High Tech's '96 Chuck Hike

Knot Maul Branch Shelter
Day: 65
Mileage: 540.7

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
544.8	Va. 617, Davis Valley Road (2,580')	2580
545.5	Spring (2,610')?blue-blaze	2610
546.6	Davis Path Campsite (2,840')	2840
549.4	Little Brushy Mountain (3,300')	3300
550.6	Crawfish Valley along Reed Creek (2,600')	2600
552.4	Tilson Gap, Big Walker Mountain (3,500')	3500
553.9	Va. 610, Old Rich Valley Road (2,700')	2700
555.4	Va. 742, Shady Grove Road, North Fork of Holston River (2,460')?bridge	2460
555.8	Spring (2,550')	2550
556.4	Va. 42, Ceres, Va. (2,650')	2650
557.3	Brushy Mountain (3,200')	3200
558.5	Knot Maul Branch Shelter (2,880') ?19.3mS; 9.4mN	2880

06/18/96 10:41 pm

No its not that I am going to sleep this late, I just woke up from my nap!

Todays hike was better than befor took my break. I could actually look up from time to time without killing myself on rocks or roots (although there were still some sections this was true). But the heat is still a BIG problem.

Woke up this morning quite early (6:45am) and had a good breakfast and then got a cab into the post office. The postmaster figured out I was the one from last nigh, but didnot seem upset with me, nice lady! Got out early enough so my first feild crossing was not in the blazing sun.

I think I whent up more of those stiles today thsan ever before and could have done without as many; they are hard on the knees.

New equipment seems be be much lighter than before. I cant wait to get rid of some of this food, my pack will be so light! New clothing, including the mesh shirt, seems to be working out too.

Water source at this shelter SUCKS! Had to pump just to get it in my waterbag. Also very silty. I proobably took a little life off my waterfilter doing it too.

Well its getting late, time to go to sleep now....

06/19/96 8:15 am

Had a dream last night wich is bugging me. I was in an English class and the assignment given to us was .sell someting.. I got very upset when I asked for more parameter like what to sell, oral or graphic ext. (I recall saying someting like: .I.m a computer programmer dammit, I need more parameters.) but I got no more information and everyone was laughing at me calling me infexable and accusing me of having no imagination.

Is this true? Might be......

Jenkins Shelter
Day: 66->67
Mileage: 559.6

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
558.5	Knot Maul Branch Shelter (2,880') ?19.3mS; 9.4mN	2880
559	Campsite and spring (2,810')?water for Knot Maul Branch Shelter	2810
559.6	Lynn Camp Creek (2,400')?footbridge	2400
560.4	Lynn Camp Mountain (3,000')	3000
561.9	Lick Creek (2,300')?footbridge	2300
563.3	USFS 222, Va. 625 (2,300')	2300
566.1	Spring-fed pond (3,800')?water for Chestnut Knob Shelter	3800
566.2	Chestnut Ridge (3,700')	3700
567.9	Chestnut Knob Shelter (4,409') ?9.4mS; 10.7mN Burkes Garden Overlook	4409
569.3	Walker Gap (3,520')?water for Chestnut Knob Shelter	3520
569.5	Spring (3,570')	3570
574.1	Va. 623, Burkes Garden Road, Garden Mountain (3,880')	3880
575.1	Davis Farm Campsite (3,850')	3850
577.7	Stream (3,700')	3700
578.6	Jenkins Shelter (2,470')?10.7mS; 13.8mN	2470

06/19/96 9:21 pm

YES! 18.9+ miles today and boy am I going to pay for them. I tripped and fell and realy bashed my left knee but good. Don.t feel any pain yet (maybe due to the 3 advils I took) but I am not sure if I will be able to move tomarrow.

Other than that it was a pretty good hike, but water was scarce and sweat was in abundance. I had to rig my shirt out 4 times!!! It also threatened to thunderstorm all day but the best I got was a drizzel wich did little to cool me down.

Here now with a guy out for the night and Sunshine and No Worries from the IceHouse Gang.

Hoping for good weather and a good knee for tomarrow.

06/20/96 7:05 pm

I decided to give my brused knee the day off, and the rest of my body and mind had to go along with it and got quite board. I did Life, The Univers and Everything; that is to say I read it, contemplated it and did everything I could think of in it (within the confinds of the shelter area). Had a shower, did wash, built a fire and had a feast. A good day off, but I realy did get the urge to hike a number of times. I had quite a few guests today, all either the flying, insect veriety or the furry kind. Not a sole in the area since Sunshine, No Worries and Pete (the guy out for a few days) left early this morning.

The cammpfire ashes went to to the fire I built. I should say I used NO matches, Pete.s fire from last night still had coals burried deep in the ashes and I got it going from that. Yes I still got it.

06/20/96 8:05 pm

Sitting here figuring out where Keith and I will be meeting, I find out that, if I continue at this pace, I will come no where close to finishing half the trail. Even if I double my pace it would be doubtful. I am disapointed by this revelation, but not completely surprised. I have stated from the begining that PA was my goal, but I also had the attitude of .well if I want to stay an extra day in town so be it. I have no Kadahdin deadline to worry about.. But still it bothers me and I do not know completely why. There are some obvious answers like: 1000 miles is a round number and sounds impressive, PA is half the trail and if I can do half in 3 months I could have made it all the way in 6, by only doing 700 or so I did not meet my goal and people will know.

Why should I care if .people know. I am still pleased to have come this far when most would have washed out by now. Why do I always care what others think. I wish I would stop looking external validation. I am proud of this hike however far I get and that is that!

Helveys Mill Shelter
Day: 68
Mileage: 574.1

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
582	Brushy Mountain (3,080')	3080
583	Va. 615, Suiter Road, Laurel Creek (2,450')	2450
589.9	U.S. 52 (2,920') Bland, Va. 24315 Bastian, Va. 24314 Bluefield, W. Va.	2920
590.3	Va. 612, I?77 overpass (2,750')	2750
590.7	Va. 612, Kimberling Creek (2,700')	2700
592.1	Helveys Mill Shelter (3,090') ?13.8mS; 10mN	3090

06/21/96 8:34 pm

Well it was nude hiking day (the summer solstice) and NO I did not hike nude, ore see anyone hiking nude for that matter.

It was a nice hike today and my knee did not hurt at all. I was even able to get in a shower at Laurel Creek wich had a neat waterfall you could sit in, boy did it feel great!

The book wasn't kidding when it said a long way down to the water, but it was a good source and the trail for the first half was nicely switch backed (it lookes as if they intend to switch back the rest really soon).

Found a packcover on the trail today wich belongs to No Worries (he left a message for me asking if I found one and if I could bring it to Pearisburg). Funny, I lost my bandana today....I wonder if someone found that.

Also when I got to the shelter someone had left, I assume on purpose, a bag with candybars and M&M.s. Just what the doctor ordered, more calories and I didn.t have to carry them!! I wonder if that was No Wories way of paying me to catch him?

Seem to have the shelter to myself again tonight, boy I could do woth some nice intellegent conversation. I think I said maybe 5 words to two people today and that was it.

Equipment note: The Omniseal Hydroseal Pouch that I purchased at Walasi-Yi Center way back when is starting to give out and I think it is no longer waterproof. Need to start using ziplocks again until I can get a replacement.

Trent's Grocery
Day: 69
Mileage: 590

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
598.7	Va. 611 (2,820')	2820
600.1	Brushy Mountain (3,101')	3101
601.8	Jenny Knob Shelter (2,800') ?10mS; 14.5mN	2800
603	Va. 608, Lickskillet Hollow (2,200')	2200
606.4	Brushy Mountain (2,800')	2800
608.2	Kimberling Creek (2,090')...suspension bridge	2090
608.3	Va. 606 (2,040')	2040

06/22/96 10:08 pm

Well, made it annother 15.5 mile day today. Woke up at 7am and was to Jenny Knob Shelter around noon. Took a 3 hour lunch break there. It would have been shorter but it was a hell of a long way to the water, longer than the last shelter. After the break it was hot, but the hike was easy to here. Set up camp, had a great shower and then 2 cheeseburgers for dinner. Made some phone calls and that was the day.

Oh, I did cross the new suspention bridge by Va 606, great bridge. ? teens were by it blairing music and swiming. I could tell how close I was to the bridge by how loud the music was.

Here at the campground once again by myself. Thats 3 nights now without people to talk to, at least tonight I had a phone. What hapened to all the other hikers?

06/23/96 9:18 am

Well I was camping last night for the first time since, I think, the Smokeys and wouldn.t you know it rained. The thunder and lightning made it look as if it was going to be a bad one, but luckely this was not the case and I only heard a light rain.

For being next to the road, I got a good nights sleep, but still went to bed late due to electric lighting (The waiting for the sun to go down syndrom).

Well off for annother 10+ mile day.

EQUIPMENT NOTE: My solar blanket has holes in it. They might be from mice. And here I have been saying that I have had no mice dammage to my equipment yet. No telling how long they have been there.

Woodshole Hostel
Day: 70
Mileage: 603.3

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
610.2	Dismal Creek Falls Trail (2,320')	2320
612.1	Walnut Flats Campground (2,400')	2400
614.2	Ribble Trail south junction (2,400')? USFS White Cedar Horse Campground	2400
614.5	Stream (2,500')	2500
616.3	Wapiti Shelter (2,600')?14.5mS; 9.5mN	2600
618.9	Sugar Run Mountain (3,800')...rocky outcrop	3800
621.8	Ribble Trail north junction (3,800')	3800
621.9	USFS 103, Big Horse Gap (3,752')	3752
623.5	Va. 663, Sugar Run Gap Road, Sugar Run Gap (3,450')	3450

First from the journal:

The Pathway Home
By Stephen "BJ" Dean Sr. (from Maine)

Weaving and winding
Over hill and dale.
For over 2,000 miles 
It's called the Appalachian Trail.

Through mountain and valley
Be it sunshine or gray,
The Lord will lead me
All along the way.

This a spiritual journey
Along the Appalachian Trail,
With many a story
and meny a tale.

Through the way is long 
The path leads home,
I need not fear
I'm never alone.

With staff in hand 
Through hill and dale,
I'm walking home
On the Appalachian Trail.

06/23/96 10:32 pm

It is late and it has been a full day. Started out ok, but when I got as far as Trent.s I had my first delay. Two thru hikers were there grabing a second breakfast. One was Jim something or other and the other was Chris .Seeker. Gorchinski (or something like that). Nice guys.

Once I had my second breakfast, and got myself motivated, wich was not easy, I was off. Then the next delay came when I decided to go to Dismal Falls. Great place and the water was cool, but there were a number of people there, mostly weekenders. I did meed one more .thru Hiker. named .Impulse.. I put thru hiker in quotes since he has yellow blazed and silver blazed so much. Yes silver blazed, he actualy got a ride on a train! So all this, plus a great spot, made for a long break again.

Once I got moving I was ok until the Pond before Wapiti Shelter. There, Seeker caught up with me and together we found the pond and went for a long swim. It was FANTASTIC!! Then it was off to the shelter for another long break.

It took even more willpower to leave the shelter beccause of the big climb coming up, but I managed to do it.

The climb was tuff, I almost died on the way up, but didn.t. Once I got near the turn off to here it was getting late, so I jumped the gun a bit and turned down the wrong road. Luckey it lead to the right intersection, were I ran into Seeker once again who put me on the right road to here (after some locals stoped, but couldn.t help).

Once here I found this to be a specail place right away. I was greeted by a past thru hiker then by a visiting kid (who seemed intrested in everything I was doing / a boyscout too) and then by Tillie herself. Now here fending off the bugs with my bivey, but glad I made it here.

Need to go to sleep now since breakfast is at 7;30am.

06/24/96 8:23 am

Had a great breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes. Great conversation too. But still I was the only thru hiker from this year there. Still it was nice to talk to people again. (the others at breakfast were:High Pockets - a former thru hiker, Jidith, Rusty and their kids Courtney and Justin and Milley)

Found out why seeker did a weired sidestep everytime I mentioned this place. It seems that him and Tillie had an argument after she ripped out his journal entry because of something he wrote that she didn.t like. I can.t see how you could offend Tillie, but it must have been a doosie for her to remeber it two years latter.

Pearisburg, VA
Day: 71
Mileage: 613.7

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
623.5	Va. 663, Sugar Run Gap Road, Sugar Run Gap (3,450')	3450
624.9	Rock Cliff Overlook (3,850')	3850
625.8	Doc's Knob Shelter (3,555') ?9.5mS; 15.7mN	3555
631.7	Campsite and spring (3,750')	3750
632.2	Angels Rest on Pearis Mountain (3,555')?vista	3555
633.6	Spring (2,300')	2300
634.2	Va. 634, Cross Ave. (2,200')	2200
634.6	Lane Street to Bus. U.S. 460 (1,650') Pearisburg, Va. 24134 Pembroke, Va. Blacksburg, Va.	1650

06/24/96 11:43 pm

Made it here ok, but boy I was hurting. Guess all the 15+ mile days catching up with me.

Got to the motel and as arranged, Seeker had a room all ready. Got in and did the normal town stuff. Did have dinner at a new chineese restaruant that JUST opened today, the food was GOOD!

Arranged with Keith to meet on july 4 at Troutville and go to the Shanandoah National Park and hike there for a week or so before leaving the trail. So I will have to come back and fill in, but I would have to annyway.

Its late so I will close this now....good night.

'96 Hike Map