Appalachian Trail #1: Forming a Tramily

This week was full of laughter, making new friends, and forming a Tramily.

Appalachian Trail Day 1: Springer Mountain to Hawk Mountain Shelter

Today we did a total of 9.1 miles. I thought I would have a lot of deja vu, but I didn’t remember most of the trail. It started out foggy and misty. The drive to Springer Mountain was bumpy; I didn’t remember it being that bumpy before. We arrived at the parking lot and saw a Ridgerunner in a small car. It turns out we had come in the longer, less maintained way. Oops! We sent my parents off in the correct direction this time. We headed to the top and ran into a guy named Stash, with whom we had a joyful convo, then Tony, whom we met the day before at the Visitors Center, and walked with him up the stairs. He was having a hard time with his 50+ pound pack. Turns out he only decided to do this trail a week ago. We also ran into FireB, whom we met at the Lodge when we checked in.

Once we got to the top of Springer, we met a couple named Blue Swan and Specs. There was no view. We talked with them for a while, then started our journey.

The weather was icky, but we were both in good spirits. We stopped and had lunch at the same spot I had lunch at back in 2020, and then headed to the waterfall. I had decided before we even started that I would take the side trail to the waterfall this time around.

We got our first trail magic shortly afterward, where we ran into Specs and Blue Swan again. Bonus that it was at the Shed / Cemetery area (another POI that I wanted to take this time around that I didn’t in 2020). We stayed way too long, but enjoyed it immensely.

On the way to Hawk Mountain Shelter we ran into FireB. She was struggling to make it. Her pack was crazy heavy. I told Jerry to head onto the shelter to set up the tent and I would stay with her, in hopes of giving her some motivation.

Before we knew it another guy came behind us and offered to go drop his pack and come back and get hers. She accepted. We named him Sherpa (not sure if he kept it).

Once we got to camp, we saw Tony, Stash, Spacs, and Blue Swan. Apparently, everyone knew who my husband was by the time I got there. He was the one cussing at the tent lol. Tony was exhausted and said he wasn’t sure he would even make it to camp (thankfully, he did).

Watch Day 1 Video

Day 2: Hawk Mountain Shelter to Hightower Gap

It was clear that Tony, Blue Swan, and FireB needed to lose or change out some gear to drop weight. FireB had already contacted a friend who was going to meet her to take some gear. We spoke with Tony and encouraged him to allow us to give him a gear shakedown at Neel Gap to help with his weight. He gladly accepted. Blue Swan overheard and asked if she could come along as well. So we set off trying to find a shuttle to pick us up .5 mile down the trail.

We got to Neel Gap, and they were able to shed some weight. The problem we then ran into was the fact that Blue Swan (being from London) could not mail stuff home from there, as it has to be done internationally. So we got another shuttle into Blairsville, and I went into the post office with her to help her navigate our postal system. It took us 1.5 hours! Since we had already booked a room there for the following night two nights in anticipation for a bad storm that was supposed to come through, and it was now late in the day, we opted to stay an additional night in Blairsville and slackpack the next day.

Watch Day 2 Video

Day 3: Hightower Gap to Gooch Gap

Today was pretty great! The weather was great, and the company was even better. Blue Swan got renamed to Rambo, due to some shenanigans she pulled in the woods (don’t worry, I got it on video), and Tony got the trail name Impulse, due to how he impulsively decided to do the trail. We also met Context, who hiked with us most of the day.

Around midday, we arrived at Justus Creek and decided we needed to cool off, so we took a dip. There were a ton of people there, and they too decided it looked like a great idea. We had to have stayed there for an hour, but soon it was time to move on.

We made it to Gooch Gap and had to wait several hours for our shuttle. There apparently was some miscommunication last night when we set it up. That’s the life of the trail.

Watch Day 3 Video

Day 4 (Zero Day) & 5: Gooch Gap to Jarrard Gap

The weather on Day 4 was horrible with thunderstorms and rain all day, so we took a zero. A hiker was killed on a trail near the AT today when a tree fell on him. My two biggest fears while hiking the AT are a tree falling on me and catching Norovirus.

On day 5, we headed back to the trail, and it was a LONG day. In 2020, we hiked from Gooch Shelter to Jarrard Gap, and while I recall not arriving at camp until almost dusk, I don’t remember the climb from Lance Creek to Jarrard Gap being as exhausting as it was. I am 5 years older and 30 pounds heavier, so that probably had something to do with it lmao!

We went over Ramrock and Preaching Rock today. We didn’t get a view at Ramrock as it was still foggy, but Preaching Rock gave us a fantastic view! Finally a climb that had a view that made it worth it!

We finally arrived at camp and began setting up as it started to sprinkle. It was cold and wet. The wind was horrible all night long.

Watch Day 4 Video ||| Watch Day 5 Video

Day 6: Jarrard Gap to Stealth Site

Today was Blood Mountain Day! We woke up to wet and damp conditions and overcast. A couple of people that we have been hiking with since Day 1 have decided to call it quits. They were cold and miserable last night and just weren’t prepared for this kind of bipolar weather.

We began our two-mile ascent to the top of Blood Mountain. Thankfully, by the time we got to the top, the clouds had cleared, and it was a very cold but beautiful sunny day!

After hanging out for a while, we made our way down to Neel Gap to have the best frozen pizza of our lives before heading on to our campsite for the evening.

Watch Day 6 Video

Day 7: Stealth Site to Hogpen Gap

Today, we get to tackle Wildcat Mountain from the Tesnatee Gap side. I remember this from my 2020 attempt. It was horrible then, and I did my best to warn my Tramily. Spoiler alert, it was just as horrific the 2nd time around as it was the first! It’s a short climb but holy crap is it steep!!!!!

We made it to Hogpen where our shuttle driver was waiting to take us into Helen. The plan is to slackpack the 14 miles from Hogpen to Unicoi and then take a double zero to explore Helen and get some rest.

Watch Day 7 Video