Woke up to pouring rain so decided to sleep in at the motel and then took our time at a coffee shop before finally heading to the Springer Mt trailhead. Thanks so much to our friends Doug and Lynda who drove us yesterday from the airport and today to the trail. It was already about 2pm by the time we got to the plaque at the southern terminus so we only hiked a few miles further and tented near the crowded Stover Creek shelter along with a couple dozen other folks also on their first day of their hikes.