Date: 2008-02-17
From: Amicalola Falls Visitor Center

To: Springer Mtn
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

"I'm going to do what I want, when I want, and you can't stop me". What an amazing start to the trip. Amanda and I are on an Amtrak train. She's sitting to my left (the window seat). Now I would like to describe to you who is sitting to my right. I don't know his name, and I don't know where he is from, but I do know he has had a significant amount of alcohol. How do I know? Well, let's just say I took a series of hints and put them all together.1. He is currently chugging a budlight.2. He opened his suitcase in the middle of the aisle and it was 50% beer by volume. He proceeded to ask me if I wanted a beer.3. He pulled out a nearly empty bottle of Jack Daniels and said loud enough for the entire car to hear "Whoah, where did all this go? But look at me, I'm still standing!"So I'm guessing he's probably drunk. Also, he keeps repeating over and over again "I'm going to do what I want, when I want, and you can't stop me" and I guess the Amtrak employees are just taking his word for it since they've walked by a couple of times to see his open suitcase and have said and done nothing. To top it all off, he is now screaming that he is a terrorist and that he can't wait for this train to flip over. He even has been mumbling about the twin towers some. I think the people on the train, under normal circumstances, would take him seriously, but he has currently slid down out of his seat and is laying in the floor. So I am now going to go to sleep thinking that there is only so much damage this man can do from the floor beneath his seat.***************For all you who said the approach trial was intense, I agree. We were dropped off at Amicalola Falls Visitors Center at 8AM by Leigh from the 'Hiker Hostel". We did what all hikers do and weighed our packs on the scale attached to the corner of the building. Since the visitors center was closed there was no walking around inside. We fixed up our packs, made sure we had everything and said goodbye to the toilets, sinks, microwaves, and heating of the 'real' world. The skies were overcast and the temperature was 50 degrees F. By the time we reached the top of Amicalola Falls, we were in the clouds and it began to rain. We hiked the rest of the day in similar conditions. After 7.5 miles of very intense hiking we were nearing the top of Springer. Then, off in the distance, we heard the faint rumble of what all hikers fear as they are about to reach the summit of a very tall mountain: thunder. The rain intensified and the thunder grew louder as the storm drew near. We pushed forward toward the summit knowing that the safety of a shelter was a tenth of a mile past the peak. We passed the plaque signifying the start of the Appalachian Trail, but were unable to spend any time there due to the weather. However, I did take a second to forget about the storm and appreciate the fact that I was finally standing on the Appalachian Trail. It had been frustrating both Amanda and me that we were starting in the negative. The miles hiked on the approach trail are not counted as miles hiked on the AT. So after a grueling all day hike we had effectively hiked 0 miles. So I took just a second to appreciate the fact that this was no more and each step from here on out would count. Finally in the distance, shrouded by the fog and rain was the silhouette of a shelter. As we approached it, a bolt of lightening struck nearby giving off an ear shattering crackling rumble. We tumbled into the shelter, ate bread and candy bars for dinner and fell asleep soon thereafter. (Earliest I've gone to bed ever! 6PM)--Josh