We begin our AT hike!

Well - tomorrow's the day!  We will drive to Dahlonega, GA tomorrow 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 definately 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.

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 walking 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

2 pair of BCG 100% polyester shorts and pullover shirt.  Quick dry and very comfortable. Also more affordable than other brands

2 Underarmour sports bras on sale for $19.99 each

AT elevation

OMG - Can we do this?  I have created a spreadsheet of the elevation ups and downs on the Georgia section of the AT.  Ugggghhh!  some of them mountains are pretty high!  that wouldn't be so bad, if the valleys weren't so low, I guess!  but we have to go from one to the other several times...........

Catch up

It's been awhile since I have posted - a lot has happened since March.  I've been through the valley and on the mountaintop - but mostly in the valley.  Thank God I have found that even the valley is higher ground than some of the places I have been in my life.  It is in the valley that God can refresh our soul and renew our spirit. 

Now onward and upward!!  Forgetting the past and looking forward to the future - I have a new goal!  Hiking the Appalachian Trail, baby!   It is something that I have often thought about in the past when my family occasionally crossed the AT on our camping adventures together.  It was brought back to my remembrance recently in a conversation with a friend who had been hiking and I thought "Why not?  It's now or never!"

So - we got right busy and began to plan our first trip - my hubby and I.  We have started our training, walking with our hiking boots on with our loaded backpacks - man, do we ever look funny to our neighbors, I'm sure. 
The first day - slow and WOE!
Second day - slow and MOE! I'm SOE!
Each day a little more until we can take off and GO!

We even have our trail names, since I have been studying how to do this and found out that people typically do not use their real name on the trail but choose something that is appropriate for them.

He's "Wait-up" and I'm "Catch-up"  ha ha, cause that's what we say to each other as he is walking 3 feet in front of me! 

This adventure will be good for us in many ways.