Date: 2021-03-21
From: Springer Mountain 

To: Ramrock Mountain
Miles today: 19.0
Weather: clear sky

AT day 119 miles to Ramrock Mountain Last night was cold, my watch read 35 degrees this morning. The wind was blowing all night long. I typically find it hard to get a sound sleep the first few nights of a backpacking trip. We both got up about 7:15 to the sounds of birds chirping. We left camp around 830 or so and I hiked back to Springer Mountain so I could touch the first blaze and officially start my 2021 thru hike. It was nice to have nice weather so Nancy and I could have time to hug and say goodbye for 4 months. In 2019 it was raining and our goodbyes were rushed. I headed north around 9:00 am and Nancy headed back to Amicalola park. Heading down from Springer was easy hiking on a nice grade but I had to be careful of my foot placement because the trail had many sections of rocks, roots and slabs. One of my goals is to stay upright and not get injured. There were also a lot of muddy sections that you could carefully rock hop across. When I got to the Springer Mountain parking lot it was kind of confusing because there were several trails to choose from but no white blaze on a tree. Another goal is to keep heading in the right direction so I was going to check the Guthook App but a ridge runner was there scattering rocks from an illegal firepit and pointed me in the right direction. Once I left the parking lot the trail became a wonderful smooth trail surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of the forest. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club does a great job maintaining the trail. Eventually the trail flattens out and it follows streams through a rhododendron lined path. It¢s very enjoyable to hike in a green tunnel while being serenaded by the sound of cool mountain water cascading down a stream. I took a break around 10:30 to get water from the Three Forks River next to a bridge. The trail follows this river for quite a while and the river corridor has an abundance of campsites. One of the lessons that I learned from my 2019 AT hike was that everything should be kept in the same place at all times. During my water stop I was going to mix my protein powder, chia seeds and oatmeal shake. I couldn¢t find the funnel that I made to pour the ingredients into my SmartWater bottle with. I didn¢t feel like exploding my pack to find it. It¢s very hard to pour powder into a narrow mouth bottle. For some reason while I was getting water I got an music stuck in my mind.  The song was White Rabbit by Jefferson airplane What triggered that song memory I don¢t know but it kept repeating over and over for a long time. Around 2 o¢clock, as I was coming down the trail to Carvers Gap I noticed a bunch of hikers hanging around a van. They were either waiting for a shuttle or there was trail magic going on. I couldn¢t believe my luck! On my first day I was recieviy trail magic from the legendary or as she puts it, the infamous Miss Janet. I only got trail magic once on my 2019 hike. I thankfully accepted a Mountain Dew and a moon pie. I left pumped up with sugar and caffeine to power me through the next 6 miles to Ramrock Mountain. Ramrock Mountain is a dry camp so I stopped at the Gooch Gap water source to get water  I needed to fill up my 2 water bottles and my 2 cold soak containers. Tonight I¢m cold soaking dehydrated black beans,couscous and powdered cheese. I arrived at camp around 5pm. The views from the mountain are spectacular. I¢m the only person camped here. I can hear owls hooting and coyotes howling. I noticed a big pile of scat by the trail. Could be from a big dog or maybe a bear. Tomorrow I don¢t have any firm plans on how far to hike or where I¢ll stop to camp. I will let my body be my guide. I plan on making it to Dicks Creek gap early Wednesday and taking a Nero at the Hostel Around The Bend. I sent a resupply box there. Happy Trails, Silver StreakNote: I¢m finishing the last 346 miles that I have left from my 2019 thru hike attempt. The mileage includes a week that I hiked from Springer to the NOC.