jbwood5
05-21-2009, 19:20
Starting Friday 5/8/09, I hiked the Duncan Ridge/Benton MacKaye/AT loop counter clockwise from Blood Mtn, plus I continued up the AT to Dick's Creek Gap where I ended on Saturday 5/16/09. Here is a brief trail report:
5/8/09 I got dropped off at the Reese Memorial hiker parking lot near Neel's Gap at 5:30 PM. I took the Freeman Trail to Bird Gap and walked on in to Wood's hole shelter where I spent the night.
5/9/09 I went east on the AT part way up Blood Mtn and hit the Duncan Ridge Trail. I hiked to Mulky Gap where I camped that evening near the Spring/streams. One other tenter was nearby. The trail was in pretty good shape. The water at White Oak Stomp was marked and you just had to bush wack down the gulley to get to the spring.
5/10/09 Somehow, I missed a blaze right out of Mulky Gap (distracted by a Forest Service Vehicle below) and went straight up the mountain on the old trail which connected to the new trail near some logs at the top. That was the only problem I had other than a giant rattlesnake across the trail. I couldn't go down but finally had to work my way up and around the snake on a steep brushy incline, worried that I might slip down on the snake. It was very agiatated with me and the tail was buzzing with the head bobbing around. The excitement only lasted a few minutes. I got water at Sarvis Gap (not marked, but down a gulley to the right) and ended up camping at Licklog campsite which has a nice (newly blazed) trail down to the spring. I got just a little light rain in the night.
5/11/09 I got an early lunch at the store (Deer Cooler place) off of Hwy 60. The burger was OK but the fries were terrible (old grease). I ended up camping at Bryson Gap down near the spring/stream. It was overcast but with no rain. Most of the climbs on the DRT were done with overcast skies and reasonable temperatures. This section could be brutal under hot conditions.
5/12/09 I connected up with the AT and started heading east. I took side trips to Long Creek Falls and Hickory Flattwoods Cemetery where I dried out the gear. I ate lunch under the pavillion and hiked on the Gooch Gap where I stayed in the shelter that night.
5/13/09 I hiked the AT east and over Blood Mtn (ate lunch back at Woody Gap). It was a beautiful weather day. When I got to Mtn Crossings at 5:20 PM, the hostle was full and there was no food at all left in the fridge. I ate an ice cream bar, hot dog and drank a Coke. The ban on camping was just ending but I opted for some luxiary at the Goose Creek cabins. I showed Keith a receipt I had from 1999 and he was happy to have a repeat customer.
5/14/09 I spent some time at the Mtn Crossing Store and bought a new pack cover and gaiters since my old 11 year old stuff was shot. It was a drippy morning when I got on the trail at 9:30 AM. I hiked northbound on the AT to Low Gap where I stayed at the shelter. I met 4 St Petersburg, FL retired firefighters and an 80 year old guy Earl "Bones" who hiked at a faster pace than myself. There were also a couple of old guys in their 70's moving along very well. It is always inspiring to see these guys on the trail. I might try a through hike after I retire if I can continue to stay in shape.
5/15/09 I continued NB and stayed at the Tray Mtn shelter after eating lunch at the Blue Mtn shelter.
5/16/09 I finished the hike at Dick's Creek Gap where I arranged to have Ron from the Hiawassee Inn pick me up at 2:00 PM. I cleaned up in the motel and got dinner at the nearby Bledsoe cafe (good meal). I slept good that night.
That is the short version of my 100+ mile hike. Thanks to "Dances With Mice" for posting info on the Duncan Ridge Trail. It helped considerably and made planning for water and camping much easier than going at it blindly. The DRT was in pretty good shape with just a few small blowdowns. I expect that in the next few weeks, the briars will start filling in and the trail will be tougher to hike as the weather warms up. I really lucked out on the weather and never had to hike in anything more than a light drizzle for a couple of hours on one day.
Just John
5/21/09
5/8/09 I got dropped off at the Reese Memorial hiker parking lot near Neel's Gap at 5:30 PM. I took the Freeman Trail to Bird Gap and walked on in to Wood's hole shelter where I spent the night.
5/9/09 I went east on the AT part way up Blood Mtn and hit the Duncan Ridge Trail. I hiked to Mulky Gap where I camped that evening near the Spring/streams. One other tenter was nearby. The trail was in pretty good shape. The water at White Oak Stomp was marked and you just had to bush wack down the gulley to get to the spring.
5/10/09 Somehow, I missed a blaze right out of Mulky Gap (distracted by a Forest Service Vehicle below) and went straight up the mountain on the old trail which connected to the new trail near some logs at the top. That was the only problem I had other than a giant rattlesnake across the trail. I couldn't go down but finally had to work my way up and around the snake on a steep brushy incline, worried that I might slip down on the snake. It was very agiatated with me and the tail was buzzing with the head bobbing around. The excitement only lasted a few minutes. I got water at Sarvis Gap (not marked, but down a gulley to the right) and ended up camping at Licklog campsite which has a nice (newly blazed) trail down to the spring. I got just a little light rain in the night.
5/11/09 I got an early lunch at the store (Deer Cooler place) off of Hwy 60. The burger was OK but the fries were terrible (old grease). I ended up camping at Bryson Gap down near the spring/stream. It was overcast but with no rain. Most of the climbs on the DRT were done with overcast skies and reasonable temperatures. This section could be brutal under hot conditions.
5/12/09 I connected up with the AT and started heading east. I took side trips to Long Creek Falls and Hickory Flattwoods Cemetery where I dried out the gear. I ate lunch under the pavillion and hiked on the Gooch Gap where I stayed in the shelter that night.
5/13/09 I hiked the AT east and over Blood Mtn (ate lunch back at Woody Gap). It was a beautiful weather day. When I got to Mtn Crossings at 5:20 PM, the hostle was full and there was no food at all left in the fridge. I ate an ice cream bar, hot dog and drank a Coke. The ban on camping was just ending but I opted for some luxiary at the Goose Creek cabins. I showed Keith a receipt I had from 1999 and he was happy to have a repeat customer.
5/14/09 I spent some time at the Mtn Crossing Store and bought a new pack cover and gaiters since my old 11 year old stuff was shot. It was a drippy morning when I got on the trail at 9:30 AM. I hiked northbound on the AT to Low Gap where I stayed at the shelter. I met 4 St Petersburg, FL retired firefighters and an 80 year old guy Earl "Bones" who hiked at a faster pace than myself. There were also a couple of old guys in their 70's moving along very well. It is always inspiring to see these guys on the trail. I might try a through hike after I retire if I can continue to stay in shape.
5/15/09 I continued NB and stayed at the Tray Mtn shelter after eating lunch at the Blue Mtn shelter.
5/16/09 I finished the hike at Dick's Creek Gap where I arranged to have Ron from the Hiawassee Inn pick me up at 2:00 PM. I cleaned up in the motel and got dinner at the nearby Bledsoe cafe (good meal). I slept good that night.
That is the short version of my 100+ mile hike. Thanks to "Dances With Mice" for posting info on the Duncan Ridge Trail. It helped considerably and made planning for water and camping much easier than going at it blindly. The DRT was in pretty good shape with just a few small blowdowns. I expect that in the next few weeks, the briars will start filling in and the trail will be tougher to hike as the weather warms up. I really lucked out on the weather and never had to hike in anything more than a light drizzle for a couple of hours on one day.
Just John
5/21/09