Date: 2008-03-20
From: Len's Foot

To: Stover Creek
Miles today: 2.8
Weather: clear sky

Spring Equinox - We were awakened by a drummer.  At the inn, they play a drum to announce sunrise.  Today is the first day of spring.  Someone had constructed a Stonehenge-like monument so that on the first day of spring the sun would shine through a small hole in a rock slab and project on a wall down a stone tunnel. It was a perfect red ball seen through the hole.  We all took photos even though the wind was blowing and it felt anything but spring. A balmy 32¢¢, and it felt a lot colder. Filled up on a good breakfast. Then it was time to pack up and hike the trail. My feelings were all over the map. It was all I could do to take that first step  north. What made it possible was a little note Louisa, my sister sent to me.  It was a copy of an old photo of our Grandma Dowell sitting in a mock-up of a covered wagon pulled by two oxens.  The adventurous spirit runs in the family. For me, it was like jumping off a 30 foot cliff into a pool below. Once I got going, it turned out to be a beautiful day. Mostly up hill and rocky. I met a few people. One group of kids, whose young legs went pass me in a hurry. Mostly I had the trail to myself. The trees are still very bare of leaves. As I approach Springer Mountain, there were some Mountain Laurel. The wind was blowing and about 34¢¢ Wrote this poem on my way to the top inspired by black and gold rocks flecked with mica:Silver and gold paved the way,To Mount Springer this cold day.  Should the gods show their favor.  It¢s Mount Katahdin will I savor. At the top there is a plaque making it the official start of the trail. I came upon a bearded old man who looked like Rip Van Winkle sitting in a chair. He said it was time for lunch.  I thought I was Alice in Wonderland. Turns out he was a census taker asking if I was a thru hiker? I was number 330 on his list. Some hikers don't check in at the Amacola Falls State Park.  His trail name was "Many Sleeps" and he was 67 when he thru-hiked the AT. I didn't feel so old at 65. He is now 78 and camps out for 10 weeks at Springer working for the trail conservancy. Hiked on as it was a cold, but he would have been a fascinating person to talk to and hear his stories. Had a snack at Springer Mountain Shelter. Met a guy who was packing up that told me his water bottle froze during the night. 2 1/2 miles further was the Stover Creek Shelter, my first.  It was only 2:00, but I felt I needed all the time to figure out how to set up my tent, cook dinner, collect and filter water and how to hoist up my bear bag.  The tent wasn't so hard. There was a family from Orlando, FL camping who turned out to be my fist trail angels.  After all my searching for a stove canister, it turned out to be a dud!  They gave me an used one that hopefully will get me to Nell's Gap. I was in the bag right after dinner. Not an easy night, because my sleeping pad and bag slipped all over the tent floor. I was very cold and thought it was nerves as much as anything.  Lesson #1, pitch your tent near other thru hikers. The next morning I discovered I had made it through the night and was ready for day #2. Fly right,Ravon