Date: 2012-03-03
From: Amicalola Falls State Park

To: Springer Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.2
Weather: few clouds

I hiked 8.8 miles today but only .2 of that was officially the AT. It's 7:45 and boy am I ready for bed. This first day wasso long that it feels like many days all wrapped into one. My fabulously supportve and awesome aunt and mom drove me down yesterday stopping off at a few places that I plan to pick up food. We got a late start out of the hotel because...I'm not a moring person... we wentto walmart in hopes they would have underarmour coldgear leggings as of course idot that I am I left mine on the couch. Of course I woke up with a start and realized this around 1am. That was also about the time a massive thunderstorm hit and rained buckets. Listening to the thunder and watch the lighting light up the curtains I just sat there grinning. As my friend told my mother after a dayhike with me, "you're daughters crazy you know." Okay so no go at walmart guess I'll just have to push on. We called my dad and asked him to mail them to Neels Gap. Thank you! The day started well with me brimming with excitemet registering at the visitor center. I'm the 133 thru hiker to register this year. We all hought that was cute being 133 on 3/3. The falls were beautiful! Te biggest I've seen but Oh My God those stairs. Over 500. PAIN. But as the park ranger said they woul d the falls were "gushing". Unfortunatly fr me I got sck last week and am still recovering so todays hiking soundtrack was along the lines of hack, ack, cough, phlegm, yack... it was painful and isucking wind. So slowly but surely we made progress. They stayed with me until about 3.2 miles inthen we said our goodbyes and I went off alone. It was only a little ways on that it struck me for the first time that there was no car or house to return to, there was only forward north. Kinda a weird feeling and a weird little shiver of doubt went through me before I shook it off and justof enjoyed the thrill of all that that meant. That elation was so much bigger then anyting else I was feeling that I'm sure it'll all be okay. As the day wore on I started feeling a little worried that I might not make springer mountain and would need to set up camp smewhere in between. Luckily the early part of the day was harder than the middle and then the last mile in a half to the summit kicked my butt. As I hiked I started feeling a little twinge hit my right arch and put on my ankle brace for support. As the day wore on my knees started to hurt and my feet let me know that they were vr unhappy with this new situation.   But I've been hurting before and knew I could push on granny walking my way to the top. The day had been mosty cloudy but at the last few switchbacks before the summit the sun came out and warmed my face some shining in streams t light upthe path. It was divine. What a great view from the top, but it was getting dark so I went a little further to get to the shelter. When I got there Jimmy who had been packing up in the parking lot saw me and said, "You made it!" It was a good greeting I'm starting to get used to. Glad I talked with him because I cmpletely missed the register in a metal box fit into the rock that was on the summit. He and I decided to hike back to the summit and catch the last bit of sunset left. Nice orangy red colors. Ate my first trail dinner there (pasta sides). And wathed the lights come on in the towns below on either side of the mountain. I was really tired and feling the pain just about everywhere and being so slow with camp chores still I was setting up in the dark for the last few things. Of course it is absolutly luxurious to have a privy and bear cables to throw off of. So as the final bit of light fades I realize there is just a small little depression under my tent. Oh no please don't rain! Luckily my two person tent is big enough I just moved all my stuff away from that spot. Ma I can tell I'm going to be sore tomorrow. I alo met lacy today who started around the start. Sweet girl. See you guys in the morning.