|
Day: |
096 |
|
Date: |
Wednesday, 6 August 1986 |
|
Start: |
|
|
Finish: |
|
|
Daily
AT Miles: |
18.4 |
|
Daily Other Miles |
0.2 (to Carter Notch Hut) |
|
Total
AT Miles: |
1848.0 |
|
Total All Miles |
1901.9 |
|
Weather: |
Very warm, humid, mainly overcast. |
|
Accommodation: |
|
|
Nutrition: |
Breakfast: Fruit, oats, French toast,
sausages.
Lunch: Stew.
Dinner: Biscuits and peanut butter,
brownies. |
|
Aches: |
Chafing in crutch. |
|
Animals Seen: |
2 small snakes, squirrels. |
|
People Seen: |
3 AT Hikers (by sections), 4 overnight
hikers, 8 day hikers, many others. |
|
Pictures: |
Here |
|
GPS Track: |
|
|
Journal: |
Got up at 6am so I could try calling Barb
and Bo Cocks before breakfast then make a quick getaway on what
promised to be a tough 20 miles over the Carter Range to US 2 and a
hitch into Gorham for the night. Bo was out, and Barb didn’t
answer. I packed, woke Pete, and we went across to the 6:45am
breakfast. I ate a lot and it was good. Pete then went out to the
highway to catch his bus back to Boston. We said a short goodbye
and I then tried to call Barb one more time and this time got
her. We chatted for over 20 minutes. I think she’s ready for me to
come home. She also said Bruce B (one of my colleagues at Syntec)
was trying to get hold of me to do something for them in the US
prior to my return. I left Pinkham Notch just before 8am and began
the very tough climb up to the 4000’ level on Carter
Ridge. Fortunately, this section of the AMC trails has less people
on it, although I did meet a number of people heading to Pinkham
Notch from the AMC Carter Notch Hut, six miles along the Trail. I
got very tired hiking on the rugged Trail, but enjoyed the views and
walked non-stop to Carter Notch Hut. It was a very pretty spot next
to a couple of lakes. The Hut boys were very chatty and gave me two
full bowls of stew for nothing. I decided to call it lunch – it had
taken me three hours to hike the six miles from Pinkham Notch,
making US 2 look doubtful by dusk. I left at 11:45am and began yet
another very steep and tiring ascent to Carter Dome (4800’). The
Trail continued to be very tough and slow but, despite feeling very
tired, I just kept plugging away. The views were good and I was in
good spirits. I stopped on a rock ledge with terrific views near
Imp Shelter for afternoon tea before pushing on for the last six
miles to Rattle River Shelter. The Trail was becoming slightly
faster walking. I arrived at the Shelter at 7:30pm after descending
from Carter Ridge and met three elderly AT Hikers – Dan and Chuck
and Arletta. They had done Georgia to Harpers Ferry last year and
were doing Harpers Ferry to Maine this year. They were very
friendly and Dan gave me some brownies (his wife had visited them at
the Shelter earlier) to accompany my biscuits and peanut butter
dinner. I’d decided it wasn’t worth walking the extra 1½ miles to
US 2 and hitching into Gorham since it would be too late to do
anything and just cost me money. An early start tomorrow, since
I’ve got to cover sufficient miles to meet John C on Saturday
morning. |
|
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)
|
