OmPi's Adventures

Sometimes you just need a day off to get you head back in the game. Today provided that for me. I woke up around 6 and hurriedly packed my camp so I could get down to the hostel when they opened. The last few days they had been booking up and it was a Saturday so I wanted to make sure I got a bunk but more so I wanted to just be able to relax.

Well relax I did from the moment I arrived I sat down with my hiking shoes off and enjoyed the day. As I arrived I crossed paths with Cole, Pantyhose, JT who I met at the camp fire at Tray Mountain, and a few others. They were all leaving on the next shuttles out and I was just happy as a GA peach to be sitting in a rocking chair catching up and relaxing.

As everyone departed I was welcomed in and offered a beverage. Nothing like a hot cup of coffee to warm you up, especially when you don't have it regularly. I settled in and took advantage of their wifi to update my blog. I also met tumbles who I would have packed out of there in an instant. Some of you may have already seen her of you are on my instagram.

I got a shower, laundry done (they even gave you scrubs to where so you could do all of your laundry in one load) and caught up with other hikers. I'm feeling better and better about knowing lots of people, both ahead of me and behind me.

Bob (aka sir packs alot) was the proprietor of Top of GA and a triple crowner. This means he has hike the three key trails in the states. These include the Appalachian, the Pacific Crest and the Continental Divide trails. Someone with this much experience is a guy I wanted to learn from. When greeting those staying at the hostel he always congratulated them for making it past woody gap (site of my first Trail magic) apparently at that location approximately 10% of people drop out if hiking the trail. At Dick's Creek that number increases to 25% and after the smokies nearly half of all people who will not make it to Maine will have given up.

While there so early i relaxed for a bit before catching a shuttle into town for lunch.  There was an All You Can Eat (AYCE) buffet for $8.95 that included a salad bar, veggies, southern fried chicken, mashed taters, beef tip gravy and plain brown gravy, oh of course and dessert. I ate and ate and ate then the first couple I was sitting with left so I moved over with some other hikers and ate some more.

Once done stuffing my face in went back to the hostel and retrieved my resupply box. I have been kicking myself for picking up a few of the supplies I did at Mountain Crossing, specifically a 16oz jar of peanut butter. Really OmPi you are carrying a pound of peanut butter. Absurd. Anyway after bitching and moaning about how much food I had I organized it all into my stuff sack and just relaxed a bit more.

Each night Bob gives a little talk/lesson on successful thru hiking based around his 10 guidelines. All of them were great, most I was familiar with but it is always nice to have a reminder. He also shared some stories about things on the trail that were pretty awesome. One being that Dr. Seuss got his character and story of the grinch from a tomb of a hermit that is on the AT. I'll be sure to post when I pass it.
 
As a whole the time there was nice, the Accommodations were what you would expect from a hiker hostel. Staff was friendly and the entire place was clean (as in by a cleaning person, daily between checkin and checkout.) Breakfast the next day that was included was a nice touch. The biggest values of the hostel however were the shuttle services and Bob himself. Highly recomend staying there!

The morning started with muffins and little cakes and coffee at the Top of GA Hostel. Oh and coffee of course. I learned a lesson from another hiker, Luigi, to add hot cocoa powder to the coffee cup in order to make it a mocha and of course add calories. HUMMM... Bullet Proof coffees would probably be amazing for hikers.

Anyway I caught the 8am shuttle up the .5 mile road leaving TOG behind. I think the biggest thing I took from my listening to Bob was to slow down. There was something freeing about being given permission to just take it slow. Early that day I hiked with a few people from the hostel but the one specifically impressed me. Her name is Tink Toes who had until August 8th to finish her trek. 4 months is a short period though entirely doable, hell grandma Gatewood did it in about 4 months and she was 65, I hope she makes it.

My meditation for the day found its inspiration from the trees. I was reflecting on how trees are so grounded and go not just deep but also wide. They are grounded in what feeds them and gives them life. So too must we figure out what nourishes our spirits and commit ourselves to that, diging in deep and spreading out from there taking all that we can from the source.

A huge milestone was reached today when I crossed the GA/NC border. The Appalachian Trail  runs through 14 states and I have managed to hike through the first of them. This was a monumental occasion and cause for a celebration.

While relaxing and enjoying the accomplishment over lunch at the water source just inside NC I had the pleasure of meeting a lady who goes by Jouls. She is of German heritage but has lived in the states for many years. We go to talking food and I discovered she dehydrated much of her own farm raised foods. Come to find our she lives a self-sufficient lifestyle in Northern California on 40 acres, something that is somewhat of a dream of mine. We didn't talk long but she invited me to come visit on our adventure up the costal highway.

North Carolina's welcome was like a huge F-U! Within the first mile and a half we had an elevation gain of 1000 feet. Luckily before the climb there is this amazing tree at Bly Gap thst provided sone beauty to consider on the bitch of a climb. Needless to say when I reached the next camp I was ready to crash. The shelter was nice enough and camping around it very dispersed where everyone had their own spots. I set up and did my camp chores and got situated with a few people around a fire. The night went fairly quickly and before I knew it hiker midnight had come.

Hiking the AT is a microcosm of life. Day to day can be so different, one day you can enjoy every step and the next day you can struggle to find anything that interests you. Some days can feel like a constant uphill struggle but then the next moment you find the struggle shifts to spiraling downhill. Just like home when we see and experience the same things, no matter how awesome or once enjoyable, when we sexperience them so consistently we sometimes lose interest or it no longer impresses us.

Today was a long hard struggle for me. I woke up to find a little hole in my hammock bug net. After rolling into camp late last night I hurriedly set up my camp and kept a small thing of trail mix with me to snack on. A little mouse found it in the night and helped himself, damaging my home for the next 6 months in the process.

 After that I had a hard hike the vistas all started to look the same to me and I realized I was just walking to walk. A few times along the way I reflected back to what other successful thru hikers have told me. They all seem to agree that you have to find something enjoyable each day. Today I struggled for most of the day to find something enjoyable.

I stopped for a late lunch at Deep Gap Shelter. It was a bit off trail but it was beautiful. I was tempted to stay, I understand the privy was clean and hardly used. Nice! There I met AP (accident prone), and 2 guys one from FL that makes at least 10. The three of them all made arrangements to stay at the Holiday Inn express in Hiawassee. I was already feeling down so I may have felt a little excluded though I know it wasn't the intention.

Anyway I rested for a bit and decided to push on to get a little closer to Dick's Creek Gap so my Nero was as close to a Zero as possible. I went ahead and found a camp with Bojangels and his girlfriend and their two dogs Baxter (aka Foghorn, because he barks a lot) and Stella but decided to push a little further because they were still over a mile away. I then crossed paths with 2 guys a little further up but no room for my hammock they told me there was some flat space ahead. I went and bushwacked for a bit trying to arrange a spot then decided to just keep walking and if nothing made itself available I'd just head in to the hostel tonight.

Sure enough just by the road there was a  spot and even better someone had left some Coca-Cola cans next to a tree (more trail magic just when I needed it.) I used the running stream next to the camp to cool the coke down while I set myself up. After getting set I prepped my bear bag line and started a fire. Damn this shitty day has taken a turn. I'm about a half mile from the hostel so I should be one of the first there, my dinner of lime black bean was dip was delicious with my trail grown sprouts on flour tortillas. I have an awesome fire and one of the best camp sites I've yet to enjoy and I was enjoying it all to myself.

The sun set and some cars pulled into the gap parking lot. Out comes a guy with a headlamp and I began thinking that maybe I'm camped too close to the road or that I'm not allowed to have a fire here or something. Come to find out, he was scoping spots for him and his buddies to camp before their section hike this weekend. I told him they were more than welcome and the camp had plenty of space. Little did I know there was about 15 guys and a dog. Lol my peaceful little camp quickly filled with guys setting up gear in the dark, mind you with headlamps and all. It reminded me again that just when you think you are set on level terrain that there is always an adventure ahead.

The guys turned out to be really cool and offered to drop me at the hostel in the am or into town. Very generous! They asked for my blog and said they would like to follow my journey along the way.  Guys, if you are reading this, I hope you had an amazing section hike; I enjoyed the company around the fire and thanks again for the offer. Sorry I was so out of it.

What a day, one with lots of ups and downs both physically and mentally. In the end I found something enjoyable in a little lonely camp that became a hub of great trail community.

OmPi ( ॐ π )

No plans and no rush. The day started lazily as I spent a few hours relaxing in my hammock and catching up on blogs and postings, benefit of a campsite with 4G. I finally got going and 3/4 of the camp had cleared out. I talked with the last few stragglers as I packed my camp and prepared my day of food.

I had no plans or goals today and said I would just walk until I was tired. The beginning days hike was enjoyable apparently the easiest 4 miles in GA. I hike with Storm and Trooper for a bit, she got her name as she was basically crawling into camp one day not giving up and someone said to her, you're a trooper. I don't know the story of storms name but I do know that someone from his college heard of his hike and called him up. His friend shared with him the a story of how his friends grandfather had hiked a few miles of the trail in the NE and planned to do the whole thing when he was diagnosed with cancer and had died 2 years later. He asked if Storm would leave his grand father's walking stick on Spring Mountain in hopes that someone would take it to ME and leave it on Katahdin. So he has been carrying that wooden hiking stick the last 50+ miles.

This is the trail community, sure we can stink, eat like crap, and be a little rough but as a whole it is one of love and devotion. Strangely enough this became my walking meditation today. While at Blue Mountain shelter this afternoon I got word that there was Trail Magic on the form of bugers and soda down the mountain in Unicoi Gap which was 2 miles away at an elevation drop of 1000 feet... Needless to say those may have been my quickest miles of the day but all along the way I reflected on the immense love that trail angels embody. They take time out of their own lives to help others they don't know and will probably never see again with zero expectations. This is the meaning of Love!

After a double bunned sausage bacon hotdog with mayo, mustard and ketchup, some good conversations and an IPA that may have tasted better than any beer I have ever I had to leave. Before I did I asked the former thru hikers what they would do different in their hike. One said they would make a better account through journaling or blogging, the young lady said she would take a multi vitamin as she came off the trail highly anemic nearly needing a blood transfusion. The other guy who had blogged the whole way said he wouldn't change a thing.

The following miles were tough but with a full belly and renewed spirits I pushed on. Though I made no plans I knew I wanted to at least break up the crazy elevation shift near the end of the day. I managed to not only break it up but pushed on past it. Though I hobbled into camp just minutes before sunset I had hiked over 15 miles with almost 5800 feet of elevation change. It was an intense day and I am able to put Tray Mountain behind me. Another mountain conquered, another journey had and a day lived.

Much love to all. I look forward to hearing from you.

OmPi ( ॐ π )

Today's hike started with the hiker breakfast of champions. A warmed honey bun and cinnamon raisin roll. I know not exactly healthful eating but the calories are hard to beat at about 900 total calories in those two items finish it off with a small glass of milk and you are 1000 calories in.

I left the cabins on no real rush but wanting to be on trail by about 8am. Just a bit of the trail I found Simon & Sarah and  Sarah & Isla  (love that dog). I had every intention of a big mile day (19 or at least 15) as our terrain looked to be the easiest so far. Well, that didn't quite work out when I found my meditation as I was walking.

I pondered how quickly we could get from one side of the world to the other, really in just hours and yet it takes me the same time to get from one side of a mountain to another. While I don't want to knock air travel it has made the world so small and accessable, yet standing on top of a mountain makes the world feel so vast. It is all a matter of perspective.

The day went on enjoying the views, flowers and just being on this hike. I leapfrogged a number of people throughout the day. When I rolled into Low Gap Shelter there was still hours of sun left but I couldn't bring myself to push on so I set up camp. After about an hour I had wished I kept going but was not about to break camp and have to setup again a mere mile or less away. Not to mention how many people were starting to show up. Sarah and Isla were there, along with Kate (not the Kate I started with but one I met at Lance Creek), Simon and Sarah rolled in as did Living Proof and Podazon.

Everyone got their camp setup and bear bags hung, and Simon and I collected some firewood. As we began to cook our meal Living Proof still suffering with rough blisters got the fire started.  It was a nice fire though not as lively as the one at at Lance Creek. I enjoyed my dinner of Tom Yum quinoa with veggies and chickpeas and finally got to enjoy the fruits of my labor with some sprouts. Sarah was quite jealous of them and so I made sure to share. Though dinner was good my dessert that night took the cake. No it wasn't cake but that does sound delicious as well. I actually had mud pie which is basically chocolate pudding with peanuts and brownie brittle. Uh yeah that's a winner.

We talked a bit and I started to realize that there were a bunch of people from Florida. Hell we represented the entire state, (Lake Mary, West Palm, Punta Gorda, Jacksonville, Bonita Springs and Pensacola). It wasn't long before people's tatted to turn in, I made my way to bed and called my partner. I really miss him and our little ones, but am so thankful for his support as I make this journey, I couldn't do it without him.

Hiker Midnight came and everyone was well settled in for the night. The night turned out to be a little cooler feeling than past nights but I think it was just the breeze taking the warmth away from my cocoon, I'm gonna need to figure out how to pitch my tarp a little lower so I can keep the wind out. Speaking of wind in the middle of the night around 3 am I heard a huge crack then crash down. I guess a tree had come down I swore it was on the shelter but I listened for screens and there were none so back to sleep for me. Don't panic mom I always check for "widow makers" when I hang my hammock.

I love being able to share this adventure. If there is anything you would like to know about the experience or something I assumed knowledge on please let me know in the comments and I will work it into future postings. If you are not following me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram you are only getting part of the experience so like and follow me as I continue to take you with me on my journey to Maine.

OmPi ( ॐ π )

Last night was such a good night, one of my favorite so far. Sitting around the fire getting to know Kyle and his Dad, Kris and Starfish, catching up with Cole, Sarah and her dog Isla. At the other camp was James, Nadine, Pantyhose (he wears them to prevent blisters), Thor (real name, freaking awesome), Jay, JC and Seth who is now know as Podazon.

He got his name just last night while cooking his ramen, as he was opening the flavor pack he went off on a tirade about the slit for where the packet says to tear is never far enough to actually open the pack. Thor said to him it's a Poor Design in a slight draw and accent to which Seth (aka Podazon) asked what is a Podazon. They went back and forth a few times and Jay "the Writer" says you know a Podazon it's a french back country baday. We then took the time to explain where the confusion was and James chimed in and said that is Seth's new Trail Name. It was perfect, but he is still resisting. Doesn't matter I don't think as a few people are owning it for him already.

Anyway the day was short and we quickly got set up for camp with a local stream nearby making chores all the easier. A fire was started and before we knew it we had been laughing and sharing the night away. As was bound to happen things started getting a little more intense as politics, religion and philosophy came into play. Lots of socialist and a couple anarchists in the trail. Me I will stay with my Libertarian views. Smart people who are well informed nonetheless.

This is why I'm on the trail. James and Thor had mentioned just how much more social they have been in the last 3 days than they have been in months back home and how nice it was you didn't need to even go to the bar for socialization. I entirely agree, it's really nice to be social and have others who share a similar love of nature, community and adventure.

Hiker Midnight came and went and it was time to get to bed if I was going to get over blood mountain and secure a cabin for the night and zero the next day.

Thanks all for reading. Be sure to leave some inspiration.

OmPi ( ॐ π )

Great day to just relax. Check out mountain crossings again, better today with a more personable staff still a less than I anticipated. Anyway the day started by making breakfast for my cabin mates. I love cooking breakfast and I think they enjoyed it as well.

Only Podazon decided to stay around for a zero. He's a really cool guy also from SWFL. We sent the other hikers off and along their way. Bandana was the first to leave. Very brave young man who flew from Japan to hike the Appalachian Trail, and speaks pretty broken English. I give him and anyone mad props for undertaking such a huge adventure. Kris and Starfish also left a bit later.

We caught up with a guy named Living Proof who hiked about 150 miles of the trail last year before he broke his shoulder. He was resting his feet a few days recovering from pretty intense blisters. We also crossed paths with a few other hikers we had been hiking with and many more we have not met yet.

Today gave me a little time to catch up on some documenting of this adventure even though cell service is limited I got a few things out and posted. I picked up a few post cards for my letter writing friends but I will need your addresses so please message them to me.

Thanks all for following tomorrow will be a big day, possibly the biggest yet so tine for bed it's almost actual midnight. Blasted electric messing up my sleep paterns.

OmPi (  ॐ  π  )

I woke up and broke camp, in the last 3 days I've already shaved 30 minutes off my breaking camp routine getting it down from 75 minutes to about 45. As everyone began to rise and make breakfast I put the last of my items in my pack and started to make my way toward Blood mountain. We had a few good climbs that day with the first descent leading us into Jarrard gap.

The forestry department has deemed that the area between Jarrard gap and Neel gap needs some natural rejuvenation which led them to prohibit camp fires. There has also been an issue with bear and human interactions in the area so they have also made it a requirement to store all food and scented items in a bear canister not just follow basic bear bagging principles.

(Photo bear sign.)

So this has resulted in few people actually camping in this section of the AT as it is just easier, lighter and less burdensome to hike just before the boundary and camp then like all of us just hike through the area the next day.

This section of the AT was especially beautiful and with the heavy mist that was setting thick upon the trail it made for a very unique hiking experience.

(Video)

All the way up the trail felt like I was in a JR Tolkien book. The trees had all their own personalities.

(Photos)

At the foot of blood mountain was a turn in the trail at a small stream I realized where I was and decided now was as good a time as ever to enjoy my snickers a few bites of trail mix and refill my water supply. Whole enjoying my rest and photographing the mist and trees I heard and sound when up came Jay "the writer." We chatted a bit and I let him know our location and he decided to also power up. Cole followed and before you knew it the whole camp was resting at the base of the mountain except for Nadine who blasted right by and was ready to reach the top of the mountain. I followed after her and the ascent through various switchbacks lead us on a nice incline up up up. Before I knew it we were passing into an open rock Vista with a stone shelter right beside.

While the view from the top was limited by the fog the experience was still as magical as ever.

(Photo at shelter / video)

I took a moment to review the shelter log and write a short entry before beginning the descent. It wasn't long before the youngster hikers trekked right by leaving Jay the Writer and I in the dust. It was alright though as we had some great conversation on the way down.

(Photo stone)

The descent was a tough one with blazes painted on rocks trees so that hikers paid attention to their step rather than looking up and around for the next blaze. Though slow going we made our way to the bottom and into mountain crossings outfitter. I have to say I was less than impressed with the reception but maybe I had built up my expectations too high.

The renown tree of shoes where SOBO'S (southbound) hikers and NOBO (northbound) would-be hikers leave their shoes if they give up or get a big upgrade in the outfitter. I opted for the Blood Mountain Cabins tonight over the Mountain Crossings Hostel and decided it would be a good day for a zero as well since we were anticipating rain this evening and tomorrow. I collected a few people and headed over to secure our spot.

(Photo cabins)

When we arrived we were welcomed with cheerful greeting, hot pizza and a small resupply. Yes I'm very glad I chose Blood mountain Cabins. Thanks Bat for the heads-up.

We settled in ordered a freshly made pizza from Trish the owner of the cabins and enjoyed a cola. Their pizza is a steal at $10 with unlimited toppings and discounted add on like chicken wings. Um, yes please. Anyway we settled in dropped our laundry off at the office, yes they do your laundry, no it doesn't cost extra and all began to wash the wilderness off.

I picked up a few things for breakfast (eggs, biscuits and gravy) so I could send those who were not staying for a zero off with a bang in the morning.

We settled in for the night with a giant bowl of soup from kris and starfish's food bag and got a nice little fire going in the fireplace. We talked, lives, how good it is to be warm, clean and laundered. Soon hiker midnight came and we headed to bed.

(Photo)

OmPi ( ॐ π )

My hike today was a fairly short one. I was one of the first out of camp, but have been constantly reminding myself that this isn't a race and ME isn't going anywhere. What is the purpose of taking six month and spending it in the wilderness if I'm just going to be racing by all that nature has to show me?

I've been reflecting a lot on the trees maybe because there are just so many of them or because change is coming to them or because their shapes seem to have personalities.

(Photos)

And the springing plants that are dotting the trail and marking the fresh life that is about to burst forth after a time of shedding. It reminds me a bit if this journey where I have shed all that I am, even my name to come out on the trail and find fresh life.

(Photos)

Today also included my first food trail magic of pancakes and hotdogs for brunch with trail angels "Waterpants" and "Stitches" and their two buddies (sorry I forgot your names). Just after coming into Woody Gap

(Photo)

I see these 4 guys with chairs, a cooler and pancakes coming off their griddle.
They invite me over and we spend some time talking, hot food is hard to pass up on the trail. It is something to see people who take time out of their lives to help others they don't know and will probably never see again that makes anyone just feel OVERJOYED. Other hikers came rolling in and we all had a great snack midway through our hiking day.

(Photo)

I'll tell you I've never had a hotdogs wrapped in a sypup covered pancake but that day I had 3 and would have had more if my I didn't hear my mother in my head saying don't be rude save some for the other hikers. Love ya mom but fair warning, your voice is getting softer or my appetite is getting louder.

The day continued with a little hike up the hill to Preaching rock where some day hikers where so happy to see me, a thru-hiker. It's still a bit weird to say and very weird that people make a big deal over it. I guess I should love it for now because there are towns in NC and TN that are less thrilled to see us come through.  They took a picture for me on the Vista.

(Photo)

Wow what a beautiful landscape with hiker trash blowing through. Really OmPi socks over your pants baselayer? Anyway the day of meditation continued when I refilled my water at a spring high on the mountain.

(Photo)

There is quite literally water coming up out of this rock making a tiny spring on the top of a mountain. The AT crossed this water source down trail when it was a creek.

Then again when it became a little stream.

It then ran into a larger river and as I meditated on this reality, it inspired me that something so tiny on the top of a mountain started this, as it worked it's way towards it's own goal it inspired others along the way who joined in until it literally changed the planet.

What little thing are you passionate about that you can work towards today? Don't be afraid or ashamed, you will inspire others and you too can change the world.

My hiking ended at the last "legal" camp ground before a bear canister requrement and blood mountain, the highest steepest climb so far. I could have probably hiked on today but I think my body would have hated me and tomorrow there is supposed to be afternoon showers followed by a day of rain. Looks like a zero is in my future as I roll into neel gap, I will take a page of the book of Bat who is the #FairWeatherHiker.

The night was nice with lots of people in camp and nice conversations around various camp fires. I met a few new hikers and old ones caught up. I am starting to see how the bubble will work. Time to rest my tired achy feet.

(Photo)

Cheers all and thanks for reading. I've finally decided how to use my social media pages. I'm gonna use them the way they are intended imagine that.

Twitter will include my hiking logs and maybe a short summary of events.

Instagram will host most of my random photos along the way.

Facebook will be random postings and updates.

My blog will be for longer stories and reflections, it will be the fullest account of what is happening.

The NDN will also continue publishing my adventure in little clips so stay tuned there as well.

Follow me on all the networks to keep up with every aspect of the journey.

MUCH Love all!

Day started by being warm in spite of the freezing temps. To break camp and hit the trail took me nearly an hour but I will get better. Today I experienced my first bout of PUD'S as the AT hikers call them. That stands for pointless up & downs, it is coving a mountain and not getting anything from it,  no view, no specific beauty, just up and down for shits and giggles.

I hiked a lot by myself today which is to be expected and will become more common as the trail continues though I did leap frog a number if hikers, the PA section hikers, Carl and Debbie being one group. Sarah and her dog Isla, and a hiker named T. Near the end of the day Stretch caught up with me I guess he, Simon and Sarah, as well as Kate stayed at the Springer shelter. Cole is a little behind but wanted to make it to the shelter I am staying at (Gooch Gap). I also met some guys from Des Moines Iowa named Jared and Dick30 who also wanted to make it here tonght.

Shortly after starting my hike I found at least 6 amazing camping spots less than half a mile from my stealth site and while mine was not bad and it served me well I will know what to keep my eye out for a little better in the future. Three forks was a beautiful spot for camping as was spot by the long falls. (Thanks Leigh for mentioning it.) The long falls were on what we call a blue blaze trail. The Appalachian Trail is marked with white rectangles or blazes,

(Photo )

while side trails off the AT including the Approach trail and Trails to shelters are marked in blue rectangles, miles that don't count. Many thru hikers won't follow a blue blaze for many reasons I wont bore you with,  but some of these side trails lead to incredible things and are pretty short. A great example is the blue blaze to Long Falls if you take a mere 150 steps or so off the AT you will find this.

(Photo)

I ran into a couple with their kids who were kind enough to take a picture for me in all my Hiker Trash glory. The sun was just coming up over the falls, it was secluded and just beautiful!

(Photo)

Later down the trail I ran into who I call the Alabama Slammers, they were admiring one of the few views of the day. I got a photo for all of them and they got one for me at the view.

(Photo)

This group of 5 are out for a few days trying to see if hiking is for them.  Great personalities, and both at the same time over and under prepared. Fun guys anyone would enjoy hanging with.

The rest of the day's hike was hard with sassafras mountain which was a bitch, having a constant grade up then back down and followed by another quick strong uphill before a subtle decent off the mountain. I made a rookie mistake today and didn't pay attention to the water sources and ended up without water going into the hardest 4 miles of the day. Ugh killer! Stupid mistake that will probably happen again but provided a lesson to consider. ALWAYS take note of water sources at the start of the day and figure out of if and where I need to camel up. This story has a happy ending though with trail magic of jugs of water cached at the bottom of Sassafras.

(Photo)

So, I was without water for less than 2 miles, though not ideal and I could feel my body experiencing some the initial phases of dehydration (no urination for hours), I was in no real danger.

I met some others and hope to keep seeing then along the way, if I do I'll share more about each.

Setting up camp was a whole lot easier today. First having flat ground did wonders, second having my guy lines already attached helped, as did having done it just yesterday.  I will be a pro before I know it. The sun has set behind the mountains and darkness is upon us it is about 9 pm so it is hiker midnight.

(Photo)

I'm very sore after all the ups and downs and my body is still adjusting to the hardships of this adventure but I will make it through and make it to ME.

Much love to all. Think of me and please comment.

After a good nights sleep at The Hiker Hostel in Delonega, GA I awake to the percolating of the coffee machine. 7 am is coffee to get the day started then 730 is breakfast made by owners (Josh and Leigh) and the hostel hands. Delicious! It included pancakes, eggs which I had hoped were from their chickens (but Leigh said they only produce enough every 4 or so days),

(Photo)

Grits (a southern delicacy and requirement) with cheese, as well as oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar. Everyone was so polite and only took a small plate but not me, well I was polite but filled my plate then when I got to the table smothered my pancakes with butter, peanut butter and syrup and hit those grits with a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper. Simon who is from England and also a Thru-hiker with his wife Sarah, asked about the grits and was enjoying trying an American Southern delicacy. The Germans (Sebastian and Brian) tried the pancakes in the "American fashion" aka loaded, when Kate who is from MSP informed them that the PB was not as common. Clearly from the Midwest. Lol.

830 we settled our tab and departed the Hiker Hostel arriving at Amacolola state park around 915.

We all met Clarity the RR and 2015 AT Thru Hiker and I signed in with a 31lb pack not bad but I would like to drop 6 or more pounds. The pounds will come off  know, as I had 2 ltrs water and in reality 1 ltr is all you really need to carry so long as you camel up at sources. I also had a left-over subway sandwich for lunch that I was packing out, that was soon to be gone (sorry Leigh no luck when it comes to my food being left behind.)

Clarity offered a brief demo on how to use trekking poles and helped adjust the weight distribution of my pack. In comparison to my FT hike the pack felt much better though I know I will still make tweaks along the way.

After a photo at the Arch we hiked out.

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Brian & Sebastian (Germans), Cole  (from Baton Rouge, LA), Kate (MSP), Stretch who has done sections of the trail in NE but is setting off to thru and Simon and Sarah (the brits) who I met intitially at the Marta and shared a shuttle to HH with. Really cool couple who have just spent 6 months in South America. They also jumped at the opportunity to share a pizza with me last night at the HH, I don't see sharing a pie after a few weeks once Hiker Hunger kicks in, hell I barely share a pizza now.

The initial walk is beautiful and not too intense with some creeks and streams common in GA.

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Then the stairs come, first 175 to the falls and then another 425 to the top. (Mikey, I thought of you and how much you would love it.)

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Holy cow that is a great work out for the calves and quads, I can see why hikers have legs of steel.

The Germans pull ahead with what the Brits attribute to renown German efficiency and I fall in with Stretch, Kate and Cole, as the Brits lagged a little behind then catch up with us at resting and photo ops. The falls were incredibly beautiful and worth the effort.

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The view at the top was magnificent 

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but little did I realize what I was in for just to get to the start of the AT atop Springer mountain. This sign greeted us just a hair up the trail.

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(Yes that's right, to make it to the start of the AT I would have an aprox 6 hour hike, that doesn't even "count". I don't want to say that sign burst my bubble but well it burst my bubble. Nonetheless, I kept spirits high and hiked mostly with Cole and Kate for a while. As we were hiking we picked up some trash along the trail in the form of tin cans and Merrill boot soles. Really people? Pack out your shit and don't leave it to destroy the experience for others. LNT.

The next few hours were a nice but pretty serious hike. I really enjoyed the flat portions, the descents inspired me less and we'll you can keep the climbs, but being from FL what would you expect? It was beautiful to see the rebirth in nature taking place before my eye's and it got me thinking how in this journey I am also experiencing a bit of a rebirth.
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New leaves budding.

Cole and I stopped for lunch at Frosty mountain camp site and well let's just say it is called Frosty Mountain for a reason. Cole plans on cooking 3 meals a day which is commendable but I think that will change. As he fires up his stove I'm thrilled to eat my sandwich. He shares that he is packing 6 days of food which is quite a bit and then as he cracks into a tuna packet, he mentions that he isn't sure if he even likes tuna. Needless to say he doesn't care for it as much as he had hoped and offered it to me. You better believe I'm gonna eat any food that is offered cause afterall I'm a foodie and more so I know calories are king on the trail. Best yet it was food I didn't have to carry. THANKS Cole! Jack a section hiker was also atop Frosty mountain for lunch but he was wrapping us as we got settled in. StarCrunch another ridge runner passed us as she made her way from Springer Shelter to the state park collecting trash and educating hikers along the way. We mentioned collecting the cans and shoes and she offered to take them but I said that it was OK that I would throw them away at the next can as she already had a pretty full bag. As we talked she informed me that the next can would not be atop Springer mountain (as I had visions of it being a developed mountain top) but it would be another 20 miles or so at Woody gap. I was starting to wish I hadn't said no to her taking the trash or wishing she would offer one more time.

The next bit of trail provided a workout for my quads which stiffened up at times though I know they will grow rapidly. It was amazing to see how quickly a group of 10 can spread out based on hiking speeds, breaks, etc. Cole and I hiked for a while together, he really seems like a cool kid who has traveled much more than some people 2 and 3x his age. His father Reid dropped him off at the trailhead and was heading back to Baton Rouge, LA. I know Cole is really thankful for his father and his support on this journey. This gratitude got me to thinking of all those who have made my journey a possibility, especially my partner Chad, who I could never do this without.

We passed Nimblewill gap and I had to get a picture in honor of a AT Trail Blazer and one of the Trail Angels while I hike a little of the FT. Nimblewill Nomad was one of the first to hike the ECT (Eastern Continental Trail) from the FL keys up the FT, through a trail in Alabama Trail which connects to the FT and AT, it then shares the lenght of the AT continues on past Katahdin into Nova Scotia if I recall. Has a book called 5 Million Steps which I highly recomend.

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As I continued my hike to the top of Springer I found myself hiking alone in a forest of no leaves as I approached the ridge.

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After a couple of stops to rest and stretch my burning quads, I happened passed some other hikers, a few were thru, some were section as well as a couple day hikers. I found Simon, Sarah and Cole atop Springer at the first white blaze, the official start of the Appalachian Trail.

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My journey officially begins with a touch of the first blaze and of course a phone call to my partner and mother while I was atop a mountain and had service. Cole and I scanned and signed the registry at the start monument and headed on our journey. We had discussed wanting to get past the springer shelter to at least the next one and give ourselves plenty of time to set up camp and get the camp chores done with light to spare. I actually wanted to stop near a stream and stealth camp as the shelters generally freak me out as they can be a haven for rodents and can become host of norovirus.

We hiked on and came to the parking lot a mile off springer where we met John and his 3 kids who came our for a day hike on the Benton McKay trail. He was a nice guy that I had every intention on pawing off my trash to so I didn't have to carry it for another 19 miles. John became my first trail angel or trail magician who agreed to take my trash off my hands and dispose of it for me. Thanks John you go down in OmPi History. As I write this I realize I didn't get a photo of him to commemorate the event. STINK.

Cole and I made it to a few way points and the trail became pretty nice. We found some really incredible camping spots but it was early in the day with lots of light so we hiked on. When we arrived at the next  shelter and there was lots of space and plenty of room for camping. Cole was set and I was not so I continued on.

I went about another mile past the shelter and decided I wanted to get setup before I lost too much light and was glad I did as camp chores took me a little longer than expected. I am currently writing from my home for the first night on the trail.

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My humble abode. It is supposed to get to freezing Temps tonight so I was trying to figure out how to pitch my tarp to keep out the wind. I think I was only half successful. Still lots to learn! After setting up camp I got some water from the stream opposite the Trail from me and started to cook my first meal. I winged it as I had no measurements and decided the extra calories of a warm dessert would be helpful in freezing temps so tonight's meal was Lentil Rice & Veggie Curry with Banana Bread mush for dessert.

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Both homemade recipes and I was happy with both. While the meal cooked, I attempted to bear bag for the first time. If only someone was there to video it may have been the most dangerous thing I've done on this trip so far and probably the funniest. I made a major mistake a lost a carribiner and some rope as I attempted my 103rd attempt at hanging my food bag. Another couple dozen attempts yielded a sufficient first bear bagging.

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I ate my dinner and realized just how much food it prepared so I stored some in my termos to have for breakfast or lunch as a quick warm meal... this will become very convenient once I work out the details. I found that I was missing a piece, well 2 stakes for my stove set so will have to pick up something at mountain crossing but will work it out till then.

I brushed my teeth, hung any scented items in the bear bag and settled into bed around 830. Needless to say with freezing temps expected I bundled up. Here I am inside my hammock for the first night.

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I know my partner in going to say I look like a terrorist but I will say I stayed toasty warm through the night. Woke up at 11:55 and thought my tarp had come unstaked on one side but it had held. So back to bed I went. Around 5:45 I woke up again very refreshed but not ready to break camp in the dark so I started journaling. It is nearly 7:15 and dawn has broken so I think it is time to hit the trail. No plans today I'll hike and see how I feel and stop when ready. My belly is grumbling, I guess its time to break camp and have an energy bar or 3.

Much love to all and thank you for your support. If you have insight into how to do things better or well wishes please share them.