GEORGIA SECTION

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2011
 

For about a month now, we have been making preparations for our hike. 

• Purchased needed equipment and supplies.
• Gathered up our food.
• Broke in our hiking boots.
• Done our research about the trail, hostels, and shuttles.
• Made possible itineraries.
• Practiced hiking with our loaded backpacks.
• Gone over every list and checked it again and again. 
• Tried to anticipate every situation so that we can be prepared. 
• Chose our trail names! 

It is tradition for those on the AT to choose or be given meaningful trail names while they are hiking to be used by fellow hikers as well as for signing in the registers at each shelter.   As we were conditioning ourselves for our hike it became apparent that my hubby’s name would be “Wait-Up” and my name would be “Catch-Up” for obvious reasons.  They turned out to be good names for us on the trail.

The day is finally here and our preparations are made!

Tomorrow we will drive to Dahlonega, GA to spend the night at the Hiker Hostel before we begin our hike the following morning bright and early.  Josh and Leigh Saint, the hosts of  the hostel, will shuttle us to the beginning of the trail at Springer Mountain.  We will have to hike a mile south to the trail head, then retrace our steps on the trail going north.  We definitely want to get a picture of the plaque marking the beginning of the trail and also the view from the top of Springer Mountain.  The other option was to hike up 8.4 miles on the Southern Terminus Approach trail from Amicalola State Park. There is a great debate among hikers about whether hiking the Approach Trail is necessary to be a true thru-hiker.  We decided not for us. 

Today we are checking and re-checking our gear and supplies.  We will have to carry 3 days' supplies in our backpack at a time since we plan to spend about every 3rd night in a hostel and have access to our vehicle to re-supply our backpacks.  We are carrying about 2 pounds of food per day in our packs, plus one set of extra clothing, rain gear, long johns, extra socks, sleeping pad, tent, camelback for water, water purification supplies, sports wipes, and a few other essential items. 

"Wait up's" pack weighs about 42 pounds and mine ("Catch-up") weighs about 33.  I don't know how we could carry more than 3 days worth at a time!  It sure will help that we have frequent access to our re-stock box in our vehicle.  Also, that will give us an opportunity to change our clothing plans in case the temperature drops considerably.  We waited for cooler weather on purpose, but we hope it's not TOO cool!  Also praying for no rain, but that is unlikely.

We have done our research, but never having done this AT thing before, there are a lot of unknowns for us, so we will learn as we go. 


Our chosen equipment:
Vasque Breeze Gore-Tex XCR Hiking Boots, $150

SmartWool Socks $17.00

Osprey Ariel 65 Backpack for me, bought on ebay, used once for $150

Gregory Baltoro 70 for him, bought at the local outfitter for $199

Thermarest sleep mat for him

No-Limits Pac-Lite Mummy Sleeping Mat for me (Weight 1 lb. 11 oz.)
No-Limits Therma-Lite Mummy sleeping bags (0-degree rated)
Two-person tent