Quite the colorful shuttle guy was there at Fontana Dam waiting for us as promised. Two minutes later we were in his car being shuttled down the 108 miles via the roads to Springer to be dropped off for the start of our 165mile by mountain trail hike back.
Alpine was his name and he talked a good game the entire way. Hiked the AT a couple
times and runs this shuttle service. Says it's quite good money hauling people in and even more people out after a couple days of reality setting in. March and April he says he's running from sunup to sundown all tax free.
He dropped us off on a dirt forest service road a mile below Springer shelter which was to be our destination for the night. After a hike up picking our way through heavy fog- tricky in that Dan's headlamp was missing in action. Made it by sticking close together and him shadowing my steps. Poked around in the woods to find quick sleep setup a couple 00ft from the shelter. We crashed but not much real sleep for either of us as we now throw ourselves into new elements.
In the morning we could see this shelter had about 15 people at it. All good natured largely young people's quite the eclectic bunch from a single girl fresh in from San Francisco to an 20ish army ranger on 3 month leave with 55lbs on his back. Said it was light compared to being on detail when he carries 100lb. We did pass him though so I guess us old dogs can still hunt.
Today's trek took us from a fogged in Springer where we signed the log book to about a mile past Gooch Gap shelter. Up and down the entire route from about 3000 to 4000ft elve.
Each of us started day one with eating a with a double oatmeal, granola through the day and a double mountain meal dinner- not enough
Bedding down now 7:30 hiker midnight
17miles
Alpine was his name and he talked a good game the entire way. Hiked the AT a couple
times and runs this shuttle service. Says it's quite good money hauling people in and even more people out after a couple days of reality setting in. March and April he says he's running from sunup to sundown all tax free.
He dropped us off on a dirt forest service road a mile below Springer shelter which was to be our destination for the night. After a hike up picking our way through heavy fog- tricky in that Dan's headlamp was missing in action. Made it by sticking close together and him shadowing my steps. Poked around in the woods to find quick sleep setup a couple 00ft from the shelter. We crashed but not much real sleep for either of us as we now throw ourselves into new elements.
In the morning we could see this shelter had about 15 people at it. All good natured largely young people's quite the eclectic bunch from a single girl fresh in from San Francisco to an 20ish army ranger on 3 month leave with 55lbs on his back. Said it was light compared to being on detail when he carries 100lb. We did pass him though so I guess us old dogs can still hunt.
Today's trek took us from a fogged in Springer where we signed the log book to about a mile past Gooch Gap shelter. Up and down the entire route from about 3000 to 4000ft elve.
Each of us started day one with eating a with a double oatmeal, granola through the day and a double mountain meal dinner- not enough
Bedding down now 7:30 hiker midnight
17miles
 |
| my hammock with under quilt |
 |
| Dan packed up and ready to hike |
 |
| Official AT starting point on Springer Mountain |
 |
| Official AT starting point on Springer Mountain |
