April 13th: Amicalola Lodge to Stover Creek Shelter

Here! Out here on the Trail! 

I'm finally, finally here.

Amanda and I said goodbye at the top of the waterfall where we left off yesterday. I hiked the rest of the Approach Trail and the first couple miles of white blazes. I'm in the later fraction of the bubble so although I aimed to avoid the madness of late March, I still thought it would feel crowded, but I saw almost no one. My feet felt good, my pack only felt slightly too heavy, and my morale was high. The Approach Trail wasn't easy, but it was easier than I expected. I was soon a sweaty mess, but alone in the woods, panting as I hiked up the mountain, I smiled until my face hurt.