Appalachian Trail: Woody Gap to Preachers Rock to Gooch Mountain Shelter

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Appalachian Trail: Woody Gap to Preachers Rock to Gooch Mountain Shelter

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Woody Gap

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Feb 17 2024 9:00 am >> Sat, Feb 17 2024 3:30 pm (Carpool Departure: 7:30 am *log in for location*)

Registration Opens:

Thu, Feb 8 2024 7:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, Feb 16 2024 4:00 pm

Event Duration:

6 Hours 30 Minutes

Difficulty Rating:

D5: Difficult

Distance:

12.5 Miles

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Greg Pharo

Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

11 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Yes

Itinerary:

Join me for a Saturday adventure on the Appalachian Trail!

Starting from the ever-popular Woody Gap we will hike northbound on the Appalachian Trail up to Preachers Rock, where we'll enjoy glorious views of the the southern Blue Ridge mountains. We'll continue up a short distance to the top of Big Cedar Mountain for some more vistas before turning around and descending to Woody Gap as we hike southbound on the AT.

Our route takes us on a rollercoaster ride as we partially ascend Black Mountain before summitting Ramrock Mountain. We’ll stop to enjoy the mountaintop views before we descend toward Gooch Gap and cross the Cooper Gap Road. The AT will then skirt us around Gooch Mountain and down to an intersection with a side trail leading to the Gooch Mountain shelter. We’ll have lunch here and perhaps travel down to the nearby creek before retracing our way back to Woody Gap.

We'll move at a moderate pace of approximately 2.5 mph, with a few stops along the way.

This is a challenging D5 mountain trek with 2,500 feet elevation gain. Recent D4 or higher hiking experience with the AOC, or equivalent activity is required in order to join the fun. If you don't have recent D4 or higher hiking experience with the AOC we will be in contact to determine whether this event is right for you.

Required Items to Bring:

Sturdy hiking boots/footwear

At least 1 liter of water

Backpack

Raingear (just in case)

Lunch/snack

Warm clothes

Cash for carpool

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Hat

Sunscreen

Hiking poles

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

For those who are not carpooling: meet us a Woody Gap by 8:50 am so that we can start hiking at 9 am.

Click here for directions to the trailhead at Woody Gap.

The Woody Gap trailhead is located on GA 60 just south of Suches. There are parking lots on either side of the road. There is a toilet at the trailhead, but no water.

We encourage carpooling because parking at Woody Gap is limited.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

102Mile(s)

Carpool Departure Time:

7:30 am

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $40.80 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.