Fri, Mar 30 2012 - Appalachian Trail (AT) Thru-Ga (View Original Event Details)
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March 30 Meet at the Hiker Hostile and had dinner with the group
March 31 Got shuttle to Springer Mountain some left parking lot and others went to top of Springer Mountain to sign register and start our hike. Ran into trail magic going to Hawk Mountain what a surprise treats in the woods. Trail Magic provided by Atlanta Adventure Group. After enjoying treats we hiked on up Sassafras Mtn. what a climb after the summit we descended into Cooper Gap for the night. There was a large Boy Scout Group There. Since we have had a lot of rain in the area we found a water source down Forrest service road. It want be there long water was coming out of side of Mtn. Meet several thru hikers that were going to Gooch Gap and several section hikers.
April 1 Started 8:15A. Hot hike today to Woody Gap. We had lunch where I took a long break and nap. Rest of group went on to Lance Creek. After a long Nap I packed up and hiked on to Lance Creek. I meet a ranger at Miller Gap that told me the trail was closed because of bear activity he told me a mother bear and her cubs were in the area. I was concerned as to what did the others do or go and then he told me April fool. We had a good laugh the joke was on me. He told me that the group had put him up to the joke. I then pushed on to Lance Creek where we camped for the night. We had some excitement in the area we had a thru hiker that wanted to build a fire next to our tents I told him we were in a wilderness area and campfires were illegal. I could only warn him I could not tell him he could not build a fire. Thanks goodness he did not build a fire he joined another group of hikers that was farther down the trail that had build a fire. Then a hiker got her bear bag rope hung up in a tree Ron and I finally got it down and she picked another tree and got her food hung. We finally got around to making our dinner and it started to sprinkle rain. We ran around trying to get things under cover the rain cloud passed over and it did not rain. We sat around and talked a while and then went to our tents for the night. We have a long day tomorrow since we were told not to camp where I had planned because of bear activity; several hikers had already lost their food to a bear. I took their advice and we will have to do about 15 miles tomorrow.
April 2 Started about 8:30A made it to Neel Gap by 12:30P where we took a long break about 2 1/2 hours then we had a long hike to our camp site. Meet a thru hiker from Northern Virginia We finally got to a campsite. Above Hog-pen Gap. Since the campsite was dry (no water) we had to get water from a creek about 1/4 mile before we got to camp.
April 3 Started from Hog-pen Gap about 9:00A Hiked about 8 miles and had lunch about 12:30P and while we were having lunch it started to thunder so we packed up as fast as possible and headed to 'Blue Mtn. Shelter.. Some got there earlier than others and got a spot in the shelter I was behind and went out to tent and the tent spots were mud holes I told the ones in the shelter that Mike and I was moving on and that I would meet them the next morning on Rocky Mtn. As we started to walk toward Unicoi Gap the rain stopped and the Sun started to shine. When we got to Unicoi Gap we found some trail magic a bottle of Gatorade boy was it good. We had some good tent sites on Rocky Mountain where we had dinner and the wind started to pick up and it got cold but when you got in your tent out of the wind it was rather warm. Another 15 miles day for Mile his dog Cedar I gave the dog a trail name "Stick" because he liked to chase sticks. Guess we will have a late start tomorrow because we are 3 miles ahead of the group. When they arrive we will decide how far we want to go. So stay tuned for the next report from Chicken Feathers.
April 4 started from Rocky Mountain about 11:00A We ran into "Moo" a trail angel with trail magic at Indian Grave Gap she had everything you might want to eat and she was cooking up eggs and all the extras baked potatoes and we were told that she cook fish the night before and lots to drink. She told us she had been doing trail magic for the last 12 years After stuffing our self we pushed on to Addis Gap to camp for the night. The water source was .5 miles down the mountain. We had dinner and talked for a while and 2 section hikers camp in to camp for the night. We then retired for the night to our tents but the talk kept up for a while. We will finish our hike a day ahead of schedule.
April 5 we got up today around 7:30A had breakfast and started to hike we all left at different times. We had a long and hard hike p Kelly Knob and then a long decent into Deep Creek and then a few more mountains to climb before we finished. We finished about 11:00A since we left at different times some got through earlier. All in all everyone had a good time. We started with 8 people and 4 finished. The Georgia Section of the Appalachian Trail is not easy. Maybe this hike can become an annual event. See you on the trail until next time. "Chicken Feathers"
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