Springer Mountain is the very beginning of the Appalachian Trail (AT).

The drive up the mountain to the parking area took longer and was more treacherous than the hike. We were low on gas and I was getting quite nervous that we were never going to make it there and back with what we had left. Our poor friends knocked the undercarriage cover of their car loose and we had to stop and help them fix it. I can see why people would rather do the more strenuous hike from the bottom rather than drive closer in to the top. Since we have been in such a horrible drought the dirt forest roads were dustier than normal. I had to wash my car twice after this trip and I still had some dirt on it.

Inside the rock is metal mailbox containing the hiker log. It was cool to see what all the through hikers were writing in it.

My daughter climbed up the tree to get a better view but soon fled for her life as the summit is covered in bees.

Best Friends 4 life!

Our hiking crew

I am so glad we did this before the brush fires ruined all of the Blue Ridge and Southern Appalachian mountains for fall camping and hiking.