The magnitude of this undertaking is starting to sink in. Reading about the Appalachian Trail is one thing, actually hiking it is another. I met my shuttle driver Survivor Dave, I guess it was his trail name. At least i hope so. Survivor Dave spent most of his adult life as a chef. Now he shuttles hikers to and from a number of different points along the AT. As we made our way to Amicalola he filled me in with the inside scoop about the different personalities and businesses involved with the AT. I had a feeling i was entering a different world with its own unique list of celebrities and personalities. We arrived at the Amicalola visitor center at 3pm knowing i was already behind schedule. I was supposed to arrive at the visitor center and hike 5 miles to the Len Foote Inn. The problem was that to hike to Len Foote you had to leave before 2pm because of the amount of daylight left and not wanting hikers stranded in between the visitor center and the inn. I was deflated. Thankfully something good happened to me. The park ranger called and received permission for me to hit the trail. I talked to the inn keeper and he told me dinner was at six and they would keep a plate for me. It was exciting to finally, after months, even years, of dreaming and planning this I was getting one step closer. O.K. maybe more than one step. Remember folks, Amicalola is not the start of the AT. Amicalola is the starting point for the approach trail to the start of the AT at the top of Springer Mountain.
Regardless, my day was looking up. After a few miles with my pack on I started to feel things that the books can't really convey. Exhaustion. Thankfully my adrenaline was still pretty high. After a few miles i heard the Len Foote before i saw it. They ring the dinner bell to let everyone know dinner is ready. It's an amazing place The southern hospitality and rustic appearance was just as one would have expected from a place like this. The first thing i thought was that i had to bring Emma and Sara back here one day. The group there was small. The southern cooked meal was prepared by Cathy. I'm hooked on her corn pudding and peach cobbler. This was the night of the killer storm barreling through the south eastern part of the U.S. They woke us up at around 10pm to head down to a cellar type room because of the possibility of tornadoes and high winds. A minor inconvenience considering i could be atop a mountain totally exposed. I'm hitting the trail tomorrow in earnest. The real deal. My first step on the AT. Next stop Hawk Mountain Shelter. That's all for now. I'm taking my Advil and heading to bed. Love you Emma and Sara. No bears yet girls
Part of Len Foote Hike Inn
Dinner Bell
Cathy's Homemade Peach Cobbler
Cathy the Chef!
Thought the sign was cool
