A Tribute to Max
by Margaret Logan, May 18, 1992

For many a mile, up and down,
This man, who was not of great renown,
Has walked this famous Trail.
With aching joints and blisters he would prevail.
The trees, flowers, wild animals, and fresh air
Made him feel that he had not a care.
His family knew when the trail was on his mind
That he would find a way to join his own kind.

Now that he has gone to that long trail in the sky,
We know it's not necessary to ask, "Why?"
As a fitting tribute to Max, the man,
We want to dedicate this shelter so they all can
Share in his eternal joy,
Every man, woman, girl, and boy,
That this Trail may forever stand
A lasting tribute to a wonderful man - Max Epperson

7:45 pm

Had a dinner of Clam Chowder, crackers, mom's zucchini cake and canned pears.

Had three people figure out I am a long distance hiker since last entry and two read the trail log and saw my computer and figured me out quick.

One log entry cracked me up 'My pack is too heavy HELP!', I can see why, in the official register they ask pack weight and some had 90 lbs! Yea, I expect to see them down the trail.

Right now having a campfire, it is quiet since most of the day users are gone.

Campfire Ashes went in the first fire on the trail!!

---

Springer Mt. Shelter
Day: 1
Mileage: .2
04/15/96 6:54 pm

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
-8.3	Base of Amicalola Falls (2,150')...600+stairs	2150
-7.6	Amicalola Lodge Road (2,550')	2550
-7.4	+Len Foote Hike Inn Trail (2,600')	2600
-7.2	USFS 46 (2,580')...log steps on north side	2580
-5.6	High Shoals Road (2,800')	2800
-4	Frosty Mountain (3,382')	3382
-3.7	USFS 46, Frosty Mountain Road (3,192')	3192
-3.4	+Len Foote Hike Inn (3,310')	3310
-2.8	USFS 28, Nimblewill Gap (3,100')	3100
-1.8	Black Mountain (3,600')	3600
-1.5	Black Gap Shelter (3,300')...7.3mS; 1.9mN	3300
0	Springer Mountain (3,782')...A.T. bronze plaque, register in rock	3782
0.2	Springer Mountain Shelter(3,730')?1.9mS; 3mN Benton MacKaye Trail (southern terminus)	3730

Hiked 8.3 miles

Woke at 6:45am out of camp (with breakfast and all) at 8:00am not bad.

Pack weight is 57 lbs according to scale (w all food/ fuel and water).

At Black Gap shelter 12:28 pm to eat lunch and relax before Springer. Met my first hiking companion while stopped for lunch. We ended up hiking to Springer together.

When we got to Springer (and the 2 plaques and the FIRST WHITE BLAZE) at 2:30 just when it started to rain.

I am now sitting bull shitting with 4 other thru hikers and having a great time. People who understand the what's and why's!

I survived the first day!!

A poem from the Hostel:

Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein

There is a place where the sidewalk ends
And before the street begins,
And there the grass grows soft and white,
And there the sun burns crimson bright,
And there the moon-bird rests from his flight
To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black
And the dark street winds and bends.
Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow
We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And watch where the chalk-white arrows go
To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,
And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,
For the children, they mark, and the children, they know
The place where the sidewalk ends.

'96 Hike Map

next