A year has passed since the end of my journey. The hike to Springer Mountain was short and full of many memories. After leaving the Smokies, the number of NOBO (North bound) hikers grew daily. After reaching Georgia, a consistent stream of 50-60 Maine-bound hikers became the norm. Crowded trails, hostels, and shelters meant “the bubble” was here! My intention was to avoid the bubble, but now more people was the reality! Luckily, Miss Janet provided her wisdom in working with March starters: NOBO hikers gravitate to the shelters in the beginning.
In the Smokies, a hiker confirmed Ms. Janet’s observation and told me about a church property that allows camping under a pavilion located .2 miles off the trail. “Just look for the Shed and Cemetery sign at AT mile 6,” he advised. Yeah, it sounded odd to me at first too. The forecast for my last night on the trail was for half to three-quarters of an inch of rain, so a covered facility sounded like a good idea! I arrived at the Hickory Flatts Cemetery around 4pm and found a pit toilet, fire ring, and pavilion with a cemetery behind it. Enjoyed my last campfire on the AT and stayed dry under the pavilion, sleeping cowboy style (sleeping bag and air mattress without a tent), while the heavy rain poured overnight.
The last day was finally here! Awoke around 6 am and had my usual breakfast of oatmeal and peanut butter with a cup of instant coffee. The forecast called for a potential of half an inch of rain until 11am. The plan was to meet my wife, Margaret, around that time at the Springer Mountain parking lot.
I broke camp around 7:30 am and began hiking through a dense fog. Recently grown green leaves and emerging spring flowers surrounded the trail. I mentioned to the passing NOBO hikers that today was my summit day. One hiker got excited and said “Oh My God, you’re a SOBO! Right on.”
My thoughts were joyous while walking the final miles. I was overwhelmed with emotion when I reached the NC/GA border earlier that week, but today I was feeling a great sense of satisfaction. I thought “You never doubted yourself. You persisted and made it. You turned a layoff into an additional master’s degree and completing the Appalachian Trail.” I began thinking of the influencers of my life and what they would say if they were here.
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Mahatma Gandhi
(O’Donnell, 2015)
At last, I reached the Springer Mountain parking lot around 10:45 am and found a familiar sight: Miss Janet’s van! When I saw her at Woody Gap, I told Miss Janet my estimated day and meeting time with Margaret but wasn’t sure if Miss Janet would be there. Miss Janet took some pictures and wanted some of me with her dog, Dexter. I sat in Miss Janet’s van and listened to her give advice to hikers arriving in the parking lot. One hiker had a blue streak in her hair and blue themed outfit. Miss Janet suggested the hiker should have the trail name “Bluebird” and she decided to keep the trail name. I had not witnessed anyone else getting their trail name and in the last mile, the magic of the trial provided again!
Pictures: Miss Janet’s dog, Dexter! (right column); left column: Margaret and me in Springer Mountain parking lot, one mile from end(top); Miss Janet and her van, Bounce Box (Center); Bluebird and me, notice how refreshed Bluebird is at the begining of her hike and rugged I am at the end.
Margaret arrived around noon. The directions on Forest Service Road 42 were difficult to follow and Margaret got better directions from some Army Rangers doing training exercises in the area. We spent some time talking with Miss Janet and took some pictures. Finally, the time came to summit! The sun came out and the fog disappeared just like the day I climbed Mount Katahdin. We ran into Bluebird about .2 miles from the top after she officially began her journey. Miss Janet had taken some pictures of us walking away and a bystander, Drew Boswell, took photos of me reaching the summit when he realized what was going on. With Margaret’s photo and video with play-by-play, this short video covers the final .9 miles.
The hike was finally over! I wished my Mother was here. She had driven me to most of my camping adventures in Boy Scouts. My Aunt Donna would mention to my Mom in memory care that I was on an AT thru hike and occasionally she would talk about her Boy Scout memories.
I spent a few minutes going through the logbook to find other hiker’s entries. I signed “3/10 Turtleback finished his SOBO hike 6/30/22-3/10/22” with the quote “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees,” Henry David Thoreau.
O’Donnell, J. (2015, March 20). 22 quotes to inspire your thru-hike. The Trek. https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/22-quotes-to-inspire-your-thru-hike/
Pictures: Collage from the final white blaze and logbook. Celebration barbeque on bottom right. Bottom left are my boots, Merrell Moab 3. Orange laced waterproof boots used from Duncannon, PA SOBO mile 1044.8 to Springer Mountain mile 0. Darker brown boots used from Upper Gentian Pond SOBO mile 265.8 to Duncannon, PA SOBO mile 1044.8.
Turtleback’s AT Journey 