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Day 1
I walked the mile on Springer Mountain to the famous Appalachian Trail plaque. Seeing photos and videos of the plaque does not even come close to the emotion of seeing it in person. It really hit me that I was on the AT, living out my dream of hiking on this trail.
I began my journey north, but I guess my mind was too filled with emotions in the beauty of my surroundings, when I suddenly found myself off the trail on a blue blaze.
How that happened, I have no idea. Following the Appalachian Trail is as easy as walking around a high school track. But apparently, that was too hard for me. I came across a shelter with two people, one of which was Matt from Wisconsin. A young man that I had met on my way to see the plaque.
He was also headed to Hawk Mountain shelter. We decided to walk together. He was young and in shape, but fortunately for me, he was carrying 45 pounds on his back. So I was able to keep up. It felt good to be hiking with someone and we began to bond over our dream hike.
We stopped for a break at a beautiful waterfall. As Matt was checking out the water, I considered dropping one of my Apple Air Tags into his pack. Just as insurance, in case he was thinking of ditching me. I’d be able to track him like my wife is doing with me (just kidding). We powered through 8 miles, only stopping to fill up on water.
We camped at Hawk Mountain.
Day 2
We got up early and hiked up and down hills for 7 miles.
We got up early and hiked up and down hills for 7 miles.
The mountains were endless, but it felt great to be out in this wilderness; breathing fresh air, drinking spring water and hearing the sounds of nature. We soon arrived at Gooch Gap shelter and pitched our tents.
Day 3
Woke up early and enjoyed a misty, eerie hike through a forest straight out of a Stephen King novel.
Woke up to a really foggy morning.
After a few miles we decided to head to the iconic AT hostel Above the Clouds that I have read so much about on The Trek the last two years. Matt got tired of me talking about cheeseburgers.
Breakfast never tasted so good after a long hike.
Comments 3
“As Matt was checking out the water, I considered dropping one of my Apple Air Tags into his pack. Just as insurance, in case he was thinking of ditching me. I’d be able to track him.”
That’s really creepy.
If you look at my humor in the last posts, you will know it’s obviously a joke. I had a joking emoji when I wrote my blog on my draft-but WordPress made it to full size photo and just found out my wife apparently edited that out without my knowledge. Thanks for reading my blogs.
We are enjoying your pictures. I looked up the weather at Gooch, though I know you passed this already. Gusty and windy! Rain, too. It was like that here last weekend, too. Eighty degrees and warm today. How is the food on the trail? Stay safe and have fun!!