|
Day: |
009 |
|
Date: |
Sunday, 11 May 1986 |
|
Start: |
|
|
Finish: |
|
|
Daily
AT Miles: |
20.3 |
|
Daily Other Miles |
3.0 |
|
Total
AT Miles: |
164.4 |
|
Total All Miles |
173.7 |
|
Weather: |
Cloudy, warm and humid. |
|
Accommodation: |
|
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Grapenuts, cherry pie.
Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, Mars Bar
Dinner: Roast
chicken and vegetables, apple pie and ice-cream. |
|
Aches: |
Feet very sore. |
|
Animals Seen: |
Squirrels, chipmunks, a small snake. |
|
People Seen: |
Two overnight hikers, many others. |
|
Pictures: |
Here |
|
GPS Track: |
|
|
Journal: |
Got up at 6:30am and was away by 8:10am. I
decided to see if I could get to the Fontana grocery before it
closed. The gradients were tough, but it was a little cooler than
yesterday and I felt much better so maintained a good pace. After a
steep descent to Stecoah Gap, there was a particularly tough climb
the other side but my fitness is good and I haven’t had to stop on
ascents and have recovered very quickly after reaching the
peaks. The views were marred by a heavy haze but you still got a
good sense of height. I had a half-hour break in the morning and
only half an hour for lunch but didn’t feel I needed more. I passed
Cable Gap Shelter at 2:45pm and pressed on, the worst of the
Stecoahs behind me (supposedly the toughest part of the Trail). As
I neared Fontana Dam there were good views of the Dam from High
Top. I made a rapid descent to the main road, stepping over a small
snake en route. I reached the road at 4:35pm and began hiking
to Fontana Village, 2.5 miles away. I had no luck hitching a lift
and arrived footsore, weary and grimy at 5:20pm. The grocery had
closed at 5pm, but would be open tomorrow. I walked up to
the Guest RegistrationCenter for the Village – it mainly catered to
elderly people in what had been the construction camp for the
Dam. Despite my appearance, I secured a room for the night and
adjourned there. I had a bath because the shower didn’t work. I
then walked the half-mile to the cafeteria for a reasonable dinner
and did my laundry – someone had kindly left a soap packet
there. While washing I wrote a letter and then returned to my room
to find I’d forgotten some socks and a tea towel. I washed these by
hand and then went out and telephoned Marj and Barb. I returned to
my room and wrote a letter to Barb, who seemed a little depressed
(especially in contrast to my good spirits) and consumed a few cans
of Coke. I then watched TV News in the Lodge Lounge and the first
half ofBattle of the Bulge before retiring at 12:30am. Tired but
satisfied – the Stecoahs were behind. |
|
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)
|
