McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 12/14/2024 | AT Mile 2197.4 | Day Total: 11.6 miles | Gain: 959 ft

Today’s the day! The final day. Woke up before my alarm this morning and made my last breakfast on the trail. I saved half a bag of mini powdered donuts for the occasion.

Meeting my parents at the parking lot before Springer at 8:30! I began hiking a little after 7:30. Got a small climb and 1.8 miles to reach them. I can’t wait!

The 1.8 miles went by very fast! I was really soaking in the final moments leading up to the finish. Passed over a few creeks and it was looking to be a beautiful day!

I first spotted a few shiny car windows then I saw a moose! I moose in Georgia?!?!?! Ohhh… it’s dad is disguise!!!

After the reunion the three of us hiked the remaining mile to Springer Mountain (the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail). The trail up was a bit more rocky than the rest of Georgia has been but remains very modest. On our way we walked by the southern terminus of the Benton Mackaye Trail.

It wasn’t long before the trail came to a clearing and I spotted the plaque! First thing I did was touch the plaque! Officially completed the Appalachian Trail! What an odd great feeling! We took a photoshoot between the two plaques and the last white blaze. Hardly felt real?!?!?

The Approach trail continues on down the other side of Springer Mountain. No more white blazes, just blue blazes for the next 8.8 miles down to Amicalola Falls State Park.

The next 6 miles flew by! Passed by a ton of tent sites and also a few gaps including Black Gap and Nimblewill Gap. We also hiked over Frosty Mountain but I didn’t see any snowman here… just a wooded summit with the remains of a fire tower.

We stopped a little before 12 and ate lunch on the trail. It was a sunny and wind guarded spot. I had my wraps and a cutie my parents packed! So yummy! Afterword we continued down to the top of Amicalola Falls.

Lots of backpackers and day hikers today. Particularly a lot of day hikers at Amicalola Falls. The falls were shocking tall and as I’ve been told, had a lot of steps, 425 to be exact.

We crossed over the falls in a small bridge. It was much taller than I imagined. We continued down to the stone arch afterword where the approach trail begins.

My legs can rest now after 132 days! It’s been a long journey and feels like I was on Katahdin just moments and ages ago.

I want to give a special thanks to my family, friends, fellow hikers, trail volunteers, hostels owners, caretakers, shuttle drivers, chainsaw crews and everyone who helped me along my way from Maine to Georgia!