Date: 2004-10-21
To: Springer Mountain and Beyond!
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: broken clouds

Subject: A Journey North- Part Two- Preparations and the Big Day In preparing to hike the Trail I tracked down every single book I could find written on the subject and read them cover to cover, more than once. I spent months in my apartment saving money, buying food that my family would mail me, and hiking up and down Howard's Knob to get in shape. Many hikers on the Trail use "Maildrops" in order to resupply. A maildrop is basically a box full of food and supplies left with a trustworthy person, to be mailed out at an appropriate time so that the hiker can leave the Trail, go into a town and pick up some food. By doing this you don't have to worry about whether a town has a good grocery store or having a load of cash at all times. Howard's Knob is a mountain in Boone with a road that has a rather steep incline, when hiking in the ditch it simulates hard Trail climbing very well. Time wound down and the big day finally came. I said my goodbyes to my family and girlfriend Kristin, and my father, brother and I drove down to Georgia. We stayed one night at a cabin a co-worker of my dad's owns, and the next morning we drove to Amicalola State Park. The visitor center at the park is the starting point for the Approach Trail. 8.8 miles to reach the summit of Springer Mountain and the start of the Appalachian Trail. Instead, we took a forest service road up so that dad and Farrell could see me off from the magical mountain. At the top of the road you have to hike .9 miles south on the Trail to reach the summit of Springer. I was a fairly cold day, and it was raining while we hiked to the top. Unlike the northern terminus, Katahdin, which rises over everything in the landscape, Springer is simply tucked away among other mountain, no reason to suspect that she is the beginning of anything as magical as the Trail. Day One-7.6 miles- Start-Springer Mountain   End-Hawk Mountain Shelter As we neared the top of Springer hail started pouring down. Inlaid in a rock at the start of the Trail with the first 2x6 inch white blaze is a bronze plaque with an old hiker on it saying "A footpath for those who seek fellowship with the wilderness." Everything was so wet I wasn't able to sign the first register, so we took a few pictures and headed down. Back at the parking lot I said my goodbyes as the rain worsened and headed off to the right to start my journey. Too bad the Trail went to the left. Farrell pointed that out to me and I was on my way. Probably not the best way to get started, but I only had a few miles to hike today. Entering the woods as Farrell gave me a send off with his trucks horn (It was rather cool) It rained the whole time I was hiking. After passing Stover Creek Shelter and meeting "Jeans Guy" The temperature dropped and it started to sleet, then snow. Hawk Mountain Shelter, like most AT shelters is a three sided lean-to. It was empty when I got there so I took off my wet clothes and cooked dinner, waiting for bedtime. After a few hours some weekend warriors showed up, including an army ranger who hiked a fire log from Wal-Mart in. The rain stopped and the stars came out and we got a nice warm fire started, dried all our clothes, and had a great night. Day Two 19 miles Hawk Mountain Sh. to Woods Hole Sh. The day started off really good. Got up and got hiking at what I thought was an early time (9:30) Made it out before anyone else and was ready for a good hike. Hit a snag though when the AT crossed a road and I took a wrong turn. The new reroute of the Trail went up the mountain, while I took the old Trail down the mountain. 30 minutes and 1 mile later I was back at the top where one of the fastest hikers I've ever seen sped by and pointed out the real Trail. Sassafras Mountain was my first big climb of the trip, a little less than 700 feet in one mile. I passed the fast hiker on the way while he had a snack and thought I wouldn't see him anymore. But low and behold on the way down the mountain he comes flying by at what must be about 3 miles an hour (super dooper fast in hiking terms.) Turns out he was a thruhiker too and he was gonna eat lunch at Gooch Mountain shelter, where I planned on staying. I catch him at Gooch Mountain and we talk for awhile. It turns out he hiked last year and is doing the Triple Crown this year. (The Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail-Just short of 10,000 miles) I had so much fun talking to him and was getting so could just sitting around I told him I'd meet him at Wood's Hole Shelter tonight. It was about 3 when I left Gooch Mountain, and it is another 12 miles to Wood's Hole. At 1.5 to 2 miles per hour, I din't realize what I was getting myself into. That night, tired, weak and hungry, I stumbled into the shelter well after dark with just enough energy to feed myself and go to sleep. Day Three Miles 4.1 Wood's Hole to Walasi-Yi Hiker Hostel I got so cold that night that my boots, water filter and bottle were frozen solid. After a quick breakfast, I hiked up Blood Mountain and down into Neel's Gap, my first maildrop and home to the famous Walasi-Yi hiker hostel. I paid for one night, saw Magic just as he was leaving for the next shelter and made some call home. The weekend was coming up and Farrell and I figured out that if I got to Winding Stair Gap in NC by Sunday, he could come camping with me. A call to my one and only Kristin brought the first pangs of loneliness. But being at such a historic Trail place, I was rather excited. A hiker hostel usually consists of two things, one a bunk room with 10-15 bunk beds for hikers to sleep in. and a common room with a shower and various amenities for hikers to occupy themselves during the night. I would need it too, little did I know that my night at the Walasi would be my worst night on the Trail ever... Stayed tuned for part three!!