Tesnatee Gap to Walasi Yi (Neel Gap)

Thank you to Clay for sharing his hike.

NOTE:  There will be no carpool as trip leaders will be staying in Hiawassee.  We will be hiking on 12/13 on the Arkaquah Trail to Brasstown Bald.  If you are doing both hikes, please join us for a group dinner on Saturday night.

Please join us to hike one of our favorite sections on the Georgia AT, Tesnatee Gap to Neel Gap.    From Tesnatee Gap, we begin with our graceful incline to the top of Cowrock Mountain, we continue on the ridgeline and will experience a roller coaster of inclines and declines most of the way.  We also will pass Green Cliff Top, Wolf Laurel Top, Corbin Horse Stamp, Rock Spring Top, Turkeypen Mountain and Levelland Mountain all before arriving at Neel Gap.  We will break for 30 minutes for lunch at the picnic tables outside at Mountain Crossing, they have restrooms. After lunch we will retrace our steps back to our cars at Tesnatee Gap.

Neel Gap is also referred to the Cherokee as Walasi-Yi, named after a small town just south of the gap meaning home of the great frog. In 1838, the Cherokee inabitants were forcibly moved during the tragic Trail of Tears and nothing remains of the village besides the name Frogtown Gap.

This is a challenging D5 with an estimated 12 miles and 3,000 elevation gain, our pace will be between 2.5 to 3.0-mile pace. It will be necessary to have AOC D5 experience before attending this event. Please arrive 10 minutes early for quick introductions before we begin. There are no bathrooms at Testanee Gap so plan accordingly.

Try to carpool with others on hike because there are few parking spaces at the trailhead, but if you need to meet at the trailhead, from Google Maps, type Tesnatee Gap.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kz1owCJuKqiryMC69