Day: |
012 |
Date: |
Wednesday, 14 May 1986 |
Start: |
|
Finish: |
|
Daily
AT Miles: |
25.5 |
Daily Other Miles |
0 |
Total
AT Miles: |
219.1 |
Total All Miles |
229.3 |
Weather: |
Mild, foggy, occasional rain and
thunderstorms later. |
Accommodation: |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Muesli, health drink. Lunch:
Biscuits and peanut butter, health bar. Dinner: Dehydrated
turkey casserole, instant pudding, scroggin (gorp). |
Aches: |
General fatigue, blister on a toe. |
Animals Seen: |
Deer. |
People Seen: |
Six AT Thru-Hikers, four overnight hikers,
ten day hikers, many others. |
Pictures: |
Here |
GPS Track: |
|
Journal: |
Got up at 6:30am and away by 8am on a foggy
damp morning. I spent the first hour climbing up to Clingmans
Dome through fairytale forest, dripping wet and covered in moss and
lichen. The peak was extremely foggy, but I climbed the look-out
tower anyway. There were a few people about as you can drive to the
look-out. The Trail was rocky, root-bound and slippery and progress
wasn’t as fast as hoped, especially to do the 25 miles to Tri-Corner
Knob Shelter. I pressed on. It rained quite heavily for 30 minutes
in the mid-morning. The Trail was often quite close to the road and
I could hear cars. I thought frequently about Barb waking up to her
last morning in the US (we had been touring in the US for over
twelve months). Her plane should leave about 3pm, my time, I
think. I crossed the busy parking area at Newfound Gap, then
impressed a few inquisitive day hikers on the Trail. I decided to
go for Ice Water Spring Shelter for lunch in case it rained
again. My pace has improved. After lunch the Trail was very
impressive as it snaked many miles along knife-edged ridges. There
was no long visibility, but enough to see the shadows of the closest
mountains. Began to feel very weary and to wonder about the sense
of 25 miles today after 22 miles yesterday – all in mountains of up
to 6000ft. I began to think I might prefer to be on a plane back
to Australia. In mid-afternoon I met a 54 year old black guy with a
white beard who told me he was The Great Appalachian Super Athlete
and was returning back along the Trail after hiking from Key
West to Canada. He was a likeable, talkative and fit guy. He
picked I was a marathon runner and said the trip would result in a
come-back. He also said I could make Tri-Corner, so I pressed
on. I passed two AT Thru-Hikers, Debbie and Martha, deciding
whether to go for Tri-Corner as well, or stop earlier. I said I was
going on. They said there would be two guys there waiting for
them. I turned my Walkman on to hear the news and take my mind off
my fatigue. With 1.5 miles to go, and thunderstorms all around, it
finally began to rain. I arrived at the Shelter at 7pm to find Mark
and Dan, and Caroland Frank, already in residence. Lucky for me
they had a fire going and I cooked dinner and chatted. The girls
arrived at 7:40pm. It was cosy but dark in the Shelter with thunder
and lightning outside. Got into bed at 9:30pm without a
wash. Cosy. I thought of Barb taking off. It would be nice to be
heading back to her welcome. My turn will come, though it won’t be
quite the same. Mice ran over my face several times during the
night. |
|
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)
|