In 1986, a few days after running the Boston Marathon, and following a year of touring the US and Canada in a campervan, I set off by train to realise a dream to walk the Appalachian Trail. I first heard about the Trail from the American wife of a work colleague in Melbourne a few years earlier and had since read widely about the trail. The Trail follows the crest of the Appalachian Mountains for more than 2,200 miles along the eastern side of the US. Starting in mid-spring, I followed the trail northwards from Springer Mountain in Georgia to its northern terminus at Mount Katahdin in Maine, finishing in the late summer. It remains one of the most meaningful experiences of my life, fostering an ambition for more such experiences and inspiring me to retire from work early enough follow through on that ambition. In 1986, only about 80 people each year completed the whole trail, but during that year National Geographic did a feature article on the Trail and its popularity increased dramatically.

Appalachian Trail - Day 090

Day:  090
Date:  Thursday, 31 July 1986
Daily AT Miles:  22.6
Daily Other Miles:  0.2 (shelter)
Total AT Miles:  1768.8
Total All Miles:  1820.2
Weather:  Mild, overcast, some rain.
Nutrition:
  Breakfast:  Muesli, health drink.
  Lunch:  Biscuits and peanut butter, health bar.
  Dinner:  Biscuits and peanut butter, instant pudding, Snickers Bar.
Aches:  None bad.
Animals Seen:  Squirrels.
People Seen:  4 AT Thru-hikers, 3 AT Hikers (by sections).

Journal:
Got up at 5:30am after a good night’s sleep (cool weather) and left at 7:201m.  It hadn’t rained overnight, but did for a while shortly after I started walking.  The first miles seemed to be short again, but who’s complaining.  I passed “Boater Bill” and caught Larry (who’d apparently walked past me while I was packing) who was talking to a southbound (by sections) AT Hiker. The country was again pretty, mossy woodland, and I was in good spirits for some reason.  I guess I knew I was going to make it to North Woodstock OK.  The ascent of Mount Moosilauke (4800’) followed, but it wasn’t as bad as feared though a bit endless and rocky in parts.  The summit was above the tree-line and, if it hadn’t been cloudy, would have provided good views. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable up there in the fog.  The descent was tiring and interminable.  For a long stretch it followed an attractive cascade and, in many places, steps had been attached to the slippery rock surfaces.  I reached Beaver Brook Shelter at the base and stopped there for lunch at 2pm.  After an hour for lunch, I crossed NH 112 in Kinsman Notch and began the steep ascent of Mount Wolf.  The going was slow along the crest with many rocky and boggy bits, and some relocated trail.  It took longer than I thought it would to eventually reach Eliza Brooks Shelter.  I arrived there at 6:50pm and found it already filled up with four AT Thru-hikers.  I decided to pitch a tent then tried to light a fire with damp wood but was unsuccessful, so resorted to biscuits and peanut butter.  Went to bed at 8:40pm.
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