Date: 2016-02-20
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Amicalola Falls State Park
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Cheetah and I are currently being chauffeured by my amazing parents down to our drop off point of Amicalola Falls State Park in northern Georgia. We are staying in the state park lodge tonight and tomorrow night and then embarking from the Springer Mountain trailhead Monday morning. Tomorrow we will spend our day hiking around Amicalola Falls and orienting ourselves to trail life. Both of our packs weigh in around 30lbs, by Neels Gap (day 3) we will stop at an outfitter that offers free pack shakedowns which will hopefully shave off some weight. Parents be prepared for a package of unneeded items! If anyone would like to send a package to myself or Cheetah we will be stopping in Franklin, NC on March 2nd and 3rd for a full day of rest (see plans below for details). For future reference...How to address a package to us:Katherine Moore (or Ria Keegan)c/o "business name""Street number and name""City, state, zip"Please hold for AT HikerETA "date"If you want to send a package to us in Franklin, NC (needs to arrive by March 3rd) here is the address:Katherine Moore (or Ria Keegan)c/o Outdoor 7635 East Main Street Franklin, NC 28734Please hold for AT hikerETA March 3rdHiking PlansMonday, February 22nd - Friday, March 4th Monday, February 22nd (8.1 *total mileage)   Begin on trail at Springer Mountain trailhead   NIGHT 1- Hawk Mountain Shelter (8.1 *daily mileage)    Water south on AT and 0.1 mile behind shelter.Tuesday, February 23rd (15.8)   NIGHT 2 - Gooch Mountain Shelter (7.7)    Water behind shelter.Wednesday, February 24th (31.7)        RESUPPLY   NIGHT 3 - Mountain Crossings Bunkroom in Neels Gap US 19 (15.9)   $18 per person, 706-745-6095   12471 Gainesville Hwy, Blairsville, GA 30512Thursday, February 25th (43.2)   NIGHT 4 - Low Gap Shelter (11.5)    Water 30 yards in front of shelterFriday, February 26th (54.3)                   NIGHT 5 - Rocky Mountain Views (11.1)    CampingSaturday, February 27th (66.0)   NIGHT 6 - Deep Gap Shelter (11.7)    Water 0.1 before shelter   No phone signal at Dick¢s Creek Gap. If in need of ride call from Shelter or Powell Mountain.Sunday, February 28th (74.1)        RESUPPLY   Dicks Creek Gap, US 76 - Top of Georgia Hostel & Hiking Center (69.6)   706-982-3252. Downhill blue-blazed road walk   7675 US Hwy 76 E., Hiawassee, GA 30546   NIGHT 7 - Plumorchard Gap Shelter (8.1)    Creek on trail to shelterMonday, February 29th (86.3)   NIGHT 8 - Standing Indian Shelter (12.2)    Creek 70 yards downhillTuesday, March 1st (97.6)   NIGHT 9 - Betty Creek Gap (11.3)    CampingWednesday, March 2nd (109.8)        RESUPPLY   Winding Stair Gap, US 64 - Franklin, NC 10 miles East (12.2)   NIGHT 10 - Haven¢s Budget Inn Hiker Hostel    $45 per night, 828-524-4403   433 East Palmer Street, Franklin, NC 28734   MAIL DROP Outdoor 76    35 East Main Street Franklin, NC 28734    Expectant date of arrival: March 3rd          PLEASE SEND: dark chocolate, dried fruit, snickers, cliff bars, individual peanut butter, ritz   crackers, peanut m&ms, wet naps, flushable wipes, love and kisses!Thursday, March 3rd (109.8)                RESUPPLY + ZERO   Night 11 - Haven¢s Budget Inn Hiker Hostel (0.0)                *See Wed. March 2nd for Hostel InfoFriday, March 4th (120.8)   Morning shuttle to Winding Stair Gap: Beverly Carini 850-572-7352 or Chuck   Allen 828-371-6460   NIGHT 12 - Wayah Bald Shelter (11.0)    West 0.2 to waterBefore signing off I want to say a big thank you to The Donnellys for letting me raid their freeze dried food, my parents for all of their help with preparation and travel, Brian and Caleigh for the paracord (tehe), and of course my hiking partner cheetah for being my REI liaison and overall support system.