AT: AT Approach Trail, Amicalola Falls

First of all, I would like to give a shout out to Mrs. Haze, my No. 1 Trail Angel. She has been so supportive of my passion for thru-hiking. An avid hiker herself and my training partner but understandably, doesn’t like to sleep on the ground. As such, she hiked the Cotswold Way in England last year with friends, staying in B&B’s every night. I’m quite jealous!

I had an uneventful flight to Atlanta today, even arriving early. My duffle bag with pack was already unloaded as I approached the baggage claim – now that was a first. A straight shot to MARTA and a quick exit to Sandy Springs, near the end of the train line. Even a nearby REI. I grabbed an isobutane canister, had a quick lunch and was picked up with two other hikers by Ron. He’s a renowned shuttler with a wealth of trail knowledge. Ron dropped me off at the Amicalola Falls Visitors Center and I sat through the AT hiker’s orientation. My AT hiker tag number is 1510, the ranger said probably smack dab in the middle of hikers starting this year.

I finally started up the infamous AT Approach Trail late in the afternoon. Starting through the Arch and up several hundred steep steps to the top of picturesque Amicalola Falls. At the top, I detoured to the Lodge for dinner, a celebratory IPA and one last night in a bed.

Tomorrow, I complete the last seven miles of the Approach Trail to the top of Springer Mountain and the official start of the AT.