Date: 2004-03-01
From: Springer Mountain

To: Hawk Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Day 2, March 1, 2004Woke up to fog this morning. No mice which was good. The hike today was not real bad. Last night about 5 min after finishing my journal I lost my cookies. Ran out of the shelter and was able to get a good distance away from the shelter. After the whole ordeal just looked up at the stars in awe. Sat for a few minutes and enjoyed the view of distant peaks lit by moonlight. But today the hiking is good. No blisters yet, these shoes are working out real well. So far I have seen 2 other hikers with my Montrails. Today I officially got my trail name Captain Hook. Let me explain... A hiker named Burn said I looked like a pirate with my hat worn side ways. I can¢t wear it the way its supposed to be worn because it bangs my pack. After a few more miles another hiker also called me Captain hook right outside the shelter. Burn had not yet arrived at the shelter so it seems to be a good name. This was all on my official first day. My girlfriend, Charity, gave me a duck to take on my journey. At first I was going to leave the duck due to weight, but it just kept looking at me with sorry eyes, so I could not leave it behind. Sooo I put the duck on my shoulder and coved one of my eyes with a cloth, and put my camping hat on, and the name stuck. I was very surprised to get a trail name on the first day of hiking, with only 7.6 miles hiked on the AT. Think I¢m gonna go fix some dinner and be social for little bit. It's only 4:30 and I¢m ready for bed. Was feeling a bit under the weather after dinner, but now I¢m actually feeling a bit hungry. Ramen noodles are on the menu tonight... or this afternoon. Clear and copious so far. Was a little dehydrated earlier today, but am doing fine now. I think I¢m more hydrated on the trail than I am at home. So far the plan is to hike 8 miles tomorrow to another shelter, and then the next day headed for town for a re-supply. I forgot to mention that this morning I found a note in my pack from my sister Katie. It¢s really neat to find something like that out here in the middle of the woods. My dad hiked up with me on the approach trail and he was supposed to be picked up by my mom and sister at a road. So I waited a bit for them to come, but did not want to get separated from the group I was hiking with and left without saying goodbye to my sister or mom. That is something I regret now. So, sorry mom, and Katie, see ya in 6 months. I should have waited for them because they had about 2 pounds of cookies waiting for me. A group of hikers stopped and talked to my mom sis, and dad and they offered to carry all the cookies up to Springer Mountain, so I want to thank Sarah and her family for hauling those delicious cookies all that way up all that mountain. Well now it¢s about 9 and most everyone is going to bed. Its about 50 degrees and we just got some sleet - not much, but enough to remind me that I¢m still in the mountains. This evening I had a really good talk with Bill, who is taking time off from work. He does not really know a lot about hiking, but his daughter thru hiked it once and has helped him prepare. He is a very laid back type of guy. If you ask him if he is going to hike all of the trail, he will simply say that he is hiking day by day. He has a good attitude. He was interested in my pocket mail device, and my tarp. The pound and a half weight of my tarp compared to his 6 pound tent really appealed to him. Then right before bed got to talk with Sarah a bit, and talked about rock climbing, and what she wanted to get out of this hike. I would love talk more but its best I get my sleep while I still can. Tomorrow I will cross over 2 mountains before reaching my campsite. Its going to be about 8 miles. Oh yeah¢¦ it¢s supposed to be raining the whole time too. It all comes in the packaged deal - hiking the Appalachian Trail.