Zen Pig dropping LA off at Springer...

This is Harry S AKA Zen Pig blogging on for Laree. I'll be checking in to make an entry here and there to report on Laree's progress and to post a few photos from Springer. I picked up LA at his place in Asheville @ 6am on Wed morning the 15th. We drove down to Georgia to check in at Amicolola falls State Pk. Laree signed the book at the visitor's center to make it official. We took another 45 minute drive to the trail head at Springer Mt., about a mile from the southern terminus of the great Appalachian Trail. We put on our packs at noon, and hiked in. There was lots of preparation and discussion leading up to this point over the years. I'm so grateful to have coached and counseled Laree a little in Prep for this hike. It's an honor to help someone attempt to achieve a goal like hiking a big section of the AT.

We hiked the 20 minutes or so to the plaque at Springer. Tagged the plaque, took some photos, then hiked back to the parking lot, and beyond, about another 7 miles or so to Hawk Mt shelter where we set up tents for the night. Noisy hikers in the shelter made for some disrupted sleep. Low impact hiking ethics folks!

It was an absolutely perfect day. The fall foliage is near peak in N. Georgia now. The trail was beautifully maintained and cared for. About half of the hike was down hill slightly, on a wide old logging road. Cathedral hemlock forest all around. Rushing streams and just about everything you expect the AT to be. I have hiked all of the AT, but the first 4 miles or so of it are hard to beat. We had a pretty challenging up the second half of the hike, and we got to the shelter around 5. Plenty of time to set up camp, and cook dinner.

I left Laree in good spirits about 8:15 the next morning and hiked out to my car. It was sad to only be in for an overnighter for me. But this time, I get to be the support team for someone else having a wonderful experience that only the AT can give you in my opinion. He gave me a quick call last night to report on his day. Had a challenging up and down day as far as elevation gain and loss. Got into Gooch Mtn shelter for his second night of about 30. There will be a little rain today. He's getting the full treatment out there. Hike on Laree!

Zenpig.
harrys8684@charter.net