AT '18 "Underwhelming Beginning"
Day #1 Amicalola Lodge to Springer Mountain Shelter
March 9, 2018
Absolutely beautiful weather for my first day on the trail. Left the lodge this morning around 7 am to do the bottom loop of the falls, then came back to my room, grabbed my pack, checked out and headed for the Hike Inn Trail.
I opted to do this trail instead of the Approach Trail because someone told me there were beautiful streams (along with easier elevation) on the Hike Inn Trail, and they were right. I met back up with the Approach Trail just a couple miles before Springer. I made way better time today than I planned. I summited Springer around 2:30 pm with a short walk to the shelter after. I met a nice Australian couple who took my picture for me and are staying here tonight too.
Summiting Springer was somewhat underwhelming. There were quite a few people up there, including a girl in flip flops Facetiming her friend. It sure doesn't feel like the start of the Appalachian Trail. I had hoped to have at least a moment to myself up here. I retreated to a shaded spot and sat on a rock eating my homemade trail mix and watched everyone mill about. I finally gave up and decided to find solitude in my tent at camp.
Getting to camp so early gave me plenty of time to relax and drink my hot tea and enjoy my mac n cheese. I have my tent set up in a little clearing in the sunshine. The low tonight looks like it's going to be about 38. Rain expected tomorrow so I might get up early to avoid a wet tent. I tried to stay to myself down here, out of site of the shelter because I am not really looking to socialize. But the ridge runner came down and introduced himself and asked if I wanted to come sit by the campfire with everyone. I decided I'd go up for a little while and warmed my hands by the fire while listening to everyone talk. A guy named Jason is here and is really nice and says he's doing the Georgia section. I retreated back to my tent after dropping my food in the bear box. Brushed my teeth with propel (yuck) and now I'm in bed. Heres to hoping I stay warm tonight. I can't believe I'm here. I can't believe I'm doing this. I must be insane.
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