weather: |
Hot, humid, mostly sunny, thunderstorms
later. |
Accommodation: |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Muesli, health drink. Lunch:
Biscuits and peanut butter, health bar. Dinner: Biscuits and
peanut butter, instant pudding. |
Aches: |
Blisters on outside of both heels. |
Animals Seen: |
Squirrels, chipmunks, deer, tortoise. |
People Seen: |
Six AT Thru-Hikers, some others. |
Pictures: |
Here |
GPS Track: |
|
Journal: |
Got up at 6:00am and was visited by a deer
while having breakfast. Got away at 7:20am with a long day in
prospect. The day started ominously when, in the first few miles,
it passed through deep nettles and over jagged rocks. Progress was
slow and the blisters, which had developed on the outside of my
heels over the last couple of days, were sore despite having been
pricked last night. Fortunately, the condition of the Trail
improved and speed picked up. After two hours, I stopped and
bandaged both blisters but the pain worsened as I continued the long
descent through the James River Wilderness on a nicely graded
trail. The Trail crossed the James River just below a dam and power
station and I walked for another 1½ miles on what had become a very
hot sunny and humid day before stopping for lunch on top of a big
rock by a stream. My feet were very sore and the pain was
depressing me to the point where all I could think of was a day off
and finishing the Trail. After lunch I removed one set of insoles
from the shoes, leaving the Sorbothane, and the bandages. I found
that by walking pigeon-toed the pain was less and it gradually
diminished through the afternoon. Morover, the shoes fitted better
and didn’t “eat” my socks as much but I could feel the front of my
feet absorbing more punishment. Lunch was followed by two long
climbs up to Little Rocky Row and Big Rocky Row which both provided
excellent views over the James River valley. However, the heat and
humidity made both ascents extremely sweaty affairs. Because my
feet were less ainful and because I was making good time today, my
mood improved as the Trail maintained an easy grade along the crest
and side of a ridge through forest. Not as many flowers,
though. At about 5:30pm, Stu caught me and we then caught AT
Thru-Hikers, Alice and Ole, and Barb. They were also headed for
Punchbowl Shelter and told us three other hikers were already
there. We pressed on for the last 3 miles but, with 1½ miles to go,
were hit by a heavy thunderstorm and got soaked. At the Shelter we
met AT Thru-Hikers, Florida Boy (Pete), EZ Doesit and OD Doe plus a
dog. Had a good chat with Pete. The three we had met earlier chose
to sleep in their tent (the rain stopped) so the Shelter wasn’t too
crowded. Wet wood so a cold dinner. |
|
ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
(2016)
Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)
Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track (2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)
Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)
Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)
Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)
Three Peaks Race
(2004)
Appalachian Trail
(1986)
Alpine Track
(1983)
|