Date: 2006-04-02
From: Final Prep

To: Stover Creek Shelter
Miles today: 2.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Today is the greatest day ever! It started off with a little drive over from Helen, GA near the starting point of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain in Amicalola Falls State Park. Mom, Dad and I stayed in Helen last night to enjoy a good meal and a peaceful night¢s sleep before the start of my big hike. On the way over to the park this morning all I could see in the distance was rolling hills and the mountains of north Georgia. Then behind them were more mountains and more mountains. My stomach tingled with a few butterflies followed by the goose bumps that stretched across my neck as the anticipation built before the start of my lifelong dream hike. After signing my first journal on the AT inside the ranger station there at Amicalola State Park and taking a few pictures in front of the rock arch starting the approach trail Mom, Dad, and I headed up to the top of Amicalola Falls. It was a very steep climb but once at the top of the falls there were great views of the valley below. It was at this point where we all said our good-byes and took a few final pictures before splitting up. They were headed west back home to Birmingham and I was headed north on my hike to Katahdin. I set off with my mind running wild. Around Woody Knob I met up with a great couple from St. Louis and their trail names were ¢Map-man¢ and ¢Robin¢. They had actually checked in at the ranger station just before me and were happily headed north toward Mount Katahdin as well. They have been planning their trek for a couple of years and they started conditioning for the hike last fall. We synchronized our paces and headed for Springer while getting to know one another. After just over 8 miles we found ourselves on top of Springer Mountain where the AT actually starts. Yes, we had to walk 8.8 miles just to start this trail that extends nearly 2,175 mile through 14 states. At Springer Mountain we met up with a trail volunteer named Roger also known on the trail as 'Many Sleeps". Yesterday he reported there were 32 thru hikers that signed in and today I was number 19. Many Sleeps works for the ATC and volunteers here at Springer getting head counts of all the people who start the trail headed north each spring. Here at Springer I also met up with Michelle and Beth. They are two girls that have also wanted to hike the trail for some time and are out here trying to live a dream. My only real set back at Springer was starting the AT off in the wrong direction. That¢s correct my first steps on the AT were actually not on the AT but a trail that runs beside the rocks at Springer. Thanks to Many Sleeps as he corrected me and got me off in the right direction. From Springer Mt. Map-Man, Robin and I made our way down to Stover Creek Shelter for the night completing 11.3 miles today. There were ten hikers total at Stover Creek Shelter for the night. I found a spot and set up my tent close to the creek out behind the shelter. Shortly behind were Michelle and Beth. They set up their tent just beside me next to the creek as well. After eating a quick dinner and storing away my gear I head up to the shelter to visit everyone and make a couple more friends. Here I met Salt, his dog Pepper, Tipper, and Nifty. Pepper is a little brown and white dog with the build of a beagle and she has her own doggie pack to carry all her supplies. After visiting everyone for a while the day was drawing to an end so I went to my tent to write in my journal before turning out the lights around 9:15pm. To my surprise around midnight I started to hear a little thunder in the distance from an approaching storm. The storm ended up hitting about 6:15am bringing with it a lot of close thunder and lightning to which I turned over and slept in for a while. This extra sleep was due to having a great new one-man tent with no leaks. It¢s just my luck. My first night on the trail and it is storming.Tonight at Stover Creek Shelter: Map Man, Robin, Nifty, Salt, Pepper, Michelle, Beth, Tipper, and I