Day: |
044 |
Date: |
Sunday, 15 June 1986 |
Start: |
|
Finish: |
|
Daily
AT Miles: |
21.4 |
Daily Other Miles |
0.7 (around Campground) |
Total
AT Miles: |
854.1 |
Total All Miles |
881.1 |
Weather: |
Very warm, humid, mostly sunny. |
Accommodation: |
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Four cakes Lunch: Chicken,
salad, pate, biscuits. Dinner: Chicken, chips, rock melon,
ice-cream. |
Aches: |
Blisters on both heels. |
Animals Seen: |
Many deer, a bear, snake, chipmunks,
squirrels, grouse. |
People Seen: |
Four overnight hikers, ten day hikers, many
others. |
Pictures: |
Here |
GPS Track: |
|
Journal: |
Got up at 5:30am after a reasonable night’s
sleep and managed to get going by 6:40am. Everything was wet after
a heavy night’s dew. After about an hour, when crossing a fairly
open scrubby part of the crest of Calf Mountain, I disturbed
something big about 30 yards in front of me which turned out to be a
big black bear. It went lumbering off to the right and I had a good
view for a couple of seconds. My first black bear – I was very
pleased. Shortly after, I entered Shenandoah National Park and
concentrated on maintaining a good pace on the good quality
Trail. Although there were hills, the grades were good and surface
even. The scenery wasn’t much altered from further south, although
perhaps there was less undergrowth. Occasionally, through the
clearings and when the Trail crossed the Skyline Drive, it was
possible to get good views of other mountains and the valleys but,
as always, it was very hazy (and hot and humid). I only allowed
myself short breaks in my efforts to reach Loft Mountain Picnic
Area, 21˝ miles away, at the 2pm time I had arranged with
the Binnings. My pack was light and my progress was good. With
about 3˝ miles to go, I met Mark coming the other way and he
accompanied me back to the Picnic Area, chatting all the time, which
made the last few miles a bit easier. He also had some soft drink
and I had run out of water. We reached the Picnic Area, and Fran
and Ashley, at about 2:20pm and I was glad to sit down. They had
brought lots of drinks, fruit, pasta salad and chicken, so I ate my
fill and talked a lot. Asley had the sulks. They had driven 130
miles to meet me, which was really nice of them. At about 5pm, we
moved down to the shower and laundry building and I had a shower
before putting my washing on. The 50˘ for 5 minutes shower ran out
(no cold water, either) when I was fully soaped up (hair and all)
and I had to wipe myself down with a towel, throw on some shorts,
and walk out to Mark to borrow another 50˘. Broke my thong en
route. While my laundry was on, we had cheese and pate on the lawns
before the Binnings left at about 5:45pm – leaving me with food,
newspapers, etc. – for the long drive home. I could have joined
them easy – a bit of takeaway on the way home, some TV, and
bed. Instead, I did some shopping in the poorly stocked store,
walked the 1/3 mile to the Campground, and booked in for a night as
well as getting my Backcountry Permit. In the remaining two hours
of daylight, I ate, repacked food, and read the paper. It was
strange to be in a standard National Parks Campground without Barb
and the van. It made me nostalgic for this time last year. Hot
tomorrow and 26˝ miles. I went to bed on my new air mattress (also
got a new Sony Walkman Radio, new shoes, new shorts, new
groundsheet) feeling tired already. |
|
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)
|