Springer / N. Georgia Appalachian Trail Weekender

“Y'all figure out what time y'all can get to Amicalola Falls State Park. I'll adjust my schedule to match as much as possible. I won't be staying at the park (campground closed), but it's a good place to meet.”

“That's cool SS, we'll get down there as soon as we can. I would like to get there before rush hour in Chattanooga if any way possible. Have you found a place to stay/pitch a tent or hammock on Fri?”

“Thinking about just going ahead and doing the shuttle (car at Cooper Gap, car at FS42 .9 from Springer) if y'all can get to the Park before dark and camping Friday night on Springer. It's about a 25 minute walk to Springer from the road at FS42. I'm going to take Friday off and I can get to the Park by 6.
If Yam can't leave that early, we'll find a campground for late Friday night.
Still got a day or so to work the details out.”

“That sounds like a good idea, just what I was thinking about. Even if we can't get there early we could meet you there that night and shuttle over on our way back the next day, Sat. We have to pay a $2 per day fee to park anyway.”

“got your email. why don't you go ahead and plan on me not going, then if it works out that i can go, i'll contact you. i don't want to hold you up!!”

“I will prepare to go but I'm in no hurry. If you can make it give me a buzz. I need the company, or else I start singing to myself. I finally got my AC unit upstairs fixed, so thats one hurdle down.”

“will do karo!!!”

“hey karo--

if i end up going, it wouldn't be until saturday morning. i will get yelled at friday night if i'm not in town. :-(”

“wish i could join you all - hope you have an awesome time... :(”

“I guess yam cant make it, so I will leave early as I can Fri. Iwill go down as early as I can and check out the fishin. will meet you before dark at Springer. Still want steak, potatoes, and yeast rolls if so let me know before you go i will pick them up. I already have the rolls and potatoes. See ya there. will be up by 6:30 am to post before you go. I am loking forward to hiking and meeting you, Karo”

“Wish you could go too smokygirl!

Karo - Everthing's packed and I'll hit the road Friday morning.
We are going to have a ball.
Steaks sound great!
I'll meet you on top of Springer Mt. Friday sometime before dark.
I have emailed you my cell phone #.
Woo Hoo!”

“Sorry I'm so late getting back. I've been busier than the proverbial one-legged man...

No can do, but thanks for thinking of me. I'll be able to come up for air soon... I hope.”

“i dont know if youll see this, but im planning on going! if im not at cooper, ill see you at springer!”

“2scoops - Springer Mt tonight (Friday)
We'll shuttle a car to Cooper Gap Sat morning.
I'm leaving in a bit, so reply soon.”

“2scoops - If we don't meet up tonight on Springer, I'll assume you camped Friday night at Cooper Gap and I'll drive over to Cooper Gap Saturday morning.
The plan is to meet on Springer tonight (Friday).
I'll bring your stove with me.
You'll need a pot gripper and some alcohol.”

“I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW

i said i was going but then i checked my funds and there was no way i was going to have even enough for gas money, let alone have food to eat and gas to and from work the rest of the work

sorry for the schizophrenia, but i promise i will not pull this on rmnp. i have a three week check comin this week and its all going to the trip (well except my car payment)”

“I'm back from my solo backpack.
2scoops didn't show so I had no one to do the shuttle. After waiting at Cooper Gap for 2scoops a couple of hours, a guy shuttleing a scout troop offered to shuttle me back to Springer.
The Boy Scouts saved my trip.
Thank you Scouts!
Springer to Cooper Gap was a blast.
I love North Georgia, but the AT up Sassafras Mountain was designed by a true sadist. I now understand Bitpusher's comment!
Pictures to follow in a day or so.”

“StoveStomper - glad you had a good trip! I really am looking forward to doing that part of the trail soon. I wish I could have made it there this time. I'll catch up with you next time.”

“I hate I couldn't make it, but I had to be here for my daughter. Sounds like you had good trip anyway, thanks to the scouts. I was in the scouts and supported my son when he was in the scouts. I was on the local board of Boy Scouts and taught them CPR/first aid. My daughter was in the Girl Scouts until this year. Their Silver Award involved having an Organ Donor Awareness Day. They had several local celebrities showed up including Michael McDonald who signed my organ donor card. For those of you who don't remember he was the lead singer of the Doobie Brothers during much of the 70's and 80's. Can't wait to hear a full report on your trip and some pics. Maybe next time we will meet and hike.”

“Many thru-hikers' hopes have been dashed against Sassafras Mountain. It's a booger, even if it's got good switchbacks.”

“bit - About 3/4's of the way up, I was at the point of cursing the trail designer's children. ;)
That whole 4 mile section from Hightower to Cooper Gaps was a challenge. I did Springer to Cooper all in one short day. I had planned on an overnight at Hawk Mt but decided to keep on trucking just to see if I could do the 12 miles. I did Springer (FS42 parking lot) to Cooper Gap in about 6 & 1/2 hours.
I'll be ready for the Rockies in a couple of weeks!
Woo Hoo!”

“Cursing the trail designers was how I made it up that trail too. I find it to be just about the only thing that helps me make it to the tops of those hills...”

“well stove i feel horrible i didnt make it AND couldnt call you to tell you, but i had my long distance shut off some time ago. there is no way in hell, barring an emergency (and if there is, i will call) , i will bail on any more trips. i am very very very very sorry. i thought karo was going to make it. if i had known he was going to bail, too, i wouldve tried to go.”

“Well, since you feel horrible, I'm happy. ;)

If you bail on the Rockies trip I WILL hire a leg breaker or two!
I have nonrefundable air tickets.

You need to sent me your address to mail you your stove and to make sure I send the leg breakers to the correct guy.”

“<rubs crystal ball>

I see....a thread entitled:

DIE, 2SCOOPS, DIE!


<crystal ball fills with clouds again>”

“To bad neither of us could have made it. If I had gone you would have been welcome to come down to TN and rode down with me. My daughter turned out to be OK but I still had to stay around and keep an eye on her. Maybe we can make to up to Stove somehow. I would offer to make him a stove but I think he has plenty.”

“Glad your daughter is okay, karo.”