Days 1-7 from Shire to Bree

Day one: Mile zero

My parents drove me from RVA to the shelter in Amicalola Falls. Along the way we stopped at a rest area and ate turkey sandwiches with onion rolls, as is the Suhr family road trip tradition. We spent the night together and enjoyed the magnificent view.

Day Two: Mile 1.7

We woke up at the Amicalola Falls lodge and had breakfast together. I had biscuits and gravy; Starting my quickly divided biscuits and gravy trail. they were so good. I made the eggs easily and put them on top, along with some tomato sauce, which is my favorite way to eat. My dad and I did the zipline tour at the top of the falls, it was amazing! My mom was feeling a little excited about dropping me off, so we hung around for a bit and walked around. We said goodbye and wished each other good luck in the arch. Then they accompanied me to the first shelter to take a look and share a last hug. I was mostly fine until I walked away, turned around, and picked up the compass she’d given me a few years ago to say goodbye one last time. I climbed the 600+ steps and took a break at almost every bench and viewing platform. I got water with my filter for the first time from a stream. I climbed two more big hills and ended the day a little past the “6 miles to Springer Mountain” sign at mile 1.7 on the approach trail. Dinner consisted of teriyaki noodles and fried spam with Bachan sauce. Was fire After a long first day.

Day Three: Completed the approach and camped at Springer Mountain.

I woke up to a wonderful day. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. My BearVault was intact, thank goodness. It was a little scary being alone on my first night, but it was amazing and I did it. I had coffee and my favorite trail/jail snack: peanut butter and jelly in a blueberry Pop-Tart (Protein Pop-Tarts for the Trail). It’s not exactly Lembas bread, but it will do.

I packed up and took off once again. I underestimated my water needs and definitely should have gone back to the spring to refill everything. That stopped me, but I learned my lesson.

I made my first new friend on the road: a native named David who was also on the road seeking recovery and a new life in Maine. I encouraged him to work hard and join my community and come to Springer with me, and we had a great time. It was a beautiful day and I was very happy to have met. For dinner, I made us Garlic and Herb Alfredo with Bacon.

Day Four: Mile 7.4, Hawk Mountain

David and I arrived at the Hawk Mountain campground. It was foggy and everything was covered in moss. I kept telling anyone who would listen that I felt like I was walking through the woods of Lothlórien or a scene from Twilight. We got a late start leaving Springer Mountain. It was drizzling all day, so we took our time. Regardless of the rain, I had a lot of fun! We met a pretty girl with pink hair (perfect to match my purple) and an English accent. Overall, it was a magical day. For dinner, I had beef stroganoff and a blueberry crunch backpacking meal they gave us at Springer Mountain. Not bad for trail rations.

Day Five: Mile 17, Above the Clouds

In the morning, at the Hawk Mountain campground, a new eerie dawn dawned, cool and misty. Once again I was reminded of the vampires of Washington State. We started late again, but had a great time the entire way, seeing lots of wildflowers and crossing some streams. I loved it!

David was having trouble with his knee, so we decided to go out of the way to get it checked out.

We arrived at Above the Clouds Hostel via shuttle from the fantastic Thor, only to be greeted by LOVELY Bounce. It’s very clear where this energetic lady gets her trail name from; She was quite a vibe. Such a fun and kind host, she made us feel as if we were welcomed into the Last Homely House of Elrond; and we hadn’t even reached Bree yet.

The hostel was great and had a totally AT theme inside. They even had a cold dip in the creek which we took full advantage of. They also had a small store in the hostel where we got frozen pizzas and drinks from the gas station down the street. It was a beautiful walk passing by a waterfall. There was a hiker my age named Baby G and his little Mcgee was staying there too! They are totally rude.

I woke up in the ATC hostel to a tasty breakfast of coffee, French toast, and eggs prepared by Bounce. Hmm! David made a friend who was willing to help him get to the doctor. I felt conflicted about breaking away, but something compelled me to do my own hike and get back on track. One of the guys who works at the lodge took me back to the trailhead. I don’t know his name, but we had a great talk about mental health, hiking, and community.

My intuition to keep moving proved fruitful. As soon as I got out of the car and got back on the road, the pretty pink-haired girl came up behind me. I asked her if she wanted to walk together since I was now traveling alone. She agreed and we left. On the way, we met an older gentleman who was very cool. I called him Boston, after his hometown. It was fun and kept the conversation flowing, but we were abandoned pretty quickly by some people sitting at a picnic table. He may have been more interested in the company than the hiking, but I enjoyed the time we spent with him. My new friend (let’s call her Goldilocks) and I arrived at the Woods Hole shelter and continued getting to know each other. Soon, Baby G and McGee appeared along with two older gentlemen. The four youngest members of our new fellowship spent the entire night listening to music (I introduced them to some Billy Strings). Baby G sang “The Big Rock Candy Mountain” to us, which we loved! McGee was completely unconscious in Baby G’s arms, so she finally carried her to bed. Goldilocks and I stayed outside, flirting and giggling as long as I felt it was socially acceptable without disturbing others. It was a great day.

Day Seven: Mile 31.3, Neel Gap

On the morning of the seventh day of the trip, strong storms woke me up. The lightning was so close I could almost feel my hair stand on end. Goldilocks, Baby G, McGee and I were hanging around the shelter with the two older gentlemen. One of them seemed a little annoyed with our energy, but the other was very kind and told me not to worry because we would have fun. “That’s what we’re all trying to do,” he said. He and I had great conversations about religion and addiction while we waited out the rain.

Once the storm passed, the hike began! However, unfortunately, everyone we passed told us that more severe storms and hail would arrive later. Taking a chance, I asked Goldilocks if he wanted to go to Blairsville to get a hotel room with me.

We finally arrived at Mountain Crossings at Neels Gap. After taking a look around the store, I called our first shuttle driver, Jeff Moon. He was the absolute best – always responded quickly, got to us quickly, and was extremely knowledgeable about the surrounding area and hiker resources.

Goldilocks and I arrived at our hotel and did our housework while catching up with our families on the phone. Later we went out for sushi, but the Mexican restaurant we passed smelled so good that we went in there. They did not disappoint and the margins were divine too! I bought a mango margarita, which for some reason Goldilocks finds weird, but he shrugs his shoulders; It’s my favorite. We returned to the hotel and began a harry potter marathon (continue getting to know) that will eventually drive Goldilocks crazy with my constant dating. But that’s a story for later.

Summary of the first week: Leaving the region behind

Seven days ago, I crossed the stone arch of Amicalola Falls, leaving behind the comforts of the Shire. What began as a solo quest quickly turned into an unexpected journey filled with severe mountain storms, breathtaking views, and ever-evolving camaraderie.

From sharing rations of the elven trail on Springer Mountain with David to seeking refuge from the mists at Elrond’s Last Comforting House (ATC Hostel), the trail has already given me exactly the community I needed. I parted ways with dear friends, crossed paths with new ones, and found a wonderful hiking companion in Goldilocks.

We finished our first week with some drinks and a room at the Prancing Pony (Random Blairsville Motel) just as the storm clouds appeared. Safely tucked away with snacks, PINTS and a harry potter marathon, the community rests and recharges. The road ahead is long and uncertain, but as Tolkien wrote: «Not all who wander are lost.»

On to the next milestone!

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