Dave Byrnes

Appalachian Trail - 1986

Overview Map Diary Pictures

Day:	020
Date:	Thursday, 22 May 1986
Start:
Finish:
Daily AT Miles:	19.1
Daily Other Miles	0
Total AT Miles:	378.9
Total All Miles	391.2
Weather:	Mostly sunny but cool at altitude.
Accommodation:
Nutrition:	Breakfast: Muesli, health drink. Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, Mars Bar. Dinner: Macaroni cheese, instant pudding, Mars Bar.
Aches:	Left Achilles, both heels.
Animals Seen:	Cow.
People Seen:	Seven overnight hikers, four others.
Pictures:	Here
GPS Track:
Journal:	Got up at 6:30am but took until 8:20am to get going as I had to finish repacking groceries. The day was fine and sunny and the morning involved a number of tough climbs, the major of which was up Roan Mt (6150ft). The views were good from Roan Mt and even better from Round Ball summit (5807ft). The latter was a “bald”. These are alpine in appearance and always seem to give better views. I descended to Roan Highlands Shelter where I had lunch. During the course of the morning I had met John and dog. The same was to happen in the afternoon as the Trail crossed some reclaimed farmland and crossed some more balds culminating in the very impressive Hump Mt which I reached at about 5pm. It was cool in the wind but clear enough to give excellent views in all directions of the Appalachians receding into the distance. The gradual descent was spectacular in the patchy afternoon sun. The descent became steeper until I finally reached Apple House Shelter after passing through an old mining area. Two 40ish women were in residence and, though polite and friendly, were a little stand-offish. They retired at 8pm to zipped-together sleeping bags. I stayed up until 9:15pm. It was a cool night and plenty of mice.