Appalachian Trail 2019, Day 1: Amicalola to Springer Mountain

In May of 2019 I set off on a section hike of the Appalachian Trail, starting the traditional way - at Amicalola Falls State Park, climbing the approach trail up to the official southern terminus at Springer Mountain. It's not technically part of the AT itself, but almost everyone starts here, and after day one I understood why it's such a rite of passage. Watch the video below, then read on for how the day actually went.

Getting to the Trailhead

I flew into Atlanta and stayed the night before at a hotel that, honestly, I wouldn't recommend - pretty dirty and not a great start. But I grabbed breakfast in the city the next morning while I waited on my ride. I'd taken the MARTA train from the airport up to the Sandy Springs area, and from there an Uber ran me about $65 out to Amicalola. Uber worked well for this and I'd recommend it if you're doing the same trip. I rolled up to the park around 9am under genuinely amazing weather - about as good a start as you could ask for.

The Approach Trail's Infamous Stairs

Right after leaving the arch at Amicalola Falls, the approach trail throws over 600 stone steps at you, climbing alongside the falls. One thing I noticed right away - no trekking poles allowed on the stairs, and honestly, that makes sense. With that many hikers poking metal tips into stone steps all season, the treads would wear down fast. So poles stayed strapped to my pack until I cleared the staircase, then I switched over to using them for the rest of the climb.

This was actually my first time ever hiking with trekking poles, despite plenty of day hikes over the years. I was sold almost immediately - they take a noticeable amount of strain off your knees and legs on the climbs, and just as much going downhill. Small gear change, big difference.

Climbing With a Loaded Pack

About four miles into the approach trail I'd already met some good folks on the climb, and according to the video description, Hunter and Grit - a couple of thru-hikers making their way north - were among the hikers I crossed paths with that day. There was a lot of climbing early on, which is exactly what you'd expect starting at Amicalola. Good cardio going uphill with close to 30 pounds on my back, especially after topping off water at a parking lot near the top of the stairs, which pushed my pack weight up even further.

From Waterfalls to Deep Woods

The early miles - the stairs and the sections right around them - come with some genuinely great views: waterfalls up close and distant mountains stretching out beyond the falls. Once you're past that stretch, though, the trail settles into a quieter rhythm - just walking through the woods. I actually loved that shift, especially the patches of newer forest with smaller trees. There's something neat about watching the landscape change like that over just a few miles.

Reaching Springer Mountain

I made it to the summit of Springer Mountain before 3pm, joining a small crowd of other hikers who'd gathered at the top. There's a log book tucked behind a rock and a couple of plaques marking the spot - the official start of the Appalachian Trail. Everyone was snapping photos, and I got to do the same before finally taking my first steps onto the actual AT. After a solid day of climbing from Amicalola, standing at that terminus felt like a real accomplishment - and just the beginning. I spent the night at Springer Mountain Shelter, ready for day two.