Springer Mountain to Stover Creek – 2.8 miles

March 4, 2018

My pack, with food and water weighs just a little over 12.25 kg or 27 pounds in freedom units and I gotta admit, I’m a little disappointed. I thought I could get it much lighter. The pack feels uncomfortably heavy when I first put it on, and my first thought was “uh-oh”.

I also started the trail a little later than I would have liked, mainly because I had not booked a shuttle to get there. Apparently most folk have this organised way, way in advance. To be fair, most of it had to be done on the phone which is why I left it until I was actually in the US, and to be honest sorting out things way in advance is not really my thing. Luckily Survivor Dave was able to help me out and he picked me up from North Springs Marta just before 12:00. “Are you my Ossie?”

He was a funny fellow, pretty gruff, and I found it hard to work out when he was taking the piss, until I figured out it was nearly 100% of the time. We picked up some other hikers who had decided last minute to hike the A.T. their packs where in the 50 pounds range, which made me feel a lot better about mine. I felt even betterer after Dave advised anything over 35 pounds is too damn heavy.

Dave’s driving on the mountain roads was an…experience. He was obviously pretty confident, but damn I was glad when we stopped. Who overtakes people on a mountain road, seriously? We arrived at Springer mountain carpark at 14:30 or thereabouts. And I set off to the top of Springer, which was only a mile away. But that 1 mile hike took a lot more effort than I would have liked and I was huffing and puffing in no time at all. I really hope the trail legs come in soon.

This was my first clue that “only a mile” can feel like a damn long way.

Reality sank in when I got to the summit, saw the sign and took in the view I had seen on so many vlogs. It was something else to see it for myself. I was actually here, I was doing this thing.

After many pics on the summit I took my first proper steps in the trail. It was a lot easier than the way up, and the other 1.8 miles to Stover Creek shelter were pretty gentle. I decided to rest up there for the night as the next shelter was Hawk Mountain and was another 5.3 miles away. I didn’t want to arrive after dark on my first night. Plus there was plenty of space at the shelter and folks were already working on getting a fire started.

My first meal on the trail

Stover Creek shelter

There was a good group of folks at the shelter. Some young folks, some old timers, and some inbetweeners like me. Some folk already had trail names, there was Clipper, Buck Solo, K2, Doo, and No Worries. Everyone was pretty excited to be there and we talked crap around the campfire well into the night.

The trail is about the people they say, and I’m beginning to see why.