Hey All -
We just wanted you all to know we are still alive and still kicking! We have learned a lot in the last week, replaced some of our heavier gear for lighter alternatives and started eating more than you can imagine!
We learned that these Appalachian Mountains are no joke. Seriously, this is some of the hardest hiking I have ever done. I carried my MSR Whisperlite & my Katadyn Water filter with me on the Superior Hiking Trail, and countless other backpacking adventures.... One week here and they got sent home and replaced with an MSR Pocket Rocket (about half to a quarter the weight) and a Sawyer Mini water filter (from 1+ pounds to 2 ounces). We started looking at other items to cut when we get off in a month also. The Chaco sandals are still up in the air, possibly looking at replacing a sleeping bag, and definitely replacing a sleeping pad. We also originally purchased the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker's companion as our guidebook for these 2,000 miles and well... we have decided that in a month it will be replaced with the AWOL book. It is much more detailed and slightly more compact (and therefore lighter).
Accomplishments this last week have been numerous, which is great- because it keeps spirits up even when each step is torturous. Our first day out, we hiked 9 miles and only the last 0.2 were actually on the Appalachian Trail, but we were happy to see the first official white blaze atop Springer when we got there. The first 1.25 miles of our hike that day included over 600 stairs to climb, but the waterfalls at Amicalola Falls State Park (Georgia) where gorgeous and well worth the work! On day 3 or 4 (I don't have my journal in front of me), we summited Blood Mountain, the highest point in Georgia at 4,459 feet. The views at the top were unmatched to anything we had seen thus far. We enjoyed shade in the CCC made shelter (One of the oldest permanent shelters on the trail, Dated 1936) and lunch on the summit. The climb down was a bit treacherous, but at the bottom we were rewarded with our first re-supply location on the trail. We enjoyed some real food and a few hours rest with other long distance and through hikers before heading out again late afternoon.
This week also meant meeting lots of great people. We spent some time hiking with Dandy - a wonderful young lady who was committing 1 month to her first backpacking trip ever! We split ways about 3 days ago, when she decided to go into town to rest a bum knee. We wish her much luck on the rest of her journey!
Just before coming into town yesterday we also met up with Courtesy and his two kids Big Horn & Cartwheel. They brought a little trail magic with them that meant a huge amount to Evan (Yooper Trooper) and I (Daisy). Fresh bananas & other fruit is so appreciated out on the trail. A HUGE Thank you to this wonderful hiking family! Also, Courtesy - I loved your Hike for Mental Health Shirt.
Well that is probably enough for now, in the next few days we will cross our first state line and enter the great state of North Carolina. We are planning on getting a few pictures printed later today and start getting some postcards sent out to folks around the country. We hope some of them will show up on our blog periodically. We hope all of you in cyber space are doing well. Our next planned stop is Bryson City, NC however, we are not planning on spending the night and therefore I am not sure if we will get a chance to update the blog.
Happy Trails!
Yooper Trooper & Daisy
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