Amicalola Falls

On Sunday, we left Atlanta headed up to Amicalola Falls State Park in North Georgia for a few days with Emilie, Jonathan, and Gayle (Drew's mom). We got there before everyone else, so we took a family hike up the falls that afternoon.

Maybe one day they will attempt this journey all the way to Maine.

Avi had quite the attitude as we started the hike up: complaining, whining, you name it! She wasn't pleasant, let's put it that way.

Sally Sharp on the other hand was very pleasant and enjoyed the walk up the falls.

Avi's face in this picture pretty much sums up her attitude.

I had to bribe her to get this picture (can't remember with what)! At this point, the trail turns into stairs: 600 of them to be exact. Yep, you read that right. 600 steps up to the top.

Once we started the steps, Avi was GONE. She started running up those steps and kept looking back at us as if to ask what's taking y'all so long?! Seriously? Sally Sharp and Avi BOTH climbed ALL 600 steps by themselves! I was shocked Sally Sharp was able to do it; we did not carry her at all up the steps. About 3 flights from the top, Avi took a rest on one of the benches and announced she was done. I told her if she didn't get up and make it to the top, she was going to have to turn around and go all the way back down again. That quickly prompted her to get up and finish the steps! I was proud of the girls and myself for reaching the top!

The next morning, Drew and Jonathan got up early in the rain to run/hike to the top of Springer Mountain.  It was raining and muddy and very cold on top, but they had a blast running up the 7.5 miles to the start of the Appalachian Trail.  This was Drew's fourth trip up top, and it has been cloudy or raining on all the visits...this time was no different. 

Jonathan sitting by the AT sign on top of Springer Mountain.

We were in the clouds, so no views or pretty pictures from the top.