Today is my first day on the road. At 8 a.m., I passed under the Amicalola Falls arch and began my journey up the Springer Mountain access trail.
The approach path
The temperature at the beginning of the day was around 50°, with a light rain. As I walked along the access trail and climbed the stairs to the falls, the rain became a steady rain. That, combined with the exertion of climbing the stairs, caused me to get hot pretty quickly and I soon started sweating a lot.
After the steps, about a mile later, the rain turned to a light drizzle. As it climbed, the temperature dropped rapidly and a light breeze sprang up, quickly adding chill to the air. Even though I was wet from rain and sweat and the temperature was dropping, I was still quite comfortable after a couple of hours. I saw almost no one all morning, passing only one hiker before reaching Black Gap Shelter on the access trail. I stopped for a quick break at the shelter to sit for a few minutes, hydrate, and chat with a couple of guys who were still packing up from last night. But I didn’t take long because I started to get cold.
Springer Mountain
As I approached the top of Springer Mountain, the winds increased and the temperature continued to drop. It was quite cold at the top and the views were non-existent with the cloud cover.
But I did have it to myself, so that’s one thing I guess… But with the cold and lack of views, I quickly took some pictures, signed the log book and continued on my way.
white flames
I then continued to Stover Creek Shelter, where along the way the rain turned first to sleet and then snow. At the shelter I stopped and had a quick snack, where I was joined shortly after I stopped by another hiker, who commented that we were the only two he saw in shorts all day. Other than that, there was no one else at the shelter, continuing my trend of not seeing many people. Although I did see some hikers leaving the shelter before I got there. After a short rest, I went to the Three Forks crossroads, where I waited for the shuttle driver as the snow continued to fall.
When they picked me up, they dropped me off at Hidden Pond Hostel, where I spent the night. The hostel was full! Many people were trying to escape the “March Megastorm” that hit the area. But it was a good night socializing with other hikers, staying warm and dry, and getting something to eat. It was fun hanging out with some of my fellow hikers, many of whom had started a couple days before me and were further along the trail, so I picked up some knowledge and tips from them.
Day 1 stats:
12.6 miles (8.2 miles on approach trail)
3212′ ascent, 2484′ descent
Amicalola falls to Three Forks
1 day without cathole…
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