Date: 2012-12-27
To: A 37th Wedding Anniversary Celebration
Miles today: 0.0

We are treated to a great view of the break of dawn as we enjoy the excellent complimentary breakfast buffet at the Lodge at Amicalola Falls State Park. The wind has died down overnight and although the weather remains overcast, maybe even a little foggy, the temperature is brisk as we head out to complete the upper 7.6 miles of the AT Approach Trail. We quickly encounter enough snow on the trail to follow four sets of NOBO footprints (We¢ll past two men as they take breaks during the first hour, and meet two other men returning, shortly after our lunch break). Although on four separate days we felt hail falling on us while hiking, this will be the first time in 154 days on the AT in 2012 where we will see snow. It is only a dusting, but more than enough to give every tree branch a beautiful winter coating, making for a very special scene this morning. The trail is smooth and the climb is not difficult: In fact we are noticeably going downhill before High Shoals Road and the two crossings of USFS Road 46. We have another steep descent as we come down into Nimblewill Gap (USFS 28), before we begin the final 700¢ climb to the top of Springer. We are surprised at the number of folks carrying no more gear (and some a lot less) than we are, who we meet coming southbound. We speculate a half dozen or so are coming from the Len Foote Hike Inn. We see a small group of runners go by as we take a lunch break out of the wind at the Black Gap Shelter. [We are also surprised at the large amount of abandoned food and garbage bags that have been left on the shelter floor.] On the last mile and a half to Springer, the sun finally breaks through, and, although we are reminded that, prominence-wise, Springer is no Kathadin, we at least are treated to clear views from the top. We take turns photographing each other, but just as we are about to leave, two small groups of section hikers walk in from the Big Stamp Gap parking area before beginning their trips north and we have a choice of photographers to take our picture together. On the return trip, wherever the hills have not provided shade, the morning 's snow has disappeared. This late in the day, as we head back down the 7.6 miles to the lodge, we expect to pass no more folks on their way up; but we are wrong, with each group being larger than the one before, and many people being weighted down with packs so heavy they would put an early Christmas Eve Santa to shame. A father/ young son team at this stage may have to rely entirely on the father¢s enthusiasm, but he seems up for the challenge. The next two groups of college age kids, one numbering four and one numbering six people, seem to be finding the climb more than they anticipated. A girl in the group of six is particularly interested in where the next water source is located, and is none too happy when we say they are now five miles from the Black Gap Shelter. One group says they have no definite plans for a stopping point tonight, and the other group says they are ¢just cruisin¢¢¦¢ Back at the lodge we think about them all as we enjoy our anniversary dinner, and give thanks our plans don¢t include the start of another thru hike on January 1.