Trail Journal - by Laurie Searle
Our 29-Mile Thanksgiving Adventure
Over the (Hiawassee) River and through the (Georgia
A.T.) Woods...
Final entry in the series of Laurie's Big Adventure to Hike the A.T. in
Georgia
By Laurie Searle
November 26, 2011
Our
Thanksgiving holidays tend to be low key with just me and Sam and our two
cats hanging out at home nibbling on leftovers for four days.
This year we decided to step it up a notch by completing my goal to hike the Georgia A.T. in one year.
Our Thanksgiving adventure included two helpings of Thanksgiving dinner, two nights at a Holiday Inn, and two days of hiking 29-miles on the GA A.T.
Day 1: Thanksgiving dinner x 2
Our plan today was to sleep in, enjoy an early Thanksgiving dinner, and then drive both cars to north Georgia, parking one at Unicoi Gap in Helen and the other at the Holiday Inn Express in Hiawassee where we planned to spend the next two nights.
The plan worked out great. We arrived in Hiawassee around 4 p.m., and after checking into the hotel we asked the clerk if there were any restaurants open. He said the only one he knew of was the Huddlehouse, but as we drove out the road from the hotel, we noticed cars parked in front of Daniels Steak House. To our delight, the steak house was open and had a full Thanksgiving Buffet for $10, so we indulged--again.
Day 2: Dicks Creek Gap to Unicoi Gap (16.6 miles)
We were up at 5:30 a.m. and did a bit of carbo loading at the incredible breakfast buffet at the hotel. Feeling well fed and well rested, we drove 20 minutes to Dick's Creek Gap where we started the first leg of our hike.
It was a perfect morning--cool and crisp and no one but us as we started our hike. We got on the trail by 7:15 and by 7:25 we made our first stop to take off a layer of clothes.
It's
been interesting hiking the trail over a period of 10 months. It reminds me
of that scene in the Time Machine movie when a whole year fast forwards in
an instant.
Since my first hike in February, I've seen rime ice, early spring buds, the forest in full bloom, the hint of fall colors, and the final stage before winter.
But Mother Nature left one last surprise for us today. A peculiar little weed had seemingly exploded into a puff of white feathers and seeds, resembling a cross between a peacock and a dandelion. It was quite spectacular.
At
about 7.5 miles, we came to the Swag of the Blue Ridge. I was curious about
the word "swag," having only used it to describe a sort of
drapery, so I looked it up when I got home. It's the same as a swale, which
means a low place in a track of land.
That "swag" was about the only low place I recall. In addition to the climb to Tray Mountain, other parts of this hike seemed extremely hilly.
By the time we reached Sam's truck at Unicoi Gap, I was seriously reconsidering our plan for day 2, which was to hike the 8.9 miles from Dicks Creek Gap to the GA/NC line and back again for a total of 18 miles.
A fellow GATC'er we met on the trail had mentioned that there was a road near Blue Ridge Gap. If we could find that road and park Sam's truck there, we could shorten our day 2 hike by 6 miles.
We were in luck. We found the road! But the last mile was too rough for my car, so I waited on the blacktop while Sam drove the truck up the gravel part.
After about 20 minutes I started to worry. Then I saw two four wheelers coming down the gravel road with Sam on the back of one. After the two neighborly fellows left, Sam said that was a ride he wouldn't forget. I didn't understand what he meant until I drove down the road with Sam the following day. It was the worst gravel road I've ever been on, filled with deep gullies, large boulders, and bare rock. Note to self: if hiking this section again, park on the blacktop and walk the 0.8 miles to the trail.
Day 3: Dick's Creek to Bly Gap and back to
Blue Ridge (12 miles)
After about 12 hours of sleep on a comfy hotel bed, and another huge breakfast at the Holiday Inn (note to club: try the pancake machine -- it's cool), we drove the 20 minutes to Deep Creek Gap to head north on the final section of our hike.
Sam
had hiked this section several times before and remembered it as a long slow
climb. He was right.
We managed to keep out 2 mph pace for the first 6 miles, but by the time we approached Sam's truck at Blue Ridge Gap, our legs felt heavy and it was an effort to go on.
But we were motivated, so we took turns taking the lead and chewed gum to keep our momentum going.
Along the way we found a few interesting logs that resembled works of art.
One was a broken section of a tree about 12 feet long, with several large
bumps that reminded me of an easy chair.
Another was a large root ball that had tumbled over on the side of the trail. It looked like trail workers might have filled it in with rocks and dirt. I wondered if they were thinking form or function?
The last mile was fairly level but even so, it seemed to take forever. Sam had said I'd see a tree with a small plaque marking the GA/NC line, and that it was easy to miss so I should keep my eyes opened. But he said that wasn't the unusual tree you see in all the pictures. That tree was just past the border at Bly Gap. He wondered if the unusual tree was a "signal tree" shaped by Native Americans to point a direction.
 |
 |
 |
Wrapping Up My Adventure
It seemed so appropriate that I wrapped up my Big Adventure over the Thanksgiving holiday because I have so much to be thankful for.
I am thankful for the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club for maintaining the A.T. in Georgia. Having participated in some trail maintenance activities and helped Sam maintain his section on a few occasions, I realize what an effort it is to maintain this trail. And having seen trail maintainers working on their section every time I've hiked, I also realize the dedication it takes.
I am thankful for the GATC monthly adventures. To all of those volunteers who led the monthly trips, thank you so much for being our guides and for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm about the trail. You really made the experience come to life.
I am thankful for all of the new friends I've made. OMG! Pam & Deb, Mark & Keith, David, Jane, Tina, Nick, Stacey, and Brandt, and so many more. It's been a great experience hiking with you!
I am thankful for Sam, and that I'm married to a great guy who loves hiking and shares my passion for the Georgia Appalachian Trail.
To see the photo albums from this trip, click on the image below. For more stories about hiking on the Georgia A.T. check out the trail journal.
 |
| Our A.T. Thanksgiving Adventure |