A few photos from Brett's camera on Day 1 at Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia.
Signing the A.T. Thru-Hiker register at the visitor center. They indicate their names (first and last names as well as a trail name, if they have one), address, starting point, final destination, and pack weight. Brett and Ed were the 38th and 39th thru-hikers to register.
I'm carrying
how many pounds on my back? Forty-five!
Photo op in the gateway just outside the visitor center.
Starting to get emotional beginning this huge undertaking.
I love the quote at the bottom of this plaque by Harold Allen.
The 8.5-mile approach trail is a blue blaze--not part of the official Appalachian Trail.
That's
a lot of stairs to get to the top of the falls.
A beautiful view, cool breeze (pretty strong, as you can see from my hair), and the sound of the rushing falls makes the difficult climb worth it.
A beautiful spring flower Brett captured along the approach trail, after the kids and wives headed back down to the visitor's center.
Another time to get emotional: reaching the top of Springer Mountain, the historic plaque and the first white blaze. It has officially begun.
Two white blazes leading from the starting plaque on the rock to the trail through the woods.
The first tree marked with the white blaze.
Side trails, including those leading to shelters, are marked with the blue blaze.
Brett and Ed did not stay at this shelter, but continued on to the parking lot 0.9 mile down the trail. We drove their packs up the mountain to the parking lot, watched them set up camp as it started to rain, and said a quick and tearful good-bye.
To see the update from Amicalola Falls, go here.
No comments:
Post a Comment