Day 1

Approach trail complete!!! I had breakfast with my Warrior Expeditions group then we shuttled down to Amicalola Falls. I still can’t believe it’s real. I walked the 8.8 mile approach trail with a 37 lb pack and I feel great. My feet are a little sore but my body feels surprisingly good. I almost cried when I got to the top of SpringerMountain, the official beginning of the AT, and touched the first white blaze, signifying to official beginning of the Appalachian Trail.

Met up with the rest of the WE group and hiked .2 miles to the shelter, set up camp, sat around, ate dinner and filtered water as the most rolled onto the mountain. Magical. Then I got into my tent moments before the rain started! Tomorrow is about a 12 mile day and I can’t wait to get up and do this again every day for the next 150 days ?

The rain and a gentle thunder in the distance, along with my 15 degree sleeping bag and 30ish degree weather are making for the coziest sleeping environment ever. This is why I’m doing this!

Song of choice for today: idioteque by Radiohead (this is really happening!)