Date: 2017-03-03
To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

Today was the first day for my hike. We stayed at the lodge at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia last night. Marlene and I got up early and had breakfast. Everything was packed and ready so we headed out to find our way through the north Georgia mountain roads. Marlene was driving my F-150 pickup. We found the turnoff for US Forest Service road 42 and off into the woods. The road was in great shape (for a mountain road) and the 6.5 miles up to the parking lot went by without incident ¢ at least from my perspective ¢ I know Marlene was anxious about the trip up and especially the trip down. A few vehicles at the dirt parking lot. We parked and immediately started for the summit of Springer Mountain, .9 miles south on the Appalachian Trail. There was a very raw wind and it was cold. The trail had ice and ice crystals along the way. Marlene has been sick with bronchitis and about half way up she asked if she could turn back and wait for me at the truck. I was relieved because I knew the weather and her condition was giving her a hard time. I went ahead to the summit and quickly signed the register, got a few pictures and left. I had been here 3 times before so I made it short and sweet. Wanted to get back to Marlene as soon as possible. At .2 miles back I took the side trail to the Springer Mountain shelter, but only long enough to get a picture, then back down to the parking lot. When I arrived I did a few chores and Marlene hovered around me as we knew what came next. When I was in the Marines and had to go back from leave or was going to Viet Nam I would wake up the morning of departure and begin to steel myself for the coming time of leaving family. There was no hard shell around me this day. This was very hard and I still can feel that extra hard and clinging hug from my sweetheart today.   I made her drive off in the truck before I took my first steps on the trail northward. How hard that was.Down from the summit the weather was much nicer with less wind and the day began to warm a little. I was at the bottom fairly quickly at Stover Creek, and crossed on a log and rock hopping crossing. I knew the old shelter was gone and the new shelter was somewhere around but I did not find it. A mile or two later I saw a sign for a shelter and sure enough the new shelter was off to the right ¢ very nice ¢ and I stopped in for a few minutes. I quickly came to Three Forks and took a pack-off break. While there a hiker came up behind me and was confused about his location. He asked why he had come so far and had not found Springer Mountain. I explained that he had probably gone north from the parking lot but the summit was .9 miles south. Disappointed, he decided to hike all the way back about 3.5 miles to the parking lot and then to the summit. I felt bad but understood his wanting to see the southern terminus and get off right. On past 3 forks to Long Creek Falls and ended the day at Hawk Mountain shelter. The shelter was full and there were probably 30 or 40 tents and hammocks. I got my tent set up and cooked supper. Spent most of the remaining daylight doing chores (filtering water, etc) and talking with the many hikers milling around the shelter area. A great day. I did well ¢ was very tired but encouraged that I could still do this. Shortly before dark I checked and had a text from Marlene that she had made it back to the paved road on schedule and was pretty far into her return trip back to Birmingham. Praise the Lord for that information. That was the best news I could have to end the day. Hikers settle in for the night as darkness starts to settle in. It makes for a pretty long night to be bounded by sunrise and sunset but we get used to it. Very tired but very happy for the progress of day 1. Goodnight Sweetheart.