20 Miles / 2 Days

This weekend I got a wild hair to tromp around 20 miles through the woods with a backpack strapped to my back. Some things sound better before then after accomplished.
The Appalachian Trail has always kind of fascinated me. So there's no where better to start then the beginning. I picked the approach trail, it's about 9 miles from the base of Amicoloa Falls to the top of Springer Mountain and the start of the Appalachian Trail. Unless you take a few "short cuts" like I did.

Day 1:
I got there a bit late and didn't get on the trail till about 4pm. They don't let you cheat and park at the top of the falls. You park at the visitor center and the first mile has about 1000' elevation change. I was about ready to quit after that and knowing I had about 6 more miles to the AT trail shelters.

I got my second wind and decided to go for it. I saw a spur trail to the Hike Inn. I guessed it to be another shelter. Big mistake. Turns out to be a fancy lodge you can hike back into. The good news was that trail was much more groomed then the AT approach trail. Bad news was it added 2 miles to my hike. I pressed on after figuring out it was more a hotel then anything.

I trudged on to the AT shelters and found it about 45 minutes after dark. To my surprise it was completely full of a church youth group singing church songs around a camp fire. No cumbaya but it was close. All I wanted was to sit down and eat dinner after 8 miles and 2 mountains. They were very friendly and didn't push too hard to save me. I still made my escape before they passed around the donation pan.

Start to finish and back again.


Day 2:
I was woke up by light rain around 7am and had to get up and roll over my rain fly. I should have taken this as a bad omen. It let up as fast as it started so I got up and packed camp and got on the trail just in time for the main event. 2 hours of fill your boots with water pouring down rain. Oh and did I mention the AT shelters were at the BASE of Springer Mountain. So it was a hike straight up Springer Mountain 2 miles up stream, I mean trail.

Here is a very wet me and the trail plaque.


hmmm was it all worth this view?


The hike back was pretty uneventful other then getting lost in some camp sites and ending up at a spring instead of the trail.

Obligatory pictures of trees.

More trees and a rock (restating the obvious)


These boots are made for walking and that's just what they'll do.
20 miles worth of grime.


Despite being sore for several days after I am going to set my next goal on doing sections of the AT till I have all 78 miles in GA hiked. Next time lighter pack though.