Date: 2005-04-04
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Springer Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Howdy, This was my first dated entry in my journal and as always I did do things a little different. My hike was long finished when I started this and I have been making entries on all the days that I hiked. I guess all of this is more for historical reference on a personal note.    Right from the beginning, I knew I was carrying way too much un-needed stuff. I soon became the quint essential "Minimalistic" individual. I learned early what most successful thru hikers learn the hard way, to live without. In my opinion, traveling light is the only way to go. Heavy gear equals pain, lighter gear equals miles. Eliminate the pain and increase the miles. Distance equals completion. It is not rocket science, to much weight and pain may make you give up the dream. Normally the tougher ones give up about half way, just about when the heat of summer hits you. Light weight will make you last longer in the long run (after the collective miles totaled together). Again, miles equals completion. Adaptation, adaptation followed by more adaptation. Stay flexible, read on and see if I can help. Bypass the personal stuff and you may just learn the one thing that may help towards your success.         To start, yes I did the approach trail from the Falls to the southern terminus on Springer Mountain, a total of 8.8 miles. I did not know there was a road close to the top of Springer because, I may have taken it.    Before the trip began, I did spend a week in Jacksonville, NC with my daughter Shannon. She drove me to Dahlonega, GA. on the 3rd with one stop along the way to pick up a friend, Rick (Gypsy Eagle) in Atlanta. Rick wanted to hike with me for a short time period. We all spent the night at a local hotel and began the Thru-hike the next day.    It also must be mentioned that "My Hike" came so close to ending before it started that it wasn't funny. A massive flood in my home town almost canceled my trip. My basement was flooded and my wife, Brenda, was in a panic. Our friends and family came to the rescue and with their help, plus after giving my wife several hundreds of dollars from my hiking budget for clean-up, I was fortunately able to start "My Hike".    We started at the base of the falls because that is where the "Arch" is. Rick and I had our pictures taken and recorded our names at the Amicalola Falls State Park Visitors Center. The climb to the summit was somewhat difficult but, over all not to bad. Rick was breaking in a new set of boots so we took our time and enjoyed the moment. Personally I clocked approximately 300 miles in my hiking log before ever stepping off on this adventure. I am a Disabled American Veteran and did those miles as a train-up and a decision making process. I figured if I could not handle it physically I would rather end the trail dream at home instead of on the trail. As far as the disabilities go, heck it is just a word. Strong pain medication helped when needed as well as a memorized Yoga routine, thus I was as ready as I could be physically. We summited Springer and spent the night near the "Springer Mountain Shelter".    There was good water there and the Sunset on the summit was outstanding, a beautiful way to start indeed. We both signed the journal on the summit and the adventure officially began. There at the shelter we met Toni (Toni with an I), Joe, Jacob (Praying Mantis) and Craig. Toni had her dog with her and later that evening the dog scared off an animal I believed to have been a Black Bear. I heard the Bear blow, that is it cleared its nose to sniff better, sometime late that night. The dog heard it as well and barked a warning sending the Bear away. This was not to be my first Bear encounter to say the least. The next morning we were up and gone by 9:30. Time after time Rick would turn to me and say, "This was a good idea Bob". How true!