Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Journal Day 1

March 5th - Day 1
As it starts to get light, my train is still zipping down the tracks. I see mostly dirt roads, trailers, a school bus picking up kids, and green grass. Coming from the Montana and New England winters, this is exciting. I arranged a shuttle from the Gainesville Amtrak station to Amicalola before I got on the train. Ron Brown is waiting as promised and we are soon on the way to the park. Its the beginning of a new day for most, but I am feeling the all-nighter delirium, but still too excited to do anything about it. no words to describe the feeling as we drive up to Amicalola. At about 8AM I buy a couple of fuel canister from Ron and head into the visitors center there. not open. I meet a perspective thru-hiker couple Megan and Daniel and we chat for a bit. We take each others pictures at the gate, sign in to the register and start my hike.

The stairs take it out of me. I did almost no prep for my hike, conditioning wise. I get to the summit of Springer Mtn. around 2PM. I've eaten very little, probably a by product of me not sleeping. I meet Professor T and Charlie two guys hiking up the Approach trail, Dillan Forsey(Dillan's Blog) and Tarzan(AT 2012) at the summit. Chris and Alison a couple from Kansas attempting a thru. I chill for a while and try to take everything in. Its sunny and comfortable here.

There is a shelter not too far from the summit with a lot of people around, I have my first Privy experience, and decide to continue on to the Stover Creek Shelter. I meet Jenn and Stride in the parking lot 0.9 miles past Springer. Stride has already hike the AT(08) and PCT(12) and is attempting the CDT this year. Jenn is in my boat, beginning of our very first thru hike. It is 2.8 miles from Springer mountain after the 8.8 mile approach trail I've done 11.6 miles today, on very little food. My body feels it. I eat around 5PM my first backpacker's Pantry, well deserved in my mind. no one else is here. A few people pass through but no one stays. Being alone in the woods makes me miss home, family and friends a bit. This would be the last time I camp alone for the remainder of the hike.