Sat, Jun 16 2012 - Gregory Bald Azalea Hike - Update (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Laura V, John L Participants: Laura V, Andy, Bob J, Allan, Michelle M., John L, Michael Hart II, Kelly, Jennifer S, Ron Walker, Dharma, Dani Tso, Jeanette, Jessica Chappell, Armin, papi

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Blazing!  Not sure which was hotter - the flaming azaelas or the AOC speed demons on the 7 mile climb to the top of GB. This group may have set a record for completing the 16 mile loop in under 7 hours, which included an hour for lunch and another long break at the swimming hole.  

Highlights include a deer impersonating as an elk, lunch on the Bald, a refeshing dip in the Twentymile Cascade, AMAZING birthday brownies in honor of Armin's 38th, a FABULOUS seafood dinner at Mike's in Blairsville, and (unfortunately) a wild turkey splattered on Ron's windshield.  The roughest part of this hike was the 6:00 a.m. carpool, but it beat the alternative - camping among 3,000 bikers from the Combat Vets Motorcycle Association at Fontana Village. Fortunately, Allan, Bob, Armin, and Jessica did not seem to mind the crowd. 

Special welcome to Dani, a brand new member on her first AOC hike - Dani stayed right up front with the fast group on that long uphill climb, arriving 3rd and 5th (huh?) at the top of the bald.  Thanks, John, for co-leading this with me and for your tick removal skills.  Thanks also go to Allan, for keeping us on track at the trail junctions; to Andy, for introducing us to Mike's; and, especially, to Jennifer for those YUMMY post-hike brownies. 

We will definitely do this one again.