Happy Fourth!
The day before left the Trivett House in Elk Park, NC, on July third and hitched back to the Trail and hiked an easy 10 miles to our camp. Lots of road walking along the way, in a stretch that had since been relocated several times to secure a permanent and SAFE trail corridor.
It was the fourth of July in 1974 when we left Moreland Gap LT (built 1960) with Ralph, Don and Pete. Pete is shown warming his hands over the fire at the camp. Don, on the left is collecting firewood. Ralph's walking stick is between them. You can click on any pic for a larger image.
We then arrived at this Appalachian Trail Leanto. Ralph shot this pic that night.
Vandeventer LT was built in 1961 and still stands. Some additional facts: 5 ft high roof in sleeping area 15' x 7' sleeping area: plywood, 2 ft off of ground. Shelter is 10' x 16'.
You will notice in the back, there is an opening in the trees to look southeast. Lots of great views along the Iron Mountains.
Today, the NPS photo shows this.
Looks like a new roof?
From the AT Map. Check this site out for lots a great pics of LTs on the AT.
And the same area from the USGS Watauga Dam Quad
Details of this day from my AT log:4 July Thursday
20.1 miles fucking hard ass miles
Arrived at Leanto (which we got) at 730 pm after a hard day. 1 or 2 pics from fire tower on White Mt. 3 pics at waterfall 2 (I guess) or Wautuga (?) lake from leanto of views. Scratched my arms and legs on pricker bushes. Had banana cream pudding which was good. Expected to have a good fireworks display from LT in the valley but no go. Bought beer and peanuts at a joint along trail. Tasted like shit. Hotter than hell today. Sweated balls off. 45 miles from Damascus.
Glad today is over.
###
More pics, first White Rock Tower, and the USGS map from Moreland Gap to the Tower.
Next Laural Fork Falls and the USGS map of the time.
And then Wilbur Lake from the top of a tuff climb. The lake was built sometime between
1938 and 1960. So, the first AT hikers would not have had this view.
and one from a power line.
Finally, a page from the AT guidebook for the section viewed above and my comments.
The guidebook map shows this.
You will notice I had highlighted LTs with a red marker and put a blue X with camps that we used. The scale is in the upper right and according to the guide and trail mileage sheet it was a bit over 20 miles and ALL uphill.
So, fifty years ago, hikers had the ATC Trail Guide and Maps, plus the
Mileage Fact Sheet. No GPS.
Check marks are my nightly camps and if underlined, we stayed inside the Leanto,
Guides were published (about) every 5 years since the 1960s. This copy was a blended copy reporting only northbound travel from Springer Mt, Georgia to Damascus Virginia. Back in the day when you could remove pages. So it essentially covered three different books and about 400 miles of Trail.
RELOS were published in the Appalachian Trailway News and look like this entry from the May 1972 edition.
Don, Ralph and I finished the
AT in 1975. We were one of the 92 hikers to complete the AT that year. I am not sure about Pete. It was a great experience.
For more on the history of the Appalachian Trail, see the
Special Collections at George Mason University Library.
You can also visit the
AT Museum, where my
book is for sale. All proceeds go to the museum.
I am working on a new edition with color photography, so stay tuned.
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