SHOE and I decided to spend the next three days taking it easy and hiking from Springer Mt. to Woody Gap. I have never seen Springer Mt., so I was very excited to finally see the beginning of the Appalachian Trail and to touch the first official white blaze. We rolled into Neels Gap around 11:am, and got Cool Breeze to take us up t
o the Springer Mt. parking area. (No approach trail for us. hahah!) With full packs on, we climbed the mile up to Spring Mt. where we were greeted by Many Sleeps. He asked if we needed to register in as Thru hikers. (I wish! but no, we weren't thru's and out of curiosity, we asked if we had registered, what would of been our numbers? We would of been hikers #474 and 475) After taking a quick snack break, enjoying the views, and posing for the obligitory photos of the first blaze on the trail, we officially started the AT at 2pm. We climbed back down a mile to the parking area and back onto the trail, into the woods.
o the Springer Mt. parking area. (No approach trail for us. hahah!) With full packs on, we climbed the mile up to Spring Mt. where we were greeted by Many Sleeps. He asked if we needed to register in as Thru hikers. (I wish! but no, we weren't thru's and out of curiosity, we asked if we had registered, what would of been our numbers? We would of been hikers #474 and 475) After taking a quick snack break, enjoying the views, and posing for the obligitory photos of the first blaze on the trail, we officially started the AT at 2pm. We climbed back down a mile to the parking area and back onto the trail, into the woods.The trail was graded really nice and had an almost alpine feel to it with lots of huge pine trees and
millions of pine needles covering and softening the trail. It was a gradual 5 mile descent a road crossing, then up for a couple of miles where we passed this older woman in full make up. She was making her way to the falls and having a rough time with the climb. SHOE actually made us take a quick detour trail that went to some falls. Once I saw the falls, I was so
glad she made us check it out. It was a huge, powerful waterfall and I snapped a couple of pictures of it. We found the family members of the lady we passed and told them she was struggling a bit. They sent someone down after her to check it out. We got back on the AT and climbed some more. Finally crested the mountain, only to go down it and climb another before finally getting into Hawk Mt. Shelter. The shelter was packed! I mean there must have been at least 30 tents out. We followed the blue blazed trail down twords the water and decided to make camp right off of that trail. I found some awesome trees for my hammock and SHOE found a flat spot for her hubba tent. After a quick trip t
o the privy, we walked down to the water source (which was a great little stream) and filtered up. We got back just in time to start making dinner. The temps started dropping really fast and I knew it was going to be a cold night. We finished up dinner and with our headlamps on and walked down to the shelter to bearbag our food. After struggling with the bear cables (b/c there was probably already 60lbs of other hikers food on it), we got our bags hung. We started to walk back, but couldn't find the trail, so we literally, got lost for a second. It was too funny, all we could see were tents all arond stashed into the woods, but no trail. We finally inch our way back down to our campsite and call it an early night. I slip into my hammock, cover my head with my sleeping bag and try to keep from getting chilly. I felt some cold spots whenever my arms or legs were off the sleep pad, but other than that, I stayed snuggly warm. I found out the next morning we went below freezing! thank goodness for my 15 degree bag, that's all I got to say.
millions of pine needles covering and softening the trail. It was a gradual 5 mile descent a road crossing, then up for a couple of miles where we passed this older woman in full make up. She was making her way to the falls and having a rough time with the climb. SHOE actually made us take a quick detour trail that went to some falls. Once I saw the falls, I was so
glad she made us check it out. It was a huge, powerful waterfall and I snapped a couple of pictures of it. We found the family members of the lady we passed and told them she was struggling a bit. They sent someone down after her to check it out. We got back on the AT and climbed some more. Finally crested the mountain, only to go down it and climb another before finally getting into Hawk Mt. Shelter. The shelter was packed! I mean there must have been at least 30 tents out. We followed the blue blazed trail down twords the water and decided to make camp right off of that trail. I found some awesome trees for my hammock and SHOE found a flat spot for her hubba tent. After a quick trip t
o the privy, we walked down to the water source (which was a great little stream) and filtered up. We got back just in time to start making dinner. The temps started dropping really fast and I knew it was going to be a cold night. We finished up dinner and with our headlamps on and walked down to the shelter to bearbag our food. After struggling with the bear cables (b/c there was probably already 60lbs of other hikers food on it), we got our bags hung. We started to walk back, but couldn't find the trail, so we literally, got lost for a second. It was too funny, all we could see were tents all arond stashed into the woods, but no trail. We finally inch our way back down to our campsite and call it an early night. I slip into my hammock, cover my head with my sleeping bag and try to keep from getting chilly. I felt some cold spots whenever my arms or legs were off the sleep pad, but other than that, I stayed snuggly warm. I found out the next morning we went below freezing! thank goodness for my 15 degree bag, that's all I got to say. Day 6
We woke up around 8am, and I packed up my stuff. I had my hands full so I just moved my backpack, and shoes over near SHOE's tent so we could have breakfast together. Well, around 9:30am we are all ready to leave, when I notice I didn't grab my trek poles. I go back to my campsite and they aren't there. SHOE says I might of left them up at the shelter. I know I didn't, but she convinces me to go up there and ask. When I get up there, I ask one of the thru hikers if he saw any trek poles. He says, "where they red?" I said, "YES!" He said they were there, but someone decided to carry them down the trail to find their owners. oh man.... NO way. My trek poles started the trail without me! Then the thru-hiker tell
s me that one of the hikers from the GA group took them, and points them out. I walk over and ask they've seen my red trek poles. A blond guy with glasses goes, "yeah, one of the hikers in my group thought someone left them and is taking them up the trail to find the owner." He said "he just left a few minutes ago, let me see if I can catch him" And he sprints away. About 15 min later he comes back red faced, heavy breathing AND with my poles! I am so grateful I call him my trek pole hero and give him a hug. I ask his name and if I can take his picture. He is all smiles and says sure. His name is Tyson, he thru hiked in 06 and his trail name is knockknock. What an awesome guy. He's out this weekend b/c he was taking a group of hikers from UGA on a 30 mile trip. (THANKS so much knockknock, my trek pole hero! You really saved my knees that day!) Here is a pic of him.
s me that one of the hikers from the GA group took them, and points them out. I walk over and ask they've seen my red trek poles. A blond guy with glasses goes, "yeah, one of the hikers in my group thought someone left them and is taking them up the trail to find the owner." He said "he just left a few minutes ago, let me see if I can catch him" And he sprints away. About 15 min later he comes back red faced, heavy breathing AND with my poles! I am so grateful I call him my trek pole hero and give him a hug. I ask his name and if I can take his picture. He is all smiles and says sure. His name is Tyson, he thru hiked in 06 and his trail name is knockknock. What an awesome guy. He's out this weekend b/c he was taking a group of hikers from UGA on a 30 mile trip. (THANKS so much knockknock, my trek pole hero! You really saved my knees that day!) Here is a pic of him. I finally get back to the shelter where SHOE is having difficulties with her hip belt. We meet two other hikers, one was were recently laid off from their NYC job and lived in Brooklyn. He decided to hike the AT since he had the time. We all leave the shelter around 10am (late start, but who knew we would 
have trek pole drama? haha!) Brooklyn's infront leading the way. When we get to the turn off to the AT, they started going back twords Springer Mt. Since I don't know their names, I yell, "Brooklyn! Are you trying to climb back up Springer Mt?" I point them in the right direction and we all laugh.
have trek pole drama? haha!) Brooklyn's infront leading the way. When we get to the turn off to the AT, they started going back twords Springer Mt. Since I don't know their names, I yell, "Brooklyn! Are you trying to climb back up Springer Mt?" I point them in the right direction and we all laugh.I have it wrapped around my mind that today is going to be a tough day. We have 4 climbs and the first one starts right away. As I climb up, I see a camp fire smoke. When I round the bend, I have the pleasure of seeing one fully naked man squatting behind a log. Oops...(yea it will happen out here in the woods. Just when you think you're all alone and yo
u go about doing your business, someone is bound to come up on you. haha!) I avert my eyes, step up my pace, and yell out "GOOD MORNING!!!" so he knows I'm there. From the corner of my eyes I see him bolt up, pull up some bikini underwear (yes bikini's!) and duck behind the otherside of the log. Oops. hahaha! I keep truckin' along b/c I don't what him to catch up to me and when I do this , I lose SHOE. She's hiking her own hike, I'm hiking mine. I climb the two bumps in an hour and decide it wasn't as bad as I had heard. Well, I get about half way down the second bump and I look up to see a HUGE ass mountain. I mean it was like seeing freaking Kilimanjaro. I popped my eyes back in my head b/c I thought there was no way I'm climbing THAT mountain. I just climbed (what I thought) was Sasafrass and Justis. Well I get down to Horse gap and see another hiker going SOBO. I ask him to tell me the name of that big ass mountain. He looks over his shoulder and says, "that's Sasafrass Mt." I'm stunned, I thought I had already climbed it! Come to find out, those little bumps were just a warm up for this giant beast. I take a gulp of water and decide t
o just do it. The ascent felt like it lasted forever, just up, switch back, up, switch back, more up. And just when you think it flattens out on top, it tricks you and starts climbing up some more! Ugggh! I finally get over it and at the bottom take a nice 45 min snack break near knockknock and his group. They are getting ready to climb Justis, which I heard was just as crazy as Kick-my-ass, I mean Sasafrass Mt. Great. I'm out of water b/c during the morning trek pole drama, I forgot to get water. So I have to climb this beast soon. I suck down my orange and hope it's enough to get me over Justis. I say good bye to knockknock and his crew and ask them to tell SHOE I had to climb it to get to the water on the other side. I start my ascent. It's steep and has plenty of switch backs, but it wasn't as bad as Sasafrass. It was alot shorter.
u go about doing your business, someone is bound to come up on you. haha!) I avert my eyes, step up my pace, and yell out "GOOD MORNING!!!" so he knows I'm there. From the corner of my eyes I see him bolt up, pull up some bikini underwear (yes bikini's!) and duck behind the otherside of the log. Oops. hahaha! I keep truckin' along b/c I don't what him to catch up to me and when I do this , I lose SHOE. She's hiking her own hike, I'm hiking mine. I climb the two bumps in an hour and decide it wasn't as bad as I had heard. Well, I get about half way down the second bump and I look up to see a HUGE ass mountain. I mean it was like seeing freaking Kilimanjaro. I popped my eyes back in my head b/c I thought there was no way I'm climbing THAT mountain. I just climbed (what I thought) was Sasafrass and Justis. Well I get down to Horse gap and see another hiker going SOBO. I ask him to tell me the name of that big ass mountain. He looks over his shoulder and says, "that's Sasafrass Mt." I'm stunned, I thought I had already climbed it! Come to find out, those little bumps were just a warm up for this giant beast. I take a gulp of water and decide t
o just do it. The ascent felt like it lasted forever, just up, switch back, up, switch back, more up. And just when you think it flattens out on top, it tricks you and starts climbing up some more! Ugggh! I finally get over it and at the bottom take a nice 45 min snack break near knockknock and his group. They are getting ready to climb Justis, which I heard was just as crazy as Kick-my-ass, I mean Sasafrass Mt. Great. I'm out of water b/c during the morning trek pole drama, I forgot to get water. So I have to climb this beast soon. I suck down my orange and hope it's enough to get me over Justis. I say good bye to knockknock and his crew and ask them to tell SHOE I had to climb it to get to the water on the other side. I start my ascent. It's steep and has plenty of switch backs, but it wasn't as bad as Sasafrass. It was alot shorter.I get down to the creek, take off my pack, filter two liters of water and drink 1 and 1/2 liters. After cameling up I turn and meet a curious looking fellow. His trail name is Fields and he started his thru hike 10 days ago
. (I think, Wow.... it took this dude 10 days to hike 12 miles... hmmm what's wrong with him...) Come to find out, Fields suffered severe dehydration, with vomiting and all, and had to be taken off trail and hospitalized. He's started back up a day ago and is taking it easy. He holds up a 5 lb bag of pecans and asks me to please take some. It's making his pack heavy. So, I oblige and chit chat with him over the next 40 minutes. He's from Burlington NC, hates the corporate world, and is keeping an audio trail journal that is not published just yet. He's interesting in a professor-ish kind of way. By this time, most of the people that stayed at Hawk mt. have pulled up and are filling up on water. I meet two girls from my town that are section hiking too. SHOE comes in and loads up on water. As we are sitting there, I see Brooklyn and his friend are getting ready to go and guess what.... I yell, "Hey Brooklyn!" He looks over his shoulder and I point and yell, "the trail is that way." He laughs, waves, and says thanks before hopping on the right trail and climbing up the mountain. Too funny. SHOE and I finally get going and I say good bye to Fields. We only have 4 miles til camp but SHOE wants to stop by the shelter to use the privy. We climb out the gap and hike 3 miles to the shelter. There we run 
into some new thru-hikers. Roy and Boston cap guy. Boston has about 10 lbs of spaghetti he's carrying with him. We talk to them for a bit and SHOE gives them the low down on the rest of the trail to Neels Gap. We leave to find Gooch Gap, our camping destination, and Kellye, who's waiting for us.
. (I think, Wow.... it took this dude 10 days to hike 12 miles... hmmm what's wrong with him...) Come to find out, Fields suffered severe dehydration, with vomiting and all, and had to be taken off trail and hospitalized. He's started back up a day ago and is taking it easy. He holds up a 5 lb bag of pecans and asks me to please take some. It's making his pack heavy. So, I oblige and chit chat with him over the next 40 minutes. He's from Burlington NC, hates the corporate world, and is keeping an audio trail journal that is not published just yet. He's interesting in a professor-ish kind of way. By this time, most of the people that stayed at Hawk mt. have pulled up and are filling up on water. I meet two girls from my town that are section hiking too. SHOE comes in and loads up on water. As we are sitting there, I see Brooklyn and his friend are getting ready to go and guess what.... I yell, "Hey Brooklyn!" He looks over his shoulder and I point and yell, "the trail is that way." He laughs, waves, and says thanks before hopping on the right trail and climbing up the mountain. Too funny. SHOE and I finally get going and I say good bye to Fields. We only have 4 miles til camp but SHOE wants to stop by the shelter to use the privy. We climb out the gap and hike 3 miles to the shelter. There we run 
into some new thru-hikers. Roy and Boston cap guy. Boston has about 10 lbs of spaghetti he's carrying with him. We talk to them for a bit and SHOE gives them the low down on the rest of the trail to Neels Gap. We leave to find Gooch Gap, our camping destination, and Kellye, who's waiting for us.Gooch Gap was a cool little camp spot. I found the perfect trees for my hammock. We meet Jeff from MI who is thru hiking and another section hiker, the GA trail maintainer for Springer Mt. The five of us enjoy an uncrowded campsite and nice fire that night. I learned what the difference between a white man fire and Indian fire was. A white man fire BIG, people far away from fire. Indian fire small, people close to fire. Anyways, we called it a night around 9:30pm.
Day 7
We woke up and broke camp around 9am. With only 3 1/2 miles til Woody Gap and my car, it was going to be an easy day. We did have mostly climbs, and with tired legs that have not had any breaks it was tougher than I thought. Kellye and her fresh legs kicked our ass going up hill. We finally climb out into Woody Gap and I am both elated and disappointed that my trip is over. With mixed feelings, I change clothes and start reminicing about my trip already. We head up to Neels gap to pick up SHOE's car and then we stop for some good Mexican food for lunch. After goodbyes, we are all on the road to our homes.
Over all I had an amazing t
ime on this trip. I wish I could of kept going down the AT all the way to Maine. I met some great people, had a wonderful time conquering those mountains, I crossed my first state line, and got to hang out with SHOE and Kellye all week long, and I got to get a taste of what life is like as a thru hiker on the AT. I realized I know alot more than I give myself credit for, but I still have ALOT to learn. And that every minute I'm out here, I feel free and I love it. Well, back to reality and my life in the city. As one hiker that I met put it. My REAL life is on the trail and my fake, manufactured life is waiting for me back home. So true. Til I can get back to my "real" life. GET OUTDOORS!!!
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