Date: 2006-10-16
To: The Approach Trail
Miles today: 0.0

My dad lives in Bradenton, Florida and I go often to visit him. On my last trip, I thought I would add an extra adventure. On the way home to (Virginia) I stopped off at Amicalola Falls State Park and hiked the Approach Trial. I have been reading about it for years in various Trail Journals and thought it would be a good practice hike. I also had never camped without either one of my sons or a friend. I left Bradenton at 1:00 AM and got to the State Park at 12:00. The drive took me a lot longer than I thought it would. After the long drive, I was worried I would not make the 8.8 miles (I think it is really 9 miles to the Shelter) by dark. But it turns out I did fine. I put my pack (Granite Gear Vapor Ki) on (first time with 25 lbs for this pack), signed all the paperwork and started up. I did not even look around the store or the park I was so anxious to start. And up I went. I think I must have been filled with excitement and adrenaline as I reached the top of Springer in less than five hours. I met a lot of people coming down with just Camel Backs on and it took me a while to figure out they were coming from the Hike INN. I would like to do that sometime. You hike five miles in and stay at the Inn and they feed you! I met a couple, who had signed out before me, and were going to Springer Mt., but they decided to stop and camp along the way. I saw a few more tents off the trail with people in them and after about four hours I was tempted to do the same. When I finally reached the top there were about 15 people around the AT plaque (they were even in the trees), and I thought I would stop the next day on the way out. I went along to the shelter. I have to say I was glad to get there but the trail was not as bad as I had expected it to be. Three guys from Georgia were already at the shelter for the night. They had hiked in about 3 or 4 miles from a different direction. I could not find the tent sights so one of them Mike (I think) helped me a lot. There are some really nice sites on the other side of a small creek, which was an excellent water source. I took my cooking supplies up and had dinner with the guys and talked mostly about hiking and equipment. Two of them had hammocks and let me try them out. It was very comfortable but I still not sure I would like it. Another young couple arrived with a dog and set up near me but I never saw them again that night.I went to bed at 8:00 (it was very chilly) and then heard some guys with fiddles and banjos arrive and play until 10:00 or so. It was really nice to lie in my tent and listen to the music on top of Springer Mt. where I will start my journey soon. It made it a special occasion.I got in the morning and went up to have breakfast and out of the shelter comes Z-Hobbit. I had met in on August 29 on the trail to MacAfee¢s Knob in Virginia. We had talked awhile about thru-hiking and south bounding. He had finished!!! What a quick walk he has had. I thought it quite extraordinary to met one individual 100s of miles from where I had first met him and I have only met three south bounders in total this year. My first ¢Trail Magic.¢The trip down took me six hours. I could not believe it! But I had stopped to talk to many people going down. It was a beautiful Sunday morning and I guess everyone was ready to have a conversation and relax for a few minutes.I was also very glad to reach the bottom, but I was pleased with my gear and myself. Now I just have to wait the five more months. I believe the waiting is the hardest thing to do.