Day 1-Amicalola Falls to Stover Creek on the Appalachian Trail

This is the first of my Appalachian Trail hiking. This is day one of a two-day hike. I have not done any long distance hiking since I was a Boy Scout. I felt pretty good about how well I handled the distance and the hike. Day 2 will be the hike back with a side trail trip to the Hike Inn, which added about two miles to my return hike.

BTW, made a few last minute changes so pack weight was right at 30 pounds

Day 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vILLSAor_nM

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• Amicalola
• Falls
• State
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• Stover
• Creek
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• Woodenarrows

[1377stick]

Wow...my wife and I were here about 2 weeks before this trip! It was our very first hike ever! That is how I remembered it...all green... :) Stover Creek is a really nice shelter. We stopped by there on our recent trip. I was quite impressed. Great video.

[Woodenarrows]

@1377stick Ya, Stover Creek is a big shelter, especially compared to Springer. I really think most who start at Amicalola Falls probably pass up the Springer shelter and stop at Stover Creek which would be 10.5 miles. Hawk Mtn as you know is another 5.1 miles (16.4 from Amicalola Falls), maybe too far for most on the first day. Of course the best accommodations in that area is the lodge at Amicalola Falls :-))

[ennis437]

I always wondered where you pitch a tent on the AT, are there designated areas? or just at the shelter sites?

[Woodenarrows]

@ennis437 That's one of the cool things about the AT. With the exception of the Smokey Mountain National Park (must use designated campsites) and I think a few locations in Maine, you can pitch a tent anywhere you need to. Of course you can pitch at the shelters too. Shelters are typically located every 7-12 miles and provide a privy, water access and food bag hanging. That's why I was not concerned about my distance on this hike, I was carrying a tent so I could stop whenever I needed to.

[HogTusk09]

thats good you people like the outdoors , but think this is a new adventure that you stubbled upon , "First Americans" probably knew this trail , waaaayyy! before the first illgel immigrants came to this very spot. Some idiot that was lost! found IT and "OF COURSE!" claimed he "DISCOVERED! I'M USING THE WORD DISCOVERED!" .

[afterthefox7]

DAVID CARRADINE

[DigitalCard]

very nice ,,, good job hiking at your age. i hope i can still hike when i get older.

id like hiking solo too.

[Woodenarrows]

I am semi-retired; work retail, on my feet, 3 days a week. Ive carried a pedometer for a couple of years now. It reads 5-8 miles consistently, occasionally as high as 12 miles on a shift so my retail job is basically my conditioning tool.

If you are wondering if you can do this, try a short 3-5 mile hike with a fully loaded pack at a local state park. If your body says go, then your biggest challenge after that will be knowing your hike and being prepared for the trail. You can do it.

[Woodenarrows]

I am 62 years old. I did no special preparation other than a couple of 3-5 miles hikes to see how my body reacted. Those went well so I felt comfortable I could do this. I also had a shelter with me so I could stop anywhere if I needed to. I do not smoke or drink (used too but havent done either for many years now).

[buddydog1956]

how old are you? what physical preparations did you do and for how long before you undertook this task?