[at-l] New Years Celebration on Springer '03

[Slyatpct at aol.com (Slyatpct@aol.com)]

In a message dated 1/6/2004 11:33:06 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
GRoberts@npr.org writes:

> Haven't heard much info on who, what, where and how of the gathering atop 
> of
> Springer for New Year's Eve.  What's up??
> 

>From Spur's journal:

I reach the Springer Mtn parking lot around 3:30, where I chat with the 2 
southbounders I?d met earlier at Three Forks as they prepare to climb the final 
mile to the summit of Springer. Since she?s not here already, I decide to wait 
for Ready to arrive from Atlanta in our car, and she obliges just before 4 PM. 


I sort some of my pack into the car, add some warm clothes which she brought 
for me, and together we hike up the magic mountain. Up top, we set up camp in 
the designated campsites, then visit the shelter to see who else has arrived. 
Ed Speer, POG, Liteshoe and Swallowtail are here already along with a few 
others. As the evening progresses, more folks arrive, including Ox 97, Kathleen, 
2004 northbounder Lauren (leaving in April), southbounders Stumpknocker and 
Dolittle, and later Sloetoe, Profile and Almanac, and Coosa. 

The party evolves into a pleasant social experience as we gather round the 
campfire next to the shelter and share the abundant food and drink that folks 
have packed in. A bright half moon hangs in a cloudless sky making it a night 
that would be excellent for nighthiking, and the temperature is quite pleasant 
for a New Years Eve. 

Sparklers are lit as midnight approaches, and a small group of us, including 
Ready and me, Profile and Almanac, and Sloetoe and Lauren, make our way to the 
rock outcropping on the Springer summit just before the old year ends. Here 
we meet Barkeater, a former AT thruhiker who tomorrow will begin a quest to 
repeat Flyin? Brian?s calendar year Triple Crown hike, hoping to cover the 
entire AT, PCT and CDT during 2004. He?s an amiable fellow in his 50s whose 
positive energy suggests he may very well succeed. He has a website which will 
chronicle his hike at http://www.geocities.com/barkeater04 .

As we stand chatting at the Springer overlook before heading back to our 
campsites, a shooting star streaks across the sky to the west. We take it to be a 
sign of hope here at the birth of the coming New Year.