AT Day 1: Wet First Day on the Trail

Daily Miles: 9.5, Total Miles: 9.5

When I went to bed last night there was to be no rain until Saturday. Up early this morning and checked the weather – drizzling rain until 8am. Just light enough at 7:30am so took off on the approach trail thinking the rain was about to stop. Four hours later I reached the AT start at Springer Mountain and it’s still raining, even harder. I nearly missed the AT southern terminus monument in the mist and only noticed it two feet away while letting a couple of hikers pass by. My glasses were pretty fogged up.

I made my way down to the Springer Mountain parking lot and enjoyed my first AT trail magic. Hot coffee and donuts from two previous AT hikers. Much appreciated!

Still raining when I stopped for a lunch at Stover Shelter and a short detour to beautiful Long Creek Falls.

I finally decided to call it quits past Hightower Gap at a flat spot on a ridge. Would have been a nice view, but now only mist and low lying clouds.

The trail was muddy and slippery in spots but well maintained and not hard to follow. Trees are mostly still bare with lots of dead leaves on the ground. Won’t take long to bud out if and when some warm days.

Rain started to slow down as I finished my dinner and hung my food bag. A tall bear or one with a good vertical leap could have easily reached. I was too tired and starting to cramp up while trying to do the PCT hang.

Not bad mileage, 16.5 miles for the first day with some good elevation gain and inclement weather. But only 9.5 miles count on the official AT.

My hiking clothes are drenched and obviously won’t dry overnight so won’t be fun putting them on tomorrow.