Sun, Mar 16 2014 - Springer Mountain Loop (Advanced hikers) (View Original Event Details)
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As the day of our Springer Mountain Loop Hike got closer, the weather forecast became gloomier and gloomier. The normal hiker's instinct is to cancel and wait for a better day. But we had five very abnormal hikers who were not going to be deterred by a 100% rain forecast for the entire day. Chris, Paula and Hilke have an excuse because they are training for their upcoming backpacking trip through the Smokies in April. Bill and Bob didn't need an excuse to brave the elements as we hiked the approach to the beginning of the Appalachian Trail at a time when many thru-hikers are beginning their journey from Georgia to Maine.
The weatherman was completely accurate as we slogged over sixteen miles in the rain to Springer Mountain and back to Amicalola Falls via the Hike Inn. We met some thru-hikers on our journey. They seemed a bit hesitant. No doubt, their lack of confidence was due in part to their decision to start their journey on such a terrible day. We ate lunch at the Black Gap shelter, where we discovered that our waterproof clothing was anything but. There was a young college student who had climbed into his sleeping to fight off a chill, who told us he was going backpacking for the week. When we asked him how far he intended to go, he told us it didn't particularly matter as he planned on calling his parents to pick him up at the end of the week. Some things never change.
To avoid hyperthermia, we got moving shortly and reached the top of Springer Mountain, where we could see about 30 yards beyond the famous rock where the AT trail begins. We posed for a group picture with a waterproof camera, but water on the lens made the picture rather blurry. That was the only picture taken during the entire trip.
The return hike was brisk with the highlight, as it always is, but particularly so on this cold and rainy afternoon, a lenghty break at the Hike Inn. We enjoyed hot drinks, hot food and Paula and Hilke nestled up to the space heater in the dining room, causing steam to rise from their wet clothes. It was difficult for any of us to tear ourselves away from the luxuries of the Hike Inn, but eventually we did with a relatively uneventful hike out.
Everyone enjoyed the adventure. REI will undoubtedly sell us more raingear in the near future that will better protect us from the elements. And we all became a little smarter about how to dress for such conditions. Thanks to everyone for coming out for a terrific hike on such a miserable day.
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