Appalachian Trail

We did it!  We made it to both ends of the Appalachian Trail in the same year.  Ok, so we didn't hike everything in between but we still accomplished our goal of hiking to the northern and southern terminus of the AT.  And let me tell you...neither are just a walk in the park! 

Mount Katahdin - August 31, 2011 - Northern Terminus of the AT

 

 

 

Friday, November 25, 2011 - We started at the Visitor Center at Amicalola Falls State Park

That's a lot of miles to Maine!

 
Little did we know that during the first mile we would quickly climb a steep path and 600 stairs to the top of Amicalola Falls (At 729 feet, Amicalola Falls is the tallest cascade in the Southeast).

I think they are trying to scare everyone away with all of these warning signs.  It didn't work and it wasn't THAT bad!

Hike Inn is an Inn 5 miles in for those who like to hike but not sleep on the ground.  That's not for us!

 Ahhh...we made it to the top!

What a view and what a picture perfect day we had! 

We set up our stuff at our home for the evening, Springer Mountain Shelter.

Then we hiked back to the top of the mountain to enjoy a gorgeous sunset. 

At our shelter we shared company with several great people.  There was Troy and his son, Ethan, out on a 4 night boys trip and then there were 4 guys finishing the trail from Maine to Georgia in a little over 5 months.  The only visitors at the shelter we could have done without were the mice running across our sleeping pads all night long!  Pesky little buggers.  They even got to snack on Tom's bagel.

Southern Bound successful thru-hikers - Bullwinkle, Jonesey, DA and Turtle

What a great trip!

Til next time...happy trails!