|
ARC: Etc: Arts: Marketing as Life: Appalachian Trail, Southern Terminus, signs for the through-hiker
ARContribution by George M. Zinkhan
“Appalachian Trail, Southern Terminus, signs for the through-hiker”
From Amicalola Falls, it is a meandering
(and blue-blazed) seven-mile hike to
the peak of Springer Mountain.
There, a bronze plaque, placed in 1964,
marks the spot where the
Appalachian Trail begins
and then winds for another two thousand one hundred
and seventy-two miles (on a white-blazed trail),
coming to an end at the peak of Katahdin Mountain, Maine.
There is a cherished ritual among through-hikers.
With a studied, inner intensity,
they reverently select a rock or pebble
from the top of Springer and carry it,
dutifully and doggedly, to the peak of Katahdin.
As a result, pebbles and rocks are
a scarce commodity, all around
the apex of Springer Mountain.
Many hikers experience an urge to camp out –
on the spot –
after completing the formidable trudge from Amicalola.
Thus, a sign is nailed to a tree
to describe the dangers
associated with local lightening strikes.
Far-sighted trail planners have provided
a safer place to camp – away from the peak –
in a sheltered lee of the mountain.
At the campsite, featured amenities include: picnic tables,
a wooden shelter, a trench latrine, prepared tent sites, high
wires to thwart hungry bears, and more.
Inside the shelter, a former hiker has
left a note, encased in plastic, to
warn and advise fellow hikers.
“Don’t trust the bear wires! They’re not
working here. Flying squirrels (or something)
find a way to penetrate the pack,
raised forty above the forest floor.
After a night of fitful sleep (dreaming
of ravenous squirrels), through-hikers take
some first steps on the long trail by hiking down
the north side of Springer Mountain.
After a quick descent, the trail turns
awkwardly, crosses over logging road 42,
and enters a dirt parking lot.
Those willing to make the seven-mile drive,
on rutted, unpaved road,
pay a two-dollar fee (via envelop)
for the privilege of parking.
Once again, a previous parker posts a
warning, by scribbling a note on the back
of an unused parking envelop:
“Don’t leave anything in your car!
Thieves frequent this spot and break windows.
They steal everything, even soiled clothing!”
At the far end of the parking lot,
an official sign provides a map,
including directions to local attractions:
Crystal Lake, Hog Mountain, Tentesee Gap, Hog Gap,
Ridgepole Mountain, Dick’s Knob, Persimmon Valley, Chatooga River Valley
After Brasstown Bald, the trail takes
a sudden turn on the map,
enters a mysterious dotted zone, and then
abruptly terminates in Maine.
March 2003
Springer Mountain, GA |