Day: |
063 |
Date: |
Friday, 4 July 1986 |
Start: |
|
Finish: |
|
Daily
AT Miles: |
23.2 |
Daily Other Miles |
0 |
Total
AT Miles: |
1251.6 |
Total All Miles |
1288.0 |
Weather: |
Warm, sunny. |
Accommodation: |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Muesli, health drink. Lunch:
Biscuits and peanut butter. Dinner: Macaroni cheese, instant
pudding. |
Aches: |
Feet very sore, right shoulder very sore. |
Animals Seen: |
Chipmunks, squirrels, deer. |
People Seen: |
5 overnight hikers, 6 day hikers, many
others. |
Pictures: |
Here |
GPS Track: |
|
Journal: |
Got up at 5:30am after a good night’s sleep
and decided to attempt the 30+ miles to Delaware Water Gap. I left
at 6:50am on a very pleasant morning and headed north along the
Trail through pretty woods. As usual, I collected all the cobwebs
en route. The Trail, although flat, was very rocky and although I
could maintain my three miles an hour, it required a lot of
concentration, high knee lift, and stamina. I plodded on with Wind
Gap as my half-way mark and aiming for five-mile sessions. If it
wasn’t for the rocks, it would be really pleasant walking. I just
kept hoping I’d strike some more even stretches but, unlike the
other days, it was continuous and wearing. I pressed on and reached
Wind Gap, tired but on schedule at 12:30pm. I couldn’t see the
motel supposedly there, but wandered down the road past some houses
and found a guy in his garden nailing up US flags (INDEPENDENCE
DAY!) who showed me a tap to get water. Water was again very
scarce. The stretch after Wind Gap was a killer. It was a
relocation, a few years old, and was just non-stop rocks. I began
to get very weary, my pace was slowed and, after two hours to cover
five miles, decided that after a 50 minute break for lunch I would
seriously consider stopping atKirkridge Shelter and walk the last
six miles into Delaware Water Gap first thing in the
morning. Getting to Delaware Water Gap around 8pm tonight wouldn’t
save much time and would leave me with very sore feet. After
passing Wolf Rocks (views OK), the Trail became a little better but.
When I reached the Shelter turn-off at 5:30pm, I decided it would be
nice to stop. I walked up to the Shelter, which was in mild
disrepair (no rain forecast) and had a relaxed evening. There was a
great view from the Shelter’s front and I had hopes of seeing some
fireworks as it got dark. There were lots of fireworks and I stayed
up until 10:30pm watching them from in my sleeping bag, drinking hot
chocolate and listening to patriotic music on the Sony Walkman. A
very memorable evening. |
|
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)
|