The Ups and Downs of the First Week on Trail

A February start brings a certain number of joys and challenges. I want to share the full experience of the start of an AT thru hike, and this is my story. First off, Day 1 was a blur of pure excitement and emotion because I had finally arrived at Amicalola Falls State Park and Springer Mountain. The hike on the Approach Trail was challenging, but, for me, it went fast because we had beautiful weather that day. The rest of the week had its fair share of ups and downs.

The Windy Day

On Day 2, I walked 15.7 miles. That is a long Day 2. When it was very cold and windy heading up Sassafras Mountain, I was looking for a place to camp. But I was so cold that I was looking for a place out of the wind, and Cooper Gap was not any better. I kept hiking until I finally made it to a protected portion of trail (from the wind) and by that time, I was two miles away from the next shelter, Gooch Gap shelter. And, incidentally, it was here that I met the friends I would travel with through all of Georgia, and some lovely trail magic the next day at Gooch and Woody Gaps. But while the day ended well, I was feeling a bit miserable in that wind. However, I am proud that I pushed through it and made it into a beautiful day. The wind is a challenge on trail. It always will be, one day or another. Whoever pushes more will win that battle.

The Rainy Day

Day 4 was the first rainy day. It was discouraging at points during the day, since views were unviewable, but the rain was not a soaking one and just happened to be around. I was disappointed that my umbrella did not work in the wind, but I am still thankful to have it with me for walking around towns or camp when it is raining and I do not want to get soaked. I passed a number of friends who kept my spirits up, and even though it was a shorter day (which messed with me mentally because of strenuous expectations I had for myself), it was a good show of how all the hikers cheer for each other. This is what makes the trail special. By the third rainy day, Day 8, I realised that a little bit of water can’t dampen my spirits!

The Freezing Night

The night of Day 5, I was at Blue Mountain after covering less miles than I intended due to an afternoon storm, exposed to a 22 degrees low and 20-30 mile per hour winds. I had staked out a spot in the shelter by Noon because it felt more protected from the storm than tenting in a tent I had only put up once before and was still unsure of (I purchased it at Mountain Crossings to replace my heavy hammock). Some came in during the storm and about 15 of us waited it out until it passed and the later comers set up their tents for the cold night ahead.

I woke up multiple times during the night shivering and put my puffy on in my 20 degree sleeping bag at one point. I contemplated whether I was up for this during that night, and then I remembered all the people who were cheering for me. I read YouTube comments from random strangers who were behind me. That gave me the strength I needed to get some sleep and then wake up early for a strong day. And Day 6 turned into a lovely day. I think this is the moment where I began to believe in my abilities, here at Mile 50, because others believed in me.

The Shelter Space

If you want shelter space, plan to arrive at camp early, by 3 or 4 to claim your floor space. Because of the ease of setting up in shelters, I have come to very much like staying in the shelter, as long as it is not too windy. A tent or hammock can help smother the wind, but I have found that I like the easy set up and take down of shelters. It is a personal preference whichever one you prefer. But there certainly is less competition for shelters the further ahead of the Bubble that you are. Naturally, the same is true of hostels.

Would you believe me if I told you that I had Springer Mountain shelter all to myself on Day 1? I did (and I even have video evidence)!

One factor in claiming shelter space that I have to consider is that I cannot hike until sunset and expect to have space (thus leaving miles on the table). But, as I learned on Day 7, it is nice to stroll into camp at 3pm and have ample daylight to cook, hang out, and stow food while others are arriving and well before the sun sets. I am more likely to take care of myself better if I do not push myself all the way to sunset anyway.

The Little Bubble

It has been fun getting to know a couple people who, like myself, are trying to beat the big bubble. We had a crowded shelter at Blue Mountain Shelter, in part because a bunch of us called it an early day because of an impending storm. I am glad that we avoided the heavy rain because getting soaked is a moral downer of sorts.

Our little bubble was basically a group of individual hikers who kept seeing each other at the same shelters and campsites throughout Georgia. It was very fun getting to know this group of people well as we met each other multiple times and supported each other mentally. Georgia may not be the hardest state, but it is the state where we are still trying to convince ourselves that we are cut out for this thru hiking thing. we adjusted to trail life together, and that will always mean a lot to me whether or not we stay together.

The Open Hostels

If you see weather coming up, plan ahead. My group of friends saw that Friday was forecasted to be a washout, so we made a plan to return to The Green Dragon Hostel and made reservations by Wednesday. Hostels do fill up even during good weather, so you will do best to plan two days in advance. I can’t say enough about The Green Dragon. They are perhaps the only hostel to provide both dinner and breakfast. Hostels are a terrific place to meet other hikers around you and experience a bit of the community that the trail has to offer.

Takeaways

My first takeaway from this first week is that it is okay to do short miles on a bad weather day. Save the mountain peaks for the nice weather days where you will be rewarded with gorgeous views all around. I am so glad that I got to enjoy Rocky Mountain and Trey Mountain on Day 6 when the sun was shining. It made all the work of climbing to get there worth it. The only “pointless up and down” (known as a PUD in hiker vernacular) was the mountain we did on Day 4 after Neel Gap, when we were fogged in and there wasn’t any view.

My second takeaway is to not get down on yourself for not pushing big miles through Georgia. You have to give your body time to adjust to hiking every day. Even my feet complained a bit this week (but they feel much better after I traded out my boots for trail runners at Mountain Crossings). I felt down on myself at first, but now I am very glad that things have turned out the way that they have!

What do you think? What did you learn from your first week on trail? Or, what have you often wondered about the first week? Add your comments and let’s keep the conversation going. Also, feel free to follow my vlogging channel on YouTube @sticktheeagle or my Instagram by the same handle. Remember to embrace the journey, and happy trails!