Springer Mountain, Georgia and my first nero!
AT miles hiked - 0.9
AT miles to go - 2,192.1
I'm dedicating this blog post title (and many more to follow) to one of my closest friends since childhood, David Buzzell. Thanks to a comment Dave made to one of my FB posts, I've had a favorite Iron Maiden song stuck in my head all day! As a result, I've decided I'll be using different tune titles as inspiration for most of my blog posts. Although Dave won't need it, for all the rest of you I'll list the song and music artist at the end of each post. Thanks to Dave, we can play a little musical trivia and perhaps have a song stuck in your head for a day as well!
This morning I started my NOBO (northbound) AT thru-hike attempt. I checked in at Amicalola Falls State Park where I received hiker tag number 1184 and a short presentation on leave no trace principles from the ATC ridgerunner there. My pack weighed in just under 28 pounds. Much as I had feared, I find myself right in the height of the AT hiker bubble. The ridgerunner advised today was the largest number of hikers registered to start so far this year - 53. Of course, not all of those who registered in advance, as I did, will actually be starting today, but there will also be hikers who did not register starting. Originally I had intended to start earlier but recent work and travel required a slight postponement. Oh well, the bubble will soon sweep over me and leave me behind!
After completing registration, I drove from Amicalola Falls SP to the parking area one mile north of Springer Mountain. Although the AT officially starts at Springer Mountain, you can't actually get there by vehicle. Thru-hikers have two choices. You can take the 8.5 mile Approach Trail from Amicalola Falls SP which makes for a pretty steep and tiring start or you can drive to a parking area on a forest service road which crosses the AT 0.9 miles north of Springer Mountain and hike back southbound for that 0.9 miles. Having hiked the Approach Trail last year, I elected to drive to the forest service parking area and hike the 0.9 miles to the summit of Springer and the first official AT blaze. Then I hiked back to the truck and headed home for my first "nero." A nero is a day where you hike low miles and spend the night in town or at a hostel. A zero day is a day spent resting and not hiking any trail miles at all. I expect I'll take my first zero somewhere around Franklin or Robbinsville, NC.
Here are a few stats regarding the AT for those who are interested. This year the official length of the AT is 2,193 miles. (The length changes from time to time as the trail is occasionally rerouted, but it always seems to be getting longer!) It passes through 14 states from its start in Georgia to the end at Mount Katahdin in Maine. Most thru-hikers take 5-6 months to complete the journey. Thanks to the many PUDS (pointless ups and downs) along the way, hiking the AT is supposedly equivalent to climbing Mount Everest 15-16 times. So, with my 0.9 miles hiked today I only have 2,192.1 miles left to go!
The real start begins tomorrow when Marci drops me off at the parking area north of Springer.
"From the Beginning" - Emerson Lake & Palmer
AT miles hiked - 0.9
AT miles to go - 2,192.1
I'm dedicating this blog post title (and many more to follow) to one of my closest friends since childhood, David Buzzell. Thanks to a comment Dave made to one of my FB posts, I've had a favorite Iron Maiden song stuck in my head all day! As a result, I've decided I'll be using different tune titles as inspiration for most of my blog posts. Although Dave won't need it, for all the rest of you I'll list the song and music artist at the end of each post. Thanks to Dave, we can play a little musical trivia and perhaps have a song stuck in your head for a day as well!
This morning I started my NOBO (northbound) AT thru-hike attempt. I checked in at Amicalola Falls State Park where I received hiker tag number 1184 and a short presentation on leave no trace principles from the ATC ridgerunner there. My pack weighed in just under 28 pounds. Much as I had feared, I find myself right in the height of the AT hiker bubble. The ridgerunner advised today was the largest number of hikers registered to start so far this year - 53. Of course, not all of those who registered in advance, as I did, will actually be starting today, but there will also be hikers who did not register starting. Originally I had intended to start earlier but recent work and travel required a slight postponement. Oh well, the bubble will soon sweep over me and leave me behind!
After completing registration, I drove from Amicalola Falls SP to the parking area one mile north of Springer Mountain. Although the AT officially starts at Springer Mountain, you can't actually get there by vehicle. Thru-hikers have two choices. You can take the 8.5 mile Approach Trail from Amicalola Falls SP which makes for a pretty steep and tiring start or you can drive to a parking area on a forest service road which crosses the AT 0.9 miles north of Springer Mountain and hike back southbound for that 0.9 miles. Having hiked the Approach Trail last year, I elected to drive to the forest service parking area and hike the 0.9 miles to the summit of Springer and the first official AT blaze. Then I hiked back to the truck and headed home for my first "nero." A nero is a day where you hike low miles and spend the night in town or at a hostel. A zero day is a day spent resting and not hiking any trail miles at all. I expect I'll take my first zero somewhere around Franklin or Robbinsville, NC.
Here are a few stats regarding the AT for those who are interested. This year the official length of the AT is 2,193 miles. (The length changes from time to time as the trail is occasionally rerouted, but it always seems to be getting longer!) It passes through 14 states from its start in Georgia to the end at Mount Katahdin in Maine. Most thru-hikers take 5-6 months to complete the journey. Thanks to the many PUDS (pointless ups and downs) along the way, hiking the AT is supposedly equivalent to climbing Mount Everest 15-16 times. So, with my 0.9 miles hiked today I only have 2,192.1 miles left to go!
The real start begins tomorrow when Marci drops me off at the parking area north of Springer.
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| At the arch in Amicalola Falls SP. |
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No view from Springer Mountain! |
Sorry just seeing this today, and seeing that you had to postpone due to logistics. Seems like a smart call.
ReplyDeleteGood song you got there, and I'm honored to be mentioned as inspiration in your nero day post! I well remember listening to ELP's Brain Salad Surgery with you at both our houses. One of my Dad's SS students gave that to him. Probably the most distinct album cover I ever saw - if you got the CD, you missed out.
Glad you're safe and sound and looking forward to you starting again when this stuff dies down. Best, Dave