Amicalola Visitors Center, April 5
Here I am, just before donning the pack for the approach trail. There were scales at the back of the visitors center, where my pack weighed in at 65 lbs. I put the pack on and walked up to the first blue-blaze of the approach trail at 11:11 a.m. Even though the hike had begun, that approach trail leading up to the top of Springer is 8.1 miles. A day's worth of hiking before I would see my first white blaze atop Springer. Elevation=1850 ft.