Dave Byrnes

Appalachian Trail - 1986

Overview Map Diary Pictures

Day:	003
Date:	Monday, 5 May 1986
Start:
Finish:
Daily AT Miles:	17.4
Daily Other Miles	0.2 (to find spring)
Total AT Miles:	45.8
Total All Miles	49.3
Weather:	Hot and sunny.
Accommodation:
Nutrition:	Breakfast: Two muffins, orange juice and Coke. Lunch: Two eggs, biscuits and peanut butter, date bar, scroggin (gorp). Dinner: Soup, dehydrated beef teriyaki, instant pudding.
Aches:	Top and little toe on right foot sore. Lower back chafed.
Animals Seen:	Rabbit, grasshoppers
People Seen:	Shopkeeper, six hikers, hunter, two motorists.
Pictures:	Here
GPS Track:
Journal:	Got up at 6:15am, packed and left at 7:35am, saying goodbye to Dave and Jean. Climbed Blood Mt and met two hikers in the Shelter, one of whom was doing a walkathon to raise money for charity. Terrific views on a lovely morning. I then descended to Neels Gap and went into the Walasiyi Inn where I bought muffins and orange juice for breakfast, as well as some groceries. The manager kindly supplied a box and packed my stove, bottle, etc., for mailing back to Marj in Boston. I repacked the groceries, had a Coke, and left at 10:45am, having been there for 90 minutes. I headed north on what had become a hot day and shortly after met a hunter on the Trail. It always makes me a bit nervous to know they are about. The Trail followed a ridge, ascending and descending peaks en route. I was feeling tired, sweating a lot, and the little toe on my right foot was sore. I descended into Tesnatee Gap on a rock in a shaded glen at 1:10pm. I moved on at 2:00pm and immediately encountered a tough climb. My pack seemed heavier than before sending the stuff back to Boston and dumping the flour. My toe was hurting badly on the descents, but the views were good and I was enjoying the day. By mid-afternoon, the toe wasn’t hurting so badly, but the bridge of the same foot was. I was very tired and drinking lots. The Trail was relatively easy going, but I was not moving fast. I had been heading for Rocky Knob Shelter, but realised I was going to be late. At 5:20pm on the descent from Horsetrough Mt, I found a small waterfall from a pipe under the fire-trail and decided to stop for the night. I had a freezing but refreshing shower under the waterfall and washed socks and jocks. While preparing dinner and washing, I even managed to listen to National Public Radio news on my Sony Walkman. It was a lovely sport with views across the mountains. I slept on the road and didn’t use a tent.