Appalachian Trail Day 2

03-01-01 Day 2 2:01 PM

7.6 miles, AT – 7.6 .2 to Shelter

Springer Mtn Shelter Hawk Mtn.

After I wrote yesterday, I saw some White Breasted Nuthatches and Chickadees. Bedtime was 7 PM. I didn’t sleep much. Phil, a gentlemen in his late 50’s/early 60’s, was snoring. Phil had fell five times due to a prior stroke. He hit his head and wanted to go to the hospital today. I would have been proud to be a family member in the fact he was attempting the trail. Phil moved real slow, had a sling for his arm, not much movement in his right arm and wore an ankle support. Josh, a thru-hiker hiking with his wife, walked him back to find him a ride.

Appalachian Trail Day 2 - Springer Mtn - Hawk Mtn

Springer Mtn. Shelter

I didn’t warm my water enough and it got cold fast. Didn’t brush yet, I keep forgetting. I left camp around 8:45 AM and made it the 7.8 miles to he Hawk Mountain Shelter by 12:30 PM. So today will be another day of kicking back. I washed up a bit and hung some clothes out.

Tomorrow is supposed to bring rain. It’s sunny now probably in the 60’s. I saw my first trail Angel. He was an old gentlemen in his sixties. He gave me a Pepsi. He had hiked last year.

The rhododendron plants were incredible today. Some were twenty feet high! I saw holly trees six inches around. Plenty of streams today and huge hemlocks, almost 150 feet high! Easy hike but much more to come.

I didn’t see much in the way of animals. Just some chickadees and crows. The falls at Long Creek were very impressive.