Date: 2009-02-26
From: Top of Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.8
Weather: broken clouds

Journal Entry by Mom:   Jessica has begun her adventure. She will be snail mailing me her hand written journals periodically and I will update them here as I get them. I wanted to let her friends know though, that she did begin.. In the rain.. and fog.. and snow.. And is having a great time. She was the 36th thru hiker of the year to sign in at Amicolola falls. Her pack weighed in at 28 lbs with food and water. She was very pleased with that, considering this is her winter gear therefore the pack will only get lighter.After a good nights sleep and free breakfast at the Super 8 in Dahlonega, we headed up to Amicalola Falls. They weren't quite open so we went for a little walk around the falls for a little while. She checked in at about 8:30 A.M. Then we followed the directions to the forest service road and parked the car. I walked up the .9 miles with her to the top of Springer for some photo ops. Then back down to the parking area where the trail went the other way. We said out goodbyes and off she eagerly went. She went the right way and everything! I take that as a good sign. It started raining shortly after she took off. It didn't stop very many times for the rest of the weekend...She made it to Hawk Mountain shelter very early (I think she said around 2:30) She shared the shelter with 4 other hikers. Details to follow when I get her journal.Entry by Jessica: My first day of hiking is done and I lived to tell about it! It was a pretty good day. My mom drove me here from Texas and we stayed in a town not to far from the trail head Dahlonega. We had dinner at an Italian restaurant, which was a great last meal. I slept in a real bed for the last time in a while, unless I end up going to Suches with my mom tomorrow before she leaves. She is staying for a few days to do trail magic. This morning, we had breakfast at the motel and made it to Amicalola before it even opened. My pack weighs 28 lbs. with food and water, which isn't too bad. I was aiming for 25. After signing in, we went to USFS 40. My mom hiked to Springer Mtn, the beginning, with me. It was amazing actually being there, but it was so foggy I could barely see 5 feet in front of me, and I was having wardrobe issues that I took care of when we went back to the car. I beat my mom back and met my first fellow thru-hikers, Endor and Splinter, who are at the shelter with me now. After one last goodbye with mom, I headed out. The trail wasn't really as difficult as I was expecting, at least so far. After hiking 12,000ers in California, these weren't really that intimidating. I have made pretty good time and arrived at the shelter at 2:00, but decided to stay and take it easy my first day. So far it is just the three of us, but it's still early. The shelter is cooler that I thought it would be. It is two stories, and I have the top bunk to myself. Even better, my sheltermates say they don't snore.Later: Ugh, too much idle time at camp! Two other potential thru hikers showed up a little later. One of them is named Charles, but we decided his trail name is the Riddler because he brought a book of brain teasers. The other is an older man who rode his bike from Maine and is walking back. It's only 7:45 but we are in our sleeping bags already. Again, too much idle time at camp. I like my fellow thru-hikers though, and today was fun. I'm probably going to try and meet my mom tomorrow instead of the next day.. Still not sure yet.