Date: 2015-11-17
From: Hiawasee, GA

To: Amicalola Falls State Park, GA
Miles today: 69.6

11/14 Day 165: 19.1 miles M2138.7Tent at Blue Mountain ShelterToday was the most awesome hiking day. Breakfast at Top of Georgia Hostel was incredible, delicious, plentiful, and with wonderful conversation with Bob (owner of ToG hostel) and with fellow hikers (Red Swagger, French Press, and Buddha). My poles had slowly slipped over several days or weeks at the section joins and only today did I noticed just how short they had gotten. I re-adjusted the lengths to where they should be and was able to get much more leverage over them. I felt I was floating over the trail all day. I arrived at Trey Mountain summit shortly before noon to find many day hikers out on this beautiful Saturday. Weather was so dry and clear that we could see the Atlanta Skyline, Stone Mountain, and Kennesaw Mountain. I hadn't expected to actually be able to see home from the AT. The time on Trey Mountain was a special moment. On the south side of Trey Mtn, I passed GATC trail maintainers hard at work. I felt privileged to speak with them and thanked them for time, energy, and expense donated to maintain such a fantastic trail. I saw many hikers today. I counted 32 cars at the trailhead at Unicoi Gap. The shelter here (Blue Mountain) is full. I love my tent so am glad to have an additional incentive to stay in the tent on this cold night.   There was ice on the trail this morning where slow-flowing water seeps out of the mountain. I am bundled up for the night but still could easily manage a colder temperature, not wearing yet my jacket or my rain gear. Today was a wonderful, perfect hiking day!11/15 Day 166: 22.3 miles   M2161.0Tent at Woods Hole ShelterSunrise at Blue Mountain was beautiful this morning. The stars last night were amazing, too. The Big Dipper was visible down to the horizon. Today again, I felt I was floating along the trail, easy and fast. The hike up blood mountain to see a very interesting sunset. I felt moved again as I saw Atlanta and Stone Mountain again. I have hiked the Georgia section of the AT but this time am surprised how much I am enjoying it. The views are great this time of year. Lots of Georgians out hiking this weekend, I met a couple who lives along Canton Hwy in Cobb county, just a few miles from where I live. Today was a great day for hiking and to be alive. The weather was beautiful.11/16 Day 167: 20.1 miles M2181.1Tent at Hawk Mountain ShelterThe stars last night were amazing. Hiking through the day, the moisture increased but visibility was still very good, but the weather was still sunny and very pleasant. Hiking today through the heavy leaf cover made avoiding the rocks difficult, but I still feel like I was floating all day. The trail seemed so easy today. I stopped for an early lunch at 10:30 at Woody Gap where there is a nice view and picnic table beside the highway and trail crossing. Red Swagger soon joined me and then French Press. We noted our having reached the 99% completion mark reminiscing about how we'd kept track of 10%, 20% and other milestones in the beginning. I remembered having lunch here in 1999 when I had first decided that "someday, I'll hike the whole trail". Today was another amazing day. I saw many good Georgians out today enjoying the beauty of nature. I thought about what I'll do when back home and the good living I'll be doing. Today is a great day to be alive.11/17 Day 168: 8.1 miles M2189.2 plus 8.8 miles to Amicalola Falls.HomeI awakened and moved out of camp around 8:00 am in the overcast and heavy fog today. What a wonderful feeling to reach my destination. By 11:00 am, I reached the plaque at Springer Mountain. Red Swagger arrived shortly followed by French Press, who made coffee. We toasted the volunteers who maintain the trail and the kindness of strangers who helped us along the way. It was a nice time to know we had reached our destination. I signed the trail journal in the drawer made into the rock noticing just the day before a man had proposed and his (now) fianc©e said "yes!" After about an hour, one by one, we began the 8.8-mile hike along the approach trail to Amicalola Falls. The trail seemed so easy, so matter-of-fact. I hadn't remembered the falls being as spectacular as they seemed today. They made such a nice ending, a beautiful coda, to an incredible journey. At the base of the falls, Pinecone found us and what an amazing reunion it was. We four walked together through the archway at the visitors center, signed the book, and headed for the car and drove home. Pinecone had made soup, of which each of us hikers had four bowls, Yum! Pinecone and I drove Red Swagger and French Press to their hotel near the airport for the early departure the next morning.   An amazing day, an amazing hike. How blessed and lucky I am to have been able to attempt and then complete this adventure.