N’s last two weeks before retirement have been incredibly hectic and stressful, but so amazingly successful and satisfying, we have both been riding along on an adrenalin high. However, somewhere between Sunday night and Monday afternoon, that all came to a crashing halt for both of us, and we find ourselves completely spent, both emotionally and physically. So, thank goodness for the Hiker Hostel in Dahlonega!

We left for the trail showered, with full stomachs, and a good night’s sleep all around; and with a reservation so we could come back and do it all over again this evening. Yes, no need to carry a tent or a stove or a change of clothes or almost anything today: we would be slackpacking! Light of heart and light of backpack, we were dropped off at the Springer Mountain parking lot by our Base Camp Manager, and with no more fanfare, we were on our way. Longest journey, single step…

First off, the bad news: Awol’s A.T. Guide uses a little camera symbol to indicate panoramas / great views. But after the Southern Terminus, the guide showed not another camera icon for the rest of the day’s mileage. Just nothing you could call spectacular scenery. Our official welcome to the “Long, green tunnel.”

But aside from that minor point, you couldn’t have asked for a better weather day. Not a cloud in the sky. Temps in the upper 50s. Just an ideal hiking day…

-X Trovert

On top of Hawk Mountain, we called our BCM to see if she had gotten back safely to flat land. While my phone was on, here came a voice mail from my doctor’s office, asking me to return the call. This took some doing, during which time seven people passed us, about half of all the folks we would see during the day. Although I had had my yearly physical about three weeks ago, I had not gotten any results before leaving. So here came the nurse to tell me my cholesterol was a little high. She said I needed to take fish oil and exercise a little more. I asked her if I walked 14 miles every day for the next six months, could I pass on the fish oil? I’m not sure I got an answer before she hung up…

We slowed up a little after lunch at Horse Gap, but picked up the pace again on the climb up Justus Mountain, and arrived in plenty of time for our Hiker Hostel pickup at Gooch Gap.

We feel like we are one day into easing into the AT. We’ll remember this great start to our hike for weeks to come. And with freezing temperatures in the offing, we are really happy to be back in a warm bed at the Hiker Hostel…

-N Trovert