Appalachian Thru Hike Journal 1
April 1st or April Fools Day
I started to Amicalola Falls State Park on April 1st with my daughter driving me down. It was an eleven hour journey from Pittsburgh to Georgia. I would love to say that the drive was pleasant but she got off work and we did not get on the road until about 7ish at night. We both drove but it was a bit hard on us as she worked all day and I woke up at like 5 am that morning.
Of course, the weather started the day with a bit of snow so it just felt like it was going to be a nice April Fools on me for thinking that I would be able to leave Pittsburgh!
We stopped at Denny’s for dinner in West Virginia but over all the trip was just one big little sleep quick step to the park. We also had to stop at a local hiking store. The couple were so sweet but I can’t remember the name but I will look it up. I needed a little shovel because since I did not know that I was leaving on this adventure until about the 15th of March, I just throw things together and some of the items that I ordered did not arrive. I also need fuel for my little stove.
I know that I don’t have pictures in here but I just don’t have the time today but I want to get things down and out to you all! I has been a very interesting few days.
April 2nd
She drove me up to the top of the falls but that is when her brakes started sounding weird. It was not good. But that usually how things happen. She dropped me off and I got to say goodbye to Olive Oil. I miss her and her little snoring.
In getting to the visitor center at 3 pm ish, I was able to sign in but I was not able to meet up with the AT people that weight your bag and give free training on different things. I was going to get a hotel room with my daughter for the night but she wanted to be on her way with the brakes, i.e. get back home to deal with them. But it was just 8 miles about to the first shelter and I generally do at least a mile in 30 minutes on a bad day.
I went to use the restroom before I left. The stalls were not made for you to take your backpack in with you but I did not want to leave it outside either. I almost set it down in poop that was on the floor. It was turning into not a great start but then once on the trail things started to look up.
I was beautiful but challenging going up to the falls. I was very disappointed that the stairs had been taken out the week before by a storm. I believe that the storm created a few tornadoes in the areas around. But what can you do but make a bit of lemonade out of the lemons in life!
Going up the trail, they had a bathroom at the top because it was a state park. I realized that I forgot my TP in my daughters car. What a thing to forget! But the first resupply place was only 30 some miles into the trail so not to big of a deal. I should have stayed at the Lodge that night which is so lovely but I went ahead and pressed on.
After the falls, the trail going into the wild was totally beautiful. It went up into the hills and then down to a water crossing. I had a bottle and a half of water, so I did not get filled up. After all, I should be able to make 7 cups of water in 8 miles. Boy was I wrong!
As it started to turn dark, I started having major breathing issues. I have not had an asthma attack in 4 years and stopped carrying an inhaler for it at least three years ago. I don’t even have a current doctor to call it in because I have been mostly healthy except for a bit of a cold here and there. Plus one cold that I should have gone to the doctors for but I did not even have any breathing issues with that one.
So, I am alone, in the middle of the forest, it is getting dark and I having a hard time breathing. I have not even made it to this first dirt road that starts with an sh which is 3.9 miles in. I have to get my tent up before darkness fully falls and lay down to get my breathing under control as the night air is making it worst. But I am not sure were as I see camping sites but I not sure who they belong to or who to pay for them.
I just pick one and if someone shows up, then I will just have to move. I later find out that there are lots of sites that you are allowed to use in the forest area along the trail free of charge. I get the tent up and I am starving but I know that I don’t have enough water on me to eat anything because that would mean that I would have little or no water in the morning to get through to the next water source.
I hate that I am logical. I walk around the area to hang my food bag but realized that I don’t have the energy to do so. But I also find animal foot prints and I am not so sure but I think that they are bear footprints. So much for sleeping a good sleep! They are not 20 feet from my tent but I can’t move. I am just to tired.
To my surprise, I fall asleep pretty fast. I only wake up because I heard footsteps near my tent. I would love to say that they are so kind of animal but I am sure that they are a humans. But I was not about to make any noise because I don’t want a man to know that a woman is alone in the tomb tent that I have. Or have to move to a new camping spot!
By the way, the zipper was broken when I zipped up the tent so the day just keep getting better and better (Note: I am very sarcastic.) You can’t even sit up in the tent. I have to get a new tent. I am sure that some people can do it. Lite weight and otherwise nice but I feel like I am in a tomb and hate it. Plus my backpack is like an extra body laying next to me but not as warm as Olive Oil.
It was a cold night but once I was entombed in both my tent and body bag (mummy sleeping bag). I was so warm that I was almost sweating. I am not sure who was walking around my tent but I think that it might have been the soldiers that use the area for training. I must say that I did not find any foot prints animal or otherwise around my tent. I might have been dreaming but I don’t think so. Two cheers for the soldiers if they were the ones around me. Because I could not find any footprints and only heard the noise that my brothers would make before they attacked when we were children.
April 3rd
The morning has arrived and I am tired as I listen to the morning hikers walking past my tent above me. I also noticed that the camp site that I choose in the dusk could have been a river had the skies opened up with rain the night before. Completely, bad place to camp but when you are that bad off with lack of sleep and water. I am really starting this trip off with some bad luck.
At this point, I realize my mistake in not pushing my daughter into getting a hotel room for the night. But I am up and my breathing is a bit better. It just means that I need to go slow and take lots of rest in between. But I do realized that I am not thinking a good as I should be thinking and that I need to just keep going to get to water as I should not eat until I have more.
Also, I realized that I am so thankfully that the sky did not open up as it is impossible to get your body bag, i.e. a mummy sleeping bag, into a stuff bag without opening up the tent to the outdoors. Lots of lessons to be learned from not taking my things out for a spin before leaving on a six month adventure from Georgia to Maine. But the road which is at the almost 4 mile point is just up the way from my site.
The upside is the whole day is filled with wonderful sites but the down side is that I am starving, thirsty, and breathing heavily but not in a good way. But along the trail, I am talking with other hikers about the night before. One gentleman was so kind to allow me to use his inhaler and made sure I took a second shot. Anyone that does not know about this, the first one get you starting to breath but the second one about a minute later, really opens up your breathing. Another gentleman gives me a bottle of water that he has extra and I drink most of it and eat.
My energy level is up but I can feel the oxygen flowing to my brain quickly but that means that I am a bit light headed. Never has 8 miles felt more like 20 miles in my life and I am on my second day and I am still not at Springer Mountain. But I am still weak from the lack of oxygen from the day before.
Getting to the first water source of the trail is amazing but it is just over a mile to the Black Gap Shelter where I am the first to set up for the night. But with a busted tent and no energy, it is heaven. It was a bit cold but I was still warm in my sleeping bag! I am loving the warmth of the mummy style sleeping bag but I am not liking the tight fitting style that it is.
April 4th at 5ish pm
I wake up. Some how, I am the first up but I don’t actually move until it feels warm outside the sleeping bag. It had been a pleasant night with lots of talking to others but over all, I was just tired. I thought that I would get out of there sooner but I was slow moving. But getting to Springer Mountain Shelter was the goal for the day. It was not that far but I did stop and read a bit of Mark Twain’s short stories and just enjoyed the top of the mountains.
It took me all day to get there. I think that the only interesting thing was getting to the start of the trail. I waited for everyone to leave. Just as I was getting my pictures and stuff. This couple paraded in front of me. I was totally not happy. I had been waiting forever, i.e. over 30 minutes for my turn and they just come in as I am doing my thing. I politely asked them for five minutes. They gave it to me but it was like, if we have too.
People are just so rude about everything. It was like they cut in line and when asked to go to the end, they were put out. Do not be like them! I think that this impoliteness is the reason that people are getting so uppity in the world. They did give me a few moments but they were watching me like a hawk and with dirty looks plus they were just out of the line of the camera. I was so upset that I forgot to get a picture of myself at the top. But I had to get to camp as I was tired.
But on the upside, I was able to get ahold of a shuttle driver who was kind enough to bring me an inhaler and TP to the Springer Mountain Parking area the next day. Ron Brown his number is (706) 669-0919 if you need a shuttle in the area of the park up to Springer Mountain or to and from the airport. He goes all the way down to Fontana for hikers. Call him if you need something. He is lovely. Check out my YouTube as he will be in one of the video’s.
I have to end here as I am tired and tomorrow is a long day but now that I am feeling better, I will be posting more soon as I can!