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July
25, 1983 Monday (873.3 mtg) From
Gonzo!s Appalachian Trail journal
Catfish
Fire Tower practically loomed over the shelter, but I did not realize
it until I arrived there this morning to watch the sunrise. If I
had known that it was a mere half mile from the shelter I might
have even went there to watch the sun set last night. If I had checked
the guide, I might have even camped out in the tower. The morning
was heralded by the sounds of reveille that could be heard coming
from the valley below as the campers were awakened for the morning's
activities. Today's hike was not extremely memorable, as I have
no notes from the area between Catfish Fire Tower and Culver's Gap
at US 206. At Culver's Gap there is a nice bakery that most hikers
stop for baked goods. Worthington's supplied me with a turkey sandwich
and miscellaneous danish and donuts. After a short break at the
bakery, I proceeded along the trail along the road that leads to
the summit of Sunrise Mountain. A half mile past the bakery the
trail turns off of the road and enters the woods to begin the climb
up to Kittatinny Ridge, where the trail followed the crest for about
six miles to the summit of Sunrise Mountain and the pavilion located
there. Although the area is restricted to camping, I and a couple
of other hikers sat around waiting for the sun to set before settling
in for the night. The sunset from Sunrise Mountain was one of the
best that I had ever seen. The clouds that were to the west were
just right to provide interesting forms, and add a sense of life
to the scene. I saw Apollo as he raced across the sky in his chariot.
As the sky darkened, we waited for all the other public who had
driven up to the pavilion to leave, and then we got out our sleeping
gear. The night air was cool and there was only a slight problem
with mosquitoes in the early evening. I had to carry all of my water
up the mountain for the evening meal, breakfast the next morning,
and the beginning of the next section, but the view at sunset was
well worth the effort. We drifted off to sleep sheltered under the
pavilion.
Gonzo!
Appalachian Trail Journals ©1983
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