Sat, Jan 31 2009 - Dayhike the GA AT - Section 4: Neels Gap to Hogpen Gap (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Jennifer Rush, Tony C, Scott Looper Participants: Tony C, Jennifer Rush, Scott Looper, Caroline, Ed Doran, patricia, Noreen, Marshall, Duane B, Amy, Gary Hubert, Cheryl Z., David Lloyd

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Write Up:
This turned out to be the toughest section of the GA AT series so far, but also without a doubt the most scenic and arguably the most enjoyable.   We had a beautiful late January day....not a cloud in the sky and cool, but not brutally cold temps.

We started out with the half mile walk from parking near Neels gap to the actual trailhead  After the obligatory group pic, we started out the first and longest climb of the day up Levelland Mtn.   But the group was enthusiastic and had fresh legs and the climb just got us warmed up and wanting more.

After stopping for a quick break, we proceeded up over Wolf Laurel Top and the easy 300 ft climb up Cowrock Mtn..there were a couple of nice overlooks on the way and we spent some time talking to another group who were up there doing some backpacking.

Our first long lunch spot of the day was a patch of exposed rockface at the eastern end of Cowrock mountain.  The views from here were superb (see pics)...Mt Yonah in the distance and Wildcat Mtn just across the gap...it was fun sitting there and knowing we would be all the way over there at Wildcat before long.

After another group pic, we headed down Cowrock to Tesnatee Gap...it was a steep descent and we knew it would be not fun coming back up later on.   We collected at the gap and then headed up the other side, taking the Whitley Gap side trail to the top of Wildcat Mtn.   Here we took lunch break #2, which we already needed after that last climb and to fuel us up for the ones to come.

Of course we gazed back over the gap and could see where we had just been an hour earlier on Cowrock.   We could also see Blood Mtn in the distance and just another beautiful panoramic view.   We next headed down to Hogpen Gap to officially "finish" this section of the GA AT.   However, this being an out and back hike, we still had to return to Neels Gap.  So we hit the trail again...heading up to the ridge of Wildcat and back down to Tesnatee Gap.

This is where we would begin our most grueling ascent of the day...about 800 very steep feet back up Cowrock Mtn.  This was challenging to everyone and we paused again at the top of Cowrock for a short break to catch our breath.   By now the sun was dropping quickly to the southwest and that sunlight began to give everything that warm reddish hue...this definitely made the last few miles even more enjoyable.

The sun finally set with the last of the group finishing before dark and not needing headlamps.  We had timed it perfectly and made the most of a full and satisfying day on the trail.

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