Year: 2023

• AT 4: Blood Mountain/Mountain Crossings

  

  Rained all night long, then stopped just right for hiking out. The climb up Blood Mountain was good hiking. There’s a neat stone shelter on top. Views could’ve been better. The climb down was treacherous, even without rain. Did the four miles to Mountain Crossings with Bret and Mark, where we parted ways for now.…

• AT 3: Making Camp in Cocaine Bear Country

  

  Upon waking up, we found out that indeed, our food was still there. Happiness all around. Rolled my ankle/foot about 2 miles in the day. Not a good thing, and decided to leave the ascent (and descent) of Blood Mountain as a task for future me. Seen on the way: Trillium flowers, snails, fog wafting…

• AT 2: Rain, finally

  

  Woke up to a light drizzle and a foggy forest. Today another short hike. Very misty the first couple hours. Found mint and squirrels. Did eight miles to Gooch Gap Shelter, and only got rained on once. Won’t be the last rain. Rain/Thunderstorm forecast for tonight. Shelter’s full and cosy. Day before yesterday someone stole…

• AT 1: A short hike, just what the ranger ordered

  

  Did a short day to Hawk Mountain Shelter. First day on the AT proper. With the rhododendron growing thick around the trail you get the “green tunnel” nickname of the trail. Trail is very pretty. Staying in the shelter today, there’s a good crowd here. Started drizzling after I got here, very cozy inside.

• AT 0: Approach Trail

  

  Checked out from the hotel and took an Uber to Amicalola. Both hotel stay and Uber ride have been really nice. At Amicalola I got the how-to-hike-the-AT lesson from the park ranger, my hang tag, the pic beneath the arch, and then was on my way. The falls are spectacular, the steps not as bad…