Yesterday 3/7/21 got a shuttle ride to Amicalola State Park in. Signed in with AMC Georgia Volunteer just weighed pack not very much else. Expected a large crowd but wasn’t found. Went into the Visitor center to get some water and they had a display of stuffed animals including a bear which piper barked at. We then went to the classic entrance gate to the approach Trail and we were taking pictures and a volunteer offered to take our pictures and I inadvertently dropped piper‘s leash and she bolted. This has never happened before. We couldn’t find piper for about 15 minutes and I was in total panic mode. Finally walking up the hill a few hundred yard she came to us. What a Great way to start our journey. Piper had no problems going up the 280 something stairs which were a metal grate to the top of the Falls which were spectacular. Reportedly the largest falls in Georgia. Lots of locals day tourists so Piper was good mostly walking on a leash. We got to the classic Appalachian trail started point once it’s finished the approach Trail and took a picture there as well as the first white rectangular trail marker. Hiking was hard. We stayed at the Springer Mountain shelter where initially it looked like they were just a few people but the next day found there there was a lot more tents set up at the actual shelter. It was quite cold eight set up the tent and I tied her new down quilt/jacket to her and she wanted to get out of the tent. I left part of the door open and around 9 o’clock she bolted from the tent she came right back to me but had come back into the tent and I noticed there were down feathers all through the tent. I couldn’t believe it she had torn the down jacket and down feathers went loose inside the tent and on most of all the things. Taped up the jacket. Got a late start. Allen has been great and a true brother and friend. I know he must be sick of me but he doesn’t show it. Hike went well and camped for the night and Piper is doing better

Yesterday 3/7/21 got a shuttle ride to Amicalola State Park. Signed in with AMC Georgia Volunteer just weighed pack not very much else. Expected a large crowd but wasn’t found. Went into the Visitor center to get some water and they had a display of stuffed animals including a bear which piper barked at. We then went to the classic entrance gate to the approach Trail and we were taking pictures and a volunteer offered to take our pictures and I inadvertently dropped piper‘s leash and she bolted. This is never happened before. We couldn’t find piper for about 15 minutes and I was in total panic mode. Finally walking up the hill a few hundred yard she came to us. What a Great way to start our journey. Piper had no problems going up the 280 something stairs which were a metal grate to the top of the Falls which were spectacular. Reportedly the largest falls in Georgia. Lots of local to worse and Piper was good mostly walking on a leash. We got to the classic Appalachian trail started point once it’s finished the approach Trail and took a picture there as well as the first white rectangular trail marker. Hiking was hard. We stayed at the Springer Mountain shelter where initially it looked like they were just a few people but the next day found there there was a lot more tents set up at the actual shelter. It was quite cold eight set up the tent and I tied her new down quilt/jacket to her and she wanted to get out of the tent. I left part of the door open and around 9 o’clock she bolted from the tent she came right back to me but had come back into the tent and I noticed there were down feathers all through the tent. I couldn’t believe it she had torn the down jacket and down feathers went loose inside the tent and on most of