Day 1 - March 5, 2025

It's finally here! And the weather is not great. We had 1 1/2 inches of rain fall quite dramatically in the middle of the night. And although the morning was crisp and not entirely unpleasant, Bob knew he was facing 40 MPH winds, a tornado watch and below freezing temps for his first night. Nevertheless, you can see from his very clean, nicely shaven and happy face, that he is excited and ready to go.

After a hearty breakfast at the lodge, he did his final pack check and we loaded the car so I could take him to the path just above the waterfall we had hiked the day before. Some people get dropped off at dirt road about 6 miles beyond that point (and about a mile from the official Springer Mountain start). In fact, I met a couple in the lobby who were about to start their journey that way. But that road is gravel and narrow and Bob didn't want to subject me and my car to that journey (or himself to being a passenger for that journey). And I appreciate it! We did drive on it a little ways until we found a place to turn around so I could drop him and depart. It was very narrow indeed.

Fun steps! Note the bear warning sign.

We took a moment to capture a quick picture (not my best work) showing him fully laden in front of his first task for the day - steps! And we took one final selfie, and then he was off. It's amazing how quickly he disappeared into the trees on the winding uphill path.

"I love you!" we shouted. And then I popped into my nice warm car, with the heated seat turned on and I left him. Alone in the woods. It felt a lot like leaving the kids at daycare the first time. I should mention that two weeks is the longest we have ever been apart in the 39 years we have been together. But he wants to do this so of course I am going to support him (and be his blogger).