Dave Byrnes

Appalachian Trail - 1986

Overview Map Diary Pictures

Day:	011
Date:	Tuesday, 13 May 1986
Start:
Finish:
Daily AT Miles:	22.2
Daily Other Miles	0
Total AT Miles:	193.6
Total All Miles	203.8
Weather:	Mild, some rain, cloudy, occasional fog.
Accommodation:
Nutrition:	Breakfast: Muesli, health drink. Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, health bar. Dinner: Dehydrated lasagne, instant pudding, scroggin (gorp).
Aches:	Feet sore.
Animals Seen:	Two deer.
People Seen:	Andy, nine overnight hikers, one ranger.
Pictures:	Here
GPS Track:
Journal:	Got up at 6:30am and set off at 8am with the intention of trying to walk to Double Springs Gap Shelter, 22 miles away. It had rained during the night and everything was damp and foggy. The Trail was rough and alternately climbing and flattening as it went up on to the crest of the Great Smoky Mts. The vegetation became more luxuriant. At about noon it began to rain quite hard and did so for an hour. At first I only put on my pack cover but then felt a little cool and put on my Goretex. The Trail passed through some lush green meadows dotted with blossoming trees. I stopped for lunch when the rain stopped near the top Rocky Top (5441ft). The Trail often followed narrow rocky ridges or passed through groves of rhododendron. At lunch I decided progress had been too slow, so I tried to maintain a good gait in the afternoon. The weather gradually cleared allowing some nearby mountains to be seen, but not many. I passed trails down to Cades Cove where Barb and I had camped at Easter. I met four young people drying out in Derrick Knob Shelter from earlier rain. I reached Silers Bald Shelter at 5:40pm – good going – and decided to stock up on water and carry it the two miles to Double Springs Gap Shelter where apparently the springs had almost dried up. With all water bottles and my water bag filled, it increased my pack weight by 10-15 pounds and it was a hard slog to the Shelter. I had a wash in my saucepan then, as preparing to light a fire, was visited by a National Parks range with a rifle and spotlight. He asked to see my permit but seemed satisfied with my explanation. He and a colleague were hunting wild boar, which were not native to the area. They had shot seven last night. I had difficulty lighting my fire, then managed to spill half of the main course while moving the saucepan. It was a nice spot with some sun breaking through at last. It was nice to have it all to myself whereas there was likely to be at least six hikers staying at the previous shelter. Retired at 9:15pm. Could hear wild boar(s) rooting around very close to the Shelter, but the cage across the front was locked.