He's On His Way
By MrsJ
@SophiaMorros (5044)
Belews Creek, North Carolina
April 7, 2019 5:39pm CST
Yesterday morning, my husband and I delivered our oldest child to Amicalola Falls State Park in the woods of North Georgia.
OverAchiever (at some point he will end up with a trail name, but until someone else gives him an appropriate moniker I’ve chosen one for my own use) registered in the log book and then was instructed in how to properly hang his food bag at night and a few other important details about spending time in the wilds of the Appalachian Mountains.
His pack was weighed (35 lbs) and he received his official Appalachian Trail Hiker number and then was sent on his way.
For reasons that I don’t entirely understand, the official terminus of the southern end of the Appalachian Trail is 8.5 miles up a mountain from the trail check-in point. My son had a good four hours or so of hiking ahead of him before he would officially be on the trail.
I’m curious to see how he’s going to handle the challenges that face him in the weeks and months to come.
10 people like this
11 responses
@Nevena83 (66063)
• Serbia
8 Apr 19
@SophiaMorros He's already big, I'm sure he will manage.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
@Nevena83 he's been on his own for a while now. But that doesn't stop me from the urge to mother him.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
The joys of being young and having no responsibilities.
@teresatrotter (4073)
• Jacksonville, Florida
8 Apr 19
@SophiaMorros - Those days are long gone...that's for sure. LOL
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
7 Apr 19
I hope it's a great experience for him! =)
2 people like this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
It's gonna be a great character building endeavour.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24028)
• United Kingdom
8 Apr 19
How old is he to do such a thing. I don't think I would like to do that especially knowing about the snakes in NC
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24028)
• United Kingdom
8 Apr 19
@SophiaMorros They creep me out something terrible. I stayed with friends in NC We went up to the mountains but they told their family they were under strict instructions not to tell me about the snakes. When the son in law came and he told me the mountain was alive with rattlesnakes I felt physically sick! I had me eyes firmly fixed to the ground the whole time!
I hope he has a great time and is safe!
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
He's 24. Snakes are a fact of life in the south. You get used to watching for them.
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@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
@garymarsh6 I've seen snakes on the trail, but I've also seen snakes in my own back yard. I try to give them all a wide berth (most are harmless).
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
11 Apr 19
@SophiaMorros I'm sure he will.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
I hope he grows up a little in the process!
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
8 Apr 19
This frightens me, with poisonous snakes throughout those wooded areas. Yet, your son has been trained and I'm sure he's prepared for any kind of danger, that might come along. It will be better, once he's with the other guys on this venture. There's safety in numbers!:)
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
8 Apr 19
@SophiaMorros I'd be worried sick about my son, if he was driving on the highway! Hiking in the wild isn't dangerous, unless a person has an undiagnosed health issue, prior to the hiking trip.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
@kobesbuddy my kids are in God's hands. My worrying about them won't accomplish anything except make me miserable.
2 people like this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
There's an average of 30 thru hikers starting every day at the moment. And countless day hikers and section hikers. The odds of him being alone for any length of time in the first 400+ miles are pretty slim.
Statistically there are 2-3 fatalities on the trail a year (out of over 4000 thru hikers who start. Most if them are middle aged men who die of heart failure.
He's probably safer on the trail than driving on the highway.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
That's almost exactly how I feel about it!
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
I'd like to section hike over an extended period of time. I don't think I've got it in me to thru-hike.
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
8 Apr 19
We will be following his journey. Hoping he has good weather and not too many bugs.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
8 Apr 19
@SophiaMorros that isn't a great start....wet feet aren't fun.
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@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
It looks like he's starting off with a week of rain. 
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
8 Apr 19
Did he take a cell phone with him?
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
Yes, he did. He's got to have some way to stay in touch with his girlfriend. 
So far he's had minimal cell reception (I finally got a location update this afternoon) and I suspect that's a problem he's going to be dealing with along the entire trail. Especially in Maine. There is NO cell service for anyone west of the I-95 corridor in Maine. None.
So far he's had minimal cell reception (I finally got a location update this afternoon) and I suspect that's a problem he's going to be dealing with along the entire trail. Especially in Maine. There is NO cell service for anyone west of the I-95 corridor in Maine. None.
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
He's aiming to do it in 100 days.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
8 Apr 19
@SophiaMorros
That is a long time. I hope he likes it.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
8 Apr 19
@Hannihar It does seem like a long time, but most people who thru-hike the Appalachian trail plan on about 6 months for the trek. He's aiming to do it in just over half that amount of time.
1 person likes this
