Dave Byrnes

Appalachian Trail - 1986

Overview Map Diary Pictures

Day:	047
Date:	Wednesday, 18 June 1986
Start:
Finish:
Daily AT Miles:	23.1
Daily Other Miles	0.4 (0.2 shelter, 0.2 spring)
Total AT Miles:	930.2
Total All Miles	958.6
Weather:	Mild, sunny.
Accommodation:
Nutrition:	Breakfast: Muesli, health drink then, later, hamburger, fries, orange juice, ice-cream, milk-shake. Lunch: Biscuits and peanut butter, health bar. Dinner: Macaroni cheese, pop tarts.
Aches:	Tired feet.
Animals Seen:	Many deer, grouse, chipmunks, squirrels.
People Seen:	Six overnight hikers, many others.
Pictures:	Here
GPS Track:
Journal:	Got up at 5:50am and left at about 7:30am. Katherine was very chatty and wanted me to wait a few minutes until she was ready to leave, even though our paths would only be the same for ¼ mile. We said our good-byes and I headed off, looking forward to a shorter day with easy grades in pleasant walking conditions. I decided to walk steadily to Elkwallow Wayside where there was a snack bar and have a second breakfast. I arrived there around 10am and bought a few supplies plus burger, fries, shake, orange juice, and ice-cream. I took these out to a picnic table in the sun and spent a very pleasant hour eating and itinerary planning. Then I walked another 8 miles including gentle grades and a few views to the top of North Marshall Mountain for lunch. After lunch, I continued on and passed through an area of forest devastated by the gypsy moth before eventually leaving Shenandoah National Park. I reached Tom Floyd Wayside Shelter at 6:10pm. It was very nice, apart from a long hike down the mountain to get water from a spring, and I had it to myself. A good dinner and a leisurely evening, and a lovely sunset, made for a great evening. Went to bed at 9:30pm.