The first state on the AT! Georgia is not a very long state (about 80 miles of trail), but it will chew you up and spit you out. Most hikers are not in hiking shape when they start, and Georgia has a lot of steep ups and downs. This is where many hikers quit or discover that their gear is inadequate. Everyone is nervous and very few people know what they are doing. Most of everyone’s hiking knowledge comes from Google searches and YouTube videos. You can tell pretty quickly who is a professional (3Peat) and who is not (Buttercup). As a result, a lot of people quit. About 30 miles into the trail, there is the Walasi-Yi Center at Neels gap. it is an outfitter’s store and a great place to get picked up. Outside, there is a a giant tree filled with 100s of hiker shoes. The shoes are thrown into the tree by hikers who quit. The tree is named……..The Tree of Soles.
It is hard to sleep for the first few nights. The woods are SO LOUD and there are 100s of bears around your tent (so you think). You have this feeling of excitement and terror. You feel very vulnerable in the dark. I started to wake up in the fetal position because my brain thinks its safer to feel that way. I’ve never slept that way before, or since. We heard a bear that was close to our tents one night. It was hard to tell how close was close, but we all heard him.
We got our first experience of trail magic. Trail Magic can be anything from sodas, to hot dogs, to bong rips. It is whatever people want to give away. Some people do trail magic on the weekend and for some it is a retirement job (Fresh Grounds and Ice Cream man).
It took 9 days to make it out of Georgia.
Day 1 – April 3, 2022 – 11.6 Miles (Approach trail and 2.8 miles of AT)
Got dropped off at Amicalola Falls State Park by my friend S.S. a little after 9AM. I checked-in and got a quick lesson on how to make a PCT styled bear hang. A couple of members from the Georgia ATC club were very happy that I was bringing a bear can instead of hanging my food. I declined the opportunity to weigh my back. I said I already knew how much it weighed, but I was really just scared. I took some pictures and started off. It was a weird feeling to start walking and knowing that I wasn’t going back to the car. Hiked the approach trail and 2.8 miles of the AT. Tonight we are camping at Stover Creek shelter. Walked up 600 steps, found out later that they were optional. Not a good start. Seeing other hikers and starting to feel more confident about gear/fitness. I saw a dude was carrying a hatchet, but didn’t have a coat. The southern terminus (Springer Mountain) is very unremarkable. Didn’t even know I was there. Jake was very disappointed. I met a guy named Zack, seems like a cool dude.
Day 2 – April 4, 2022 – 12.9 Miles
Hiked about 13 miles from Stover Creek shelter to Gooch Mountain shelter. The shelter was full so we continued on a camped about a mile down the trail at Gooch Gap itself. Today, I had my first experience of Trail Magic!!! Papa Smurf (GA local hiker) was giving out soda, water, and snacks while showing off old bullets that he found in the area. Hiker Pad Thai (ramen, tuna, and peanut butter) for dinner tonight. My knee is sore, but legs feel solid. There were some gorgeous views today, even with a lack of foliage.
Day 3 – April 5, 2022 – 15.6 Miles
Made it to Neel’s Gap! Got obliterated by 1-inch of rain while crossing the mountains. There was not a dry spot on me. Took the bad weather bypass (Freeman trail) around Blood Mountain. Going over Blood was too dangerous due to the slickness of the big granite slabs at the top. Met 3Peat (Thru-hiked in ’92, ’02, and now ’22) on the trail. He was the one who suggested we take the bypass trail. We all got pizza at Neel’s gap and then got a shuttle ride to a hotel in Blairsville, GA to wait out the bad weather. 3Peat is a gold mine of information about hiking. Blessed to have met him.
Day 4 – April 6, 2022, 0.0 Miles
Took a zero today in Blairsville, GA at the Best Western. A zero is a day where you don’t hike, for whatever reason. It took awhile to dry out and dry my gear out. Pigged out on food, did chores, and retooled/resupplied. My confidence is strong today. My pack is lighter and I have a better understanding of the trail from talking with 3Peat. It feels good to rest up the legs. According to 3Peat, we crushed the last 30 miles are doing well for novice hikers. I bought a GA state sticker and put it on my bear can. Looking forward to getting back on the trail.
Day 5 – April 7, 2022 – 14.8 Miles
Great day of hiking! Camped at a little spot along the trail, somewhere between Low Gap shelter and Unicoi Gap. Had some great trail magic today – the amount of food was incredible. Dinner was hiker pad thai again. Tonight it’s windy and supposed to get into the 30s. Met a hiker from Germany and one from the UK. Also! I met a set of twins who grew up in Stratford – not too far from where I grew up! I’m always meeting someone from home. Legs and feet are sore, but feeling strong. Jake’s knee is bothering him. I realized that the A.T. is the craziest adventure Andy and I might ever do.
Day 6 – April 8, 2022 – 7.3 Miles
Woke up this morning very tired. It has been hard for me to get adjusted to sleeping in a tent, and that lack of sleep has finally caught up to me. I feel so vulnerable with a small piece of fabric separating me from the wild. I thought I heard a bear grunting nearby and got absolutely spooked. Turns out, it was just my brother snoring. It’s hard to accurately identify noises when the wind is blowing. Anyway, today was a short, quick hike to Unicoi Gap. Found some trail magic there! Had a hotdog, beer, fruit, and ice cream from the Ice Cream Man! Ice Cream Man is a dude who lives in a camper and hands out ice cream to hikers. You never know where he will be! I had to hitch a ride into Helen, GA. You wouldn’t think it, but hitch hiking works out here. Planning on taking a zero tomorrow due to cold rain/snow. Helen is a cool German styled town, but touristy. Like a Gatlinburg JR. My legs and feet feel good, but sore. I have matching dry skin spots on the inside of my heels. I need to watch them and start applying moisturizer.
Day 7 – April 9, 2022 – 0.0 Miles
Took a zero in Helen, GA today. Took the time to relax and resupply. I had a salad for lunch today; first healthy food in awhile. I forgot how good it felt to eat healthy. Was not able to get to church today. Uber and Lyft are not available in this area for some reason. It is a weird feeling to not go to church this weekend. I don’t like it. Hopefully next week will be better. The weather will be nice for the next few days. Im ready to get back out there. Should be in NC by mid-week.
Day 8 – April 10, 2023 – 13.1 Miles
Back on the trail! Went from Unicoi Gap to Deep Gap shelter. Trail magic at Unicoi…OH YEAH! It was given by people who had hiked the trail last year. The trail kicked my butt today. The elevation was a rollercoaster. Georgia itself has been a rollercoaster. It’s not that long, but it really chews you up and spits you out. Especially if you haven’t developed trail legs yet. The last major climb before Deep Gap just kept going up and up. I suspect I will be sore tomorrow. We all will be. My tent is near a small stream tonight; it will be nice to go to sleep with the noise. Unless something bad happens tomorrow, this will be my last night in GA. This has been a great start to the AT. On to the next state!
