View Full Version : Dicks Creek GA to Deep Gap NC
greentick
09-02-2007, 09:45
Water and bees and a bear oh my! My hike got cut back to a mere overnighter but that is much better than nothing. Here is an update:
Water: running real good at Plumorchard Shelter. Heading NOBO there is a one-log bridge over a water source just short of Muskrat Creek Shelter that was good. Muskrat's water was running too.
Bees: well, yellow jackets anyhow. The side trail to Plumorchard has an active nest just short of the water source. My buddy and I got tagged a few times. Continuing North from Plum Orchard Gap just up As Knob there is a larger one. I about sprinted over As Knob as any hole in the ground was reason to step it out - 19 minutes to Blue Ridge Gap. My buddy, who walks slower, got nailed 15-20 times and had to run 50yds up hill to escape. Lastly the first uphill after Bly Gap has a large nest easily visible from about 15'. Just detour to the right.
Bear: saw a ~200lb black coming up out of Blue Ridge Gap for about 1 second. Didn't even have a chance to get my adrenaline up. Then all I saw was a**holes and elbows and he was over a rise not to be seen again.
Nice tarping at Bly Gap campsites. Cool late afternoon downpours.
Skidsteer
09-02-2007, 09:56
The spring is still dry at Bly Gap?
How many steps before the water source at Plumorchard do you estimate the hornet nest to be?
Thanks for the update. I'm heading that way today.
buckowens
09-02-2007, 11:54
Maybe I'm just getting old, but that section out of Bly Gap to the North wore me out for some reason...
I shared Muskrat Creek Shelter (my first shelter stay) with 14 other people on a rainy night in July, and this cured my desire to stay in shelters under most circumstances... The folks were nice, but way too many of them in and around.
I wish I could move through the woods like a bear does! The one I saw near Tellico Gap was moving out like a freight train. He glanced in the direction of my little girl voice that said "Hey bear!". Soon as my legs quit shaking I moved out...:rolleyes:
Thanks for the sitrep.
greentick
09-02-2007, 13:35
The spring is still dry at Bly Gap?
How many steps before the water source at Plumorchard do you estimate the hornet nest to be?
Thanks for the update. I'm heading that way today.
No more than 20 paces. Bring your flamethrower...:D
Kerosene
09-02-2007, 18:25
Maybe I'm just getting old, but that section out of Bly Gap to the North wore me out for some reason... Same here. I breezed through Georgia and never had to pause on the uphill climbs. I stopped for lunch at the state line on a sunny, 70-degree day in early April, so I was fueled, watered, and in reasonable shape after a quick ascent from Dicks Creek Gap. However, the climb out of Bly Gap kicked my butt. Yes, it was warm (the coolness of the rhodo thickets was incredible), but I had to stop twice to rest, the second time a sit-down-in-the-middle-of-the-trail timeout. I felt a little better and ate an early dinner at Muskrat Creek Shelter before hiking down to my car at Rainbow Springs Campground.
Rain Man
09-03-2007, 01:49
... However, the climb out of Bly Gap kicked my butt....
Same here. I've done about 500 miles of the AT in the south so far, plus Katahdin.
I still consider the climb out of Bly Gap to the be worst climb I've done.
Rain:sunMan
.
We did that section last October. We camped at Bly Gap for the night, got up in the moring and packed up our stuff. We were all refreshed and ready for long day. After starting up the climb, my wife looked at me and said "Just how long is our day today!!!!!". I just kept telling her that once we finished this climb the rest of the day would cake. However, that is one hell of way to start you day.:eek:
buckowens
09-03-2007, 16:52
Same here. I breezed through Georgia and never had to pause on the uphill climbs. I stopped for lunch at the state line on a sunny, 70-degree day in early April, so I was fueled, watered, and in reasonable shape after a quick ascent from Dicks Creek Gap. However, the climb out of Bly Gap kicked my butt. Yes, it was warm (the coolness of the rhodo thickets was incredible), but I had to stop twice to rest, the second time a sit-down-in-the-middle-of-the-trail timeout. I felt a little better and ate an early dinner at Muskrat Creek Shelter before hiking down to my car at Rainbow Springs Campground.
Same here. I've done about 500 miles of the AT in the south so far, plus Katahdin.
I still consider the climb out of Bly Gap to the be worst climb I've done.
Rain:sunMan
.
We did that section last October. We camped at Bly Gap for the night, got up in the moring and packed up our stuff. We were all refreshed and ready for long day. After starting up the climb, my wife looked at me and said "Just how long is our day today!!!!!". I just kept telling her that once we finished this climb the rest of the day would cake. However, that is one hell of way to start you day.:eek:
OK, all of you made me feel a bunch better!! :D
Roo and I are set for another hike two weeks after school ends this year. We will begin at NOC and go North. She asked me how much of a climb there was and I smiled and said not much of one... She said "yeah right"!! I think she is figuring me out as she has heard me say a thousand times that it will level out after this hill...:D
Skidsteer
09-03-2007, 18:43
Water and bees and a bear oh my! My hike got cut back to a mere overnighter but that is much better than nothing. Here is an update:
Water: running real good at Plumorchard Shelter. Heading NOBO there is a one-log bridge over a water source just short of Muskrat Creek Shelter that was good. Muskrat's water was running too.
Bees: well, yellow jackets anyhow. The side trail to Plumorchard has an active nest just short of the water source. My buddy and I got tagged a few times. Continuing North from Plum Orchard Gap just up As Knob there is a larger one. I about sprinted over As Knob as any hole in the ground was reason to step it out - 19 minutes to Blue Ridge Gap. My buddy, who walks slower, got nailed 15-20 times and had to run 50yds up hill to escape. Lastly the first uphill after Bly Gap has a large nest easily visible from about 15'. Just detour to the right.
Bear: saw a ~200lb black coming up out of Blue Ridge Gap for about 1 second. Didn't even have a chance to get my adrenaline up. Then all I saw was a**holes and elbows and he was over a rise not to be seen again.
Nice tarping at Bly Gap campsites. Cool late afternoon downpours.
No more than 20 paces. Bring your flamethrower...:D
That nest is a doozy (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18559&c=553).
It is stategically located (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18558&c=553)(from the Y.J. point of view)and hikers will have a difficult time seeing it until it's too late.
For anyone needing to hike to the shelter in the near future, it's not too hard to avoid, though.
At the intersection of the A.T. and the side trail is a large camping area on the right as you start toward the shelter. If you walk through the camping area there is an alternate trail that sorta parallels the main trail and joins back with it after the nest. Taking this trail will keep you fifteen to twenty feet to the right of the yellow infidels. If you're interested in seeing the nest, just count about two hundred paces from the A.T. and look left.
I snuck back down after dark to get a closer look (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18554&c=553) and got to do the 100 yard dash. :D
In addition to the nests already mentioned, there is also one about ten minutes North of Cowart Gap (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18553&c=553) and one about .9 mile North of Dick's Creek Gap which I didn't get a photo of 'cause I was kinda busy and I was moving too fast.
Skidsteer
09-03-2007, 21:05
That nest is a doozy (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18559&c=553).
It is stategically located (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18558&c=553)(from the Y.J. point of view)and hikers will have a difficult time seeing it until it's too late.
For anyone needing to hike to the shelter in the near future, it's not too hard to avoid, though.
At the intersection of the A.T. and the side trail is a large camping area on the right as you start toward the shelter. If you walk through the camping area there is an alternate trail that sorta parallels the main trail and joins back with it after the nest. Taking this trail will keep you fifteen to twenty feet to the right of the yellow infidels. If you're interested in seeing the nest, just count about two hundred paces from the A.T. and look left.
I snuck back down after dark to get a closer look (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18554&c=553) and got to do the 100 yard dash. :D
In addition to the nests already mentioned, there is also one about ten minutes North of Cowart Gap (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18553&c=553) and one about .9 mile North of Dick's Creek Gap which I didn't get a photo of 'cause I was kinda busy and I was moving too fast.
So I return home from my adventure as the Bee whisperer, head to the workshop, and find this little beauty (http://www.jumpcut.com/fullscreen?id=8226F12E5A8111DCAF93000423CF4092&type=image).
Got my adrenaline rush and then some.
Mother Nature
09-03-2007, 21:17
Wow Skids!
This dry weather must have the creatures and bugs crazy! I returned from a three day backpack on the Jacks River in the Cohuttas this evening and the yellow jackets were wild all weekend! Smokestack and I both were stung at least four times just this afternoon.
We had a resident copperhead about 45" on my front stoop not too many weeks ago. Never had one that close to the house before. Not much left to him now after kissing my 30-30.
MN
Glad to have winter arrive. That or I am getting stock in Sting-Ez
buckowens
09-03-2007, 21:21
So I return home from my adventure as the Bee whisperer, head to the workshop, and find this little beauty (http://www.jumpcut.com/fullscreen?id=8226F12E5A8111DCAF93000423CF4092&type=image).
Got my adrenaline rush and then some.
Skidsteer,
Remind me not to take you flying anytime soon... Seems like a chance of an engine failure and a fire are possible all at the same time!!!;)
I am not a snake lover, but that is one pretty snake...
greentick
09-04-2007, 06:42
That nest is a doozy (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18559&c=553).
....
Thanks for the painful memories Skids. I am scratching my bites as we speak! Next time I'll call in a napalm strike before I leave the area... Too bad there's a burn ban.;)
Skidsteer
09-04-2007, 22:39
...We had a resident copperhead about 45" on my front stoop not too many weeks ago. Never had one that close to the house before. Not much left to him now after kissing my 30-30....MN
Heh.
It's a hoot that folks like you and me (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18576&catid=favorites)are allowed to own guns in the first place.
Is this a great country or what? :D