On February 28th 2020 there was light snow, a little rain and a lot of anticipation.
This was the beginning of one of the biggest, scariest adventures we have entered into… so far.
After being spoilt by the hospitality of Rochelle, we set off for our Appalachian Trail adventure.We were so nervous and excited as we entered the approach trail that we hardly felt the snow and cold.
After our stop at the top of Springer Mountain, we were officially on the Appalachian Trail.
The air was getting colder as the evening approaching, we were still walking for our first miles on the official trail, to the first shelter.
It was a big day of firsts. Our first long hike, our first night camping in snow and our first meeting of our awesome trail buddies Donna and Bob.
The days were sometimes long, sometimes wet, sometimes windy and always hilly. We were surprised at the variations in ground surfaces in such short periods. The landscape changing around every corner.
We loved the climbs, as they burnt our lungs and legs and we were very lucky to get some fantastic views. We missed just as many views as well, due to the fog and rain.
The highs were
- The views
- The nature
- The company
- The freedom
- The beauty
The lows were
- The rain
- The cold
- Some people
- The pandemic
With heavy, freezing cold, hearts we succumbed to external pressures and abandoned the hike, due to COVID.
The stresses of the pandemic on society were to great and although we attempted to continue, to support those small communities and local businesses, the fear mongering and lack of services made it impossible for us, at the time.
As we started in the snow on our first day it was quite fitting that we finished in the snow on our last day.
It was an amazing adventure and we will be back and we will continue.
Videos of our hike
Our Photo Gallery
One of the most beautiful sections on the early #appalachiantrail
Between Davenport Gap and Standing Bear Farm.
This section was a mile long and took us over an hour, simply because we had to keep stopping to appreciate the beauty 😍
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#at2020 #at2020thruhike
Day 31 of the #at2020thruhike
Cosby Knob Shelter to Standing Bear Farm
Last “official” day on the hike.... for now.
With the thunder, lightning and threat of showers looming. We were not expecting the spectacular day that we got. Rain pants and jackets were shed early and the sun dried us up and brightened the day. Just after the ceremonial post of our Smokies permit into the end of section box, we came across the sign explaining the closure.
#at2020thruhike
Day 30 on the #at2020thruhike
Tricorner Knob Shelter to Cosby Knob Shelter
Nice and easy 7ish miles. Again so pretty that the steep climbs seemed to melt away.
Day 29 on the #at2020thruhike
Icewater Spring Shelter to Tricorner Knob Shelter
Fantastic day, high mountains, incredible views. Not too shabby a hike
Day 28 on the #at2020thruhike
Mt Collins Shelter to Icewater Spring Shelter
Another beautiful day. The nature was on show, we even got to see a squirrel.
Day 27 on the #at2020thruhike
Silers Bald Shelter to Mt Collins Shelter
Mountains and milestones. The weather was incredible. It was such a beautiful day. The Smoky Mountains showed us its best side. Fantastic views, stunning nature and the concrete space station looking Clingmans Dome.
We got to see why the Smokies got their name, the clearest view can be gone in seconds when the fog comes over like a sea of smoke. Amazing!
Day 26 on the #at2020thruhike
Derricks Knob Shelter to Silers Bald Shelter
The coldest, wettest, most miserable day yet. The wind was howling and freezing and the rain was heavy and constant
Day 25 on the #at2020thruhike
Mollies Ridge Shelter to Derricks Knob Shelter
A long hard wet cold day but the scenery, again was beautiful. The strangest plants, from fluorescent fungi to trees from Horton hears a who
Day 24 on the #at2020thruhike
Fontana Dam to Mollies Ridge Shelter
The extremes from the concrete dam to the high mountain views. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder
Not so sure the colour of my new @saucony Peregrines gives me the street cred of a #atthruhiker, but how cute do they look with my awesome @trailgaiters 😊💕🏃🏽♀️
#at2020thruhike
Day 23 on the #at2020thruhike
Zero miles walked at #fontanalodge
Big day of catching up on stuff and relaxing
Day 22 on the #at2020thruhike
Cable Gap Shelter to Fontana Dam
The lovely sunny morning soon turned into a drizzly day. Strangely humid, not too cold but a very damp pretty day.
Day 21 on the #at2020thruhike
What a most glorious day! Sunshine, rolling hills (mostly), short hike, short day and the cutest little shelter and camp spot to relax all afternoon.
Day 20 on the #at2020thruhike
Sassafras Gap Shelter to Brown Fork Shelter
Nature is amazingly resilient. Why let the rock hamper your growth, when you can move around it. Compromise at its best 😊
The most mentally challenging day (for Steve) yet. Started bright and early for a straight up hill and down the other side complimented with wet slippery rocks and extremely high drop offs. Again it was so pretty.
Day 19 in between showers on the #at2020thruhike
NOC to Sassafras Gap Shelter
Another very wet and challenging day of up and ups. But wow so beautiful.
Day 18 on the #at2020thruhike
Another foggy start that cleared up by lunch time. Then came the knife edge hikes. The photos do not show the sheer drops off each side of the mountain. A bit of boulder hopping to get down to the NOC
Day 16 on the #at2020thruhike
Winding Stair Gap to Siler Bald Shelter
Another cold rainy start but it soon cleared for another beautiful day.
#nthcarolina is so stunning and changes so much on every mile.
You could never get bored in nature 😄
Day 15 on the #at2020thruhike
Today we did nothing 😄
Our first zero miles of hiking day and a busy day in Franklin
Day 14 on the #at2020thruhike
Long Branch Shelter to Winding Stair Gap.
The newest and fanciest shelter and a nice surprise of trail magic at Rock gap. There were a bunch of people waiting with Burger King breakfasts for us all. To top off a very wet and fantastic day, we got a ride into Franklin for a dry out and warm bed 😊
Day 12 part 2 of the #at2020thruhike
From the beauty to the incredible. This was by far the most technical, scary and hardest climb yet. But wow. You can see forever up on #albertmountainfiretower
And.... it was our milestone 💯mile on the trail! 🥳
Day 12 part 1 on the #at2020thruhike
I had to seperate these posts as the day was so amazing with totally different aspects.
These first photos are the epitome of the beauty on the trail. Nature is incredible, so vast and changing. After yesterday’s fog, rain and poor visibility, we were treated with the sunshine and all the colours and happiness it brings.
@sunshineloubylou you would love it!
Day 11 on the #at2020thruhike
Muskrat Creek Shelter to Carter Gap Shelter
Climbed to 5435ft over Standing Indian Mountain. Absolutely awesome. No views anywhere. Only photo of the day as it was so wet and foggy.
Day 10 ONE STATE DOWN 🥳 on the #at2020thruhike
Plumorchard Gap Shelter to Muskrat Creek Shelter
Day 9 on the #at2020thruhike
Sassafras Gap to Plumorchard Gap Shelter
The sun is out but had no warmth. It was cold enough to freeze the water as it poured from the bag
Day 8
Lunch at Tray Shelter on the #at2020thruhike
Unicoi Gap to Sassafras Gap
Day 7 on the #at2020thruhike
Blue Mountain Shelter to Unicoi Gap
Day 6 White Oak Stamp to Blue Mountain Shelter on the #at2020
Rainy and miserable but found the the most beautiful Low Gap Shelter for lunch and was rewarded by this beautiful scenery.
#at2020thruhike
Day 5 Neels Gap to White Oak Stamp on the #at2020thruhike
Just a little bit further to go 🤣
Day 4 Blood Mountain Shelter
Woody Gap to Neels Gap on the #at2020thruhike
Day 3 on the #at2020nobo
Gooch Mountain Shelter to Woody Gap
#at2020thruhike
Day 2 Appalachian Trail
Blue skies and soft ground... for a little while.
Stover Creek Shelter to Hawk Mountain shelter.
#at2020thruhike
Off to a warm start. The first mile of the Appalachian Trail
#at2020thruhike
Springer Mountain. Starting point of the Appalachian Trail
#at2020thruhike
Amicolola Arch to the AT adventure
#at2020thruhike