"Gainesville, next stop Gainesville"
As I stepped off the train the rain was pelting down, turning the streets into rivers. This was not how I hoped to start my AT thru-hike. The shuttle driver, "Hotrock - AT 2004", met me in the station and we headed out for Springer Mt.. Hotrock, who lives out of his van when he isn't hiking, chatted non-stop for the hour's drive to the top of the mountain on US Forestry Service road # 42. The last six miles were on a single-lane gravel road cut into the side of the mountain. The drop off was at least a thousand feet down on my right. Yikes, steer well my friend. We arrived at the trailhead just as the day was beginning to show its face. The rain was still pouring down as I donned my rain coat and pants in the back of the van before stepping out. As Hotrock drove away and I stood there alone in the pouring rain I knew that I was breaking my cardinal rule : "Never leave town in the rain."
I slung my pack on and headed southward for 0.9 miles to the actual terminus of the AT on Springer Mt. After a few soggy photos I headed north, only 2180 miles to go.
The rain and wind continued until well after noon but since it was reasonably warm I was more than content to continue to walk for 15 miles to Gooch Mt. where I spent the night in the shelter. This, without a doubt, was the most crowded shelter and area that I have ever experienced on the trail. There were 14 people sleeping in the double-decker sleeping area, and there must have been 40 more tenting around the shelter. Never let it be said that one hikes the AT in order to find some time alone.
No comments:
Post a Comment