“Day 1”

Miles: 33.26

Total Miles: 33.26

(Blood Mountain, GA)

I’m so tired now that it’s hard to write. But I’m here. In my tent. In the forest. Alongside the Appalachian Trail. At the end of my first day on trail.

And it was even more magical than I dreamed it could be.

I like putting on big miles in the first day of a long trail, but wasn’t sure it would be possible since I would be getting a late start, and didn’t get to start until 9am at the approach trail in Amacolola Falls State Park.

I slept soundly, got a shower and breakfast. The shuttle to trailhead from Above the Clouds was upsetting in that the driver was trying to get us either pulled over or killed before I could start trail, but we somehow made it to trailhead around 830. Seriously–don’t take the shuttle from Above the Clouds!

I registered with the ATC, got a picture at the arch, and started the day at 9.

The approach trial climb is aggressive. People had warned me as much, but after 400+ steps up that damn waterfall, I finally reached a point where things leveled off.

I’ve been told to expect that this trail will be aggressive, and so I took the start of the day to be a promise for what was ahead. It was not though. Most of the day after that initial climb was actually quite tame.

It started out chilly this morning, but at Springer mountain it was raining and hailing. I was so excited though that I literally howled. I was so excited that I also missed signing the trail registration and had to back track a half mile when I eventually realized my mistake. It was worth going back for though.

I was told to expect that this would be a crowded trail. So far it has not been. I’ve seen maybe a dozen thru hikers, and most of them were at camp or at the shelters far enough off trail that we never even interacted. Of those that I’ve met, I’m led to believe that AT hikers are very different than the thru hikers I’ve met on other trails. Many of them seem very trepidatious. Few of them seem willing to fully embrace that they’re going for the whole trail.

One hiker I met today told me he was going to “play it by ear” when I asked how far he was going to hike. It made me double take; it’s the same thing that the girl I was dating before the trail said about continuing to see one another after I come home from the AT. It was code for “probably not” when she said it; I took his use of the term to mean the same.

It rained off and on for around half the day. Otherwise temps were good. It made hiking later into the night easier, as I’d rather hike in the cold than the heat, and the humid heat is one thing I’m actually nervous about out here.

I will say that the umbrella was amazing today! Someone told me before trail that he didn’t think I’d use it much out here, and I’d just like that person to know that they can kiss my ass! The umbrella saved the day today, over and over and over.

On the topic of gear; it seems I made one big mistake. Not sure how this happened, but I seem to have mixed my tent rainfly up with my buddy’s, and don’t doesn’t quite fit the tent I’m carrying. It’ll keep me dry tonight, but I’m thinking I’ll need to order a new one soon and ship this one home. Shelter is too important to have compromised.

About 3 times as many hikers I’ve met out here have been day hikers or weekend hikers. That is one thing quite different on this trail. So far the AT is just so close to bigger cities and development than the PCT or CDT that it seems to bring a lot more people out for short trips. I’ve rather enjoyed seeing them and getting to chat, though I’ve tried to keep things brief.

The vegetation is just starting to bud in many places. It truly feels like spring. I’m excited for what’s to come.

Tomorrow I’ll reach Neal Gap by late morning. I don’t know exactly what is there, but I expect that I’ll be able to find a replacement tent, as well as a new buff (which I somehow left back in AZ).

Final note: my plan to hold upper body mass on this trail is to try and do 10 pushups for every hiked mile. I’m pleased to report that I’ve at least kept up with it for this first day in trial. But maybe just say–300+ pushups might just be what it takes to get me to hike fewer miles out here. We’ll see.

With abounding excitement, shivers, cold fingers, and a full belly–

Wormwood.