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Dances with Mice
05-04-2005, 14:52
The Duncan Ridge Trail is a 30'ish mile blue-blazed trail that connects the Benton Mac and Appalachian Trails. There is a bit of mis-information on the web about this trail. With the exception of one book, Homan's "Hiking Trails of North Georgia", there is no good description of the trail.

I've hiked it a few times now and have accumulated enough notes and photos to compile a little trail guide. Just a couple pages, a narrative with links to photos and maps. The guide clearly shows where to find campsites and water, including at least one source that isn't marked on any maps or mentioned by other trail resources.

Would anyone mind if I published it on this site, in this forum?
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Kinda on topic, kinda off....

When I was at the Southeastern Foot Trails Conference (organized by our own Mowgli) I took several short classes. One of them was taught by John Ray who has compiled the excellent series of guides on the Bartram Trail. I thought I knew how to make a trail guide until I talked with John!

John was my classmate in another class on trail maintenance, we had worked together building several waterbars, Coweeta dips, and steps the previous day.

Get this: He and a buddy take a surveyor's wheel to the trail, and every 200 feet they take a GPS waypoint. In a notebook they write comments about the waypoints ("start of switchback, road intersection, mountain peak, stream crossing", etc.). Back home the waypoints and comments are loaded into a database. Then the waypoints are plotted on a topo map, compiling a line based on these closely spaced points. Clicking on any one point brings up the waypoint and comments. And he's done this for literally HUNDREDS of miles of trails in Georgia and Carolina!

His trail guides, published with permission of the topo software company, are so detailed they are used as a resource management tool by the Forest Service! If there's a blowdown or a washout, it can be located precisely with the guides and the best route for a repair/maintenance crew to access the location can be determined.

And they're updated every year! Relocations are included in his database and more side trails are added as time permits. I was just blown away! Wow. Now I want to get my own wheel and GPS unit!

It wasn't the first or only time I was blown away during the SEFTC. All of the programs presented went way beyond my expectations. It was a huge conference, over 150 attending, with numerous concurrent training sessions going on all day. Like the blind men trying to describe an elephant, I can only tell about the isolated areas I touched:

Trail maintenance was taught by seasoned professionals - volunteers, some who flew to SC from Colorado -and- by professional trail builders who run companies that install heavy duty trails at riding resorts and national parks! Hands-on stuff, not just lectures. We worked on a trail in the state park.

Trail design classes were taught by a PhD in Outdoor Recreation from Univ. Georgia, the mentor of Tha Wookie. Speaking of the Wook, he presented the slide-show of his Pacific Coast hike. I didn't know Wookie was also an accomplished musician, he accented the show with songs, guitar and harmonica.

Other speakers included a Congressman from SC. Published authors held roundtables on outdoor writing. A slideshow by a professional outdoor photographer. Want to know how to start a trailhead information area? The GATC told how they set up one inside the Amicalola Falls Visitor's Center. Managing a non-profit organization was taught by someone who's been working with non-profits for 20 years. I'll stop, you get the idea, but I'm leaving out 80 - 90% of what went on that weekend.

And Mowgli, bless his heart, works hard for his money. I don't think I ever saw him sit down.

FatMan
05-04-2005, 22:40
Bring it on. I may do the loop in the near future and the more info the better. Is the Duncan Ridge as rugged and tough as I've heard?

FatMan
05-04-2005, 22:42
And yes, John Ray's Bartram Trail guide is exceptional.

Dances with Mice
05-04-2005, 23:02
Bring it on. I may do the loop in the near future and the more info the better. Is the Duncan Ridge as rugged and tough as I've heard? It ain't all that bad. Here's my best comparison: Imagine you're at Horse Gap, just before Sassafrass Mtn in Georgia. Walk from Horse over Sassafrass, down to Cooper Gap, then up both peaks of Justus Mtn and down to Justus Creek. Turn around and walk back to Horse. Then walk back to the creek.

That's pretty much like a day on the DRT. Lots of ups and downs but no Everests.

TakeABreak
05-04-2005, 23:15
Please do submit it.

Dances with Mice
05-05-2005, 06:46
The Duncan Ridge Trail is a blue-blazed trail connecting the Appalachian Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail in Georgia.

The ‘sections’ below are entirely arbitrary. I just hooked up trail terminus points with major road crossings, then major road crossings to each other.

Section 1 – DRT Terminus at Blood Mtn to Wolf Pen Gap (2.3 miles)
Just a short stretch between the eastern trailhead and the first road crossing.

The DRT terminus was moved to the base of Blood Mountain when the AT was relocated around Slaughter Gap. It is about 1 mile from its junction with the AT to the sign just west of Slaughter Gap at an intersection of several trails.
http://www.home.earthlink.net/~stewartholt/AT/Slaughter%20Gap%20Relocation%20Map.jpg

The DRT is concurrent with the Coosa Backcountry Trail for most of this section.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6084/sort/1/cat/578/page/6

This sign marks the ‘old’ terminus of the Duncan Ridge Trail near Slaughter Gap. The terminus was relocated after the AT was relo’d to bypass Slaughter. There are obvious modifications to the sign due to the relos.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7052/size/big/sort/1/cat/578

From the above sign it is about 1.3 miles to Wolf Pen Gap. The trail traverses across the flat, fern covered peak of Slaughter Mountain (4140 feet) then drops sharply through hardwood forest and scrub brush to Wolf Pen Gap (3260 feet). A paved road, GA-128, crosses the trail here.

Wolf Pen Gap – The view is looking south from the east side of GA -180. Water is available where the road curves in the background, on the west side of GA-180.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7054/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/

Wolf Pen Gap - Campsites beside a stream are behind and to the right of this sign on the east side of GA-180. It will, rather obviously, be a bit of a bushwhack.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7053/size/big/sort/1/cat/578


Section 2 – Wolf Pen Gap to Mulky Gap (9.1 miles)
This section runs mostly along the northern edge of the Cooper Creek Wildlife Management Area. The DRT shares the same path as the Coosa Backcountry Trail from Wolf Pen Gap to near the top of Coosa Bald. At Wolf Pen Gap a gravel Forest Service Road (FS-39) parallels the ridge and the DRT until Bryant Gap. The DRT will intersect this road several times but will not cross it. Mulky Gap is crossed by an all-weather gravel Forest Service Road, FS-4.

From Wolf Pen Gap, the climb up Wildcat Mountain (3840’) is long. It goes over a shoulder of the mountain then sidehill across the mountain’s slope. Just when you might believe the trail will bypass the mountain, the trail turns and climbs right to the summit. The downhill on the west side of Wildcat is easy! The trail intersects and follows FS-39 road at Wildcat Gap (3180’) for approximately 30 yards before beginning the climb to Coosa Bald. I looked for a spring near Wildcat Gap but did not find one.

The trail up the west side of Coosa Bald is an old road that, evidently, still gets some ORV traffic. The trail is rough, rocky, and not very pretty. http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7055/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/


The Coosa Backcountry Trail turns away from the DRT a few hundred yards from the Coosa Summit. Yellow birch trees grow around the Coosa Bald summit (2.9 miles from Wolf Pen Gap, 4270’ elevation). This is the southernmost limit of the yellow birch’s range. There are some large ones near the survey marker at the summit. The tree is recognizable by its twisted branches, peeling bark, and light yellow foliage.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7056/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/


The trail passes close to the rocky summit of Coosa Bald then drops straight down the ridge to White Oak Stomp. White Oak Stomp (3.8 miles, 3460’) is on the west side of Coosa Bald, where the DRT intersects FS-39. The trail is an old road bed that is blocked by the large rock. There is a spring directly across the road and approximately 150 yards downhill.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7057/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/

The spring at White Oak Stomp originates at the root base of a blown down tree ..
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7058/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/

Now that you know about this spring, carefully consider this: There are water sources on either side of the Coosa/Wildcat Mountains climb! There is no need to carry a lot of water over these two mountains! If you’re headed westbound the next water source is over 5 miles away, plan accordingly. If you’re headed eastbound, you’ll need water but there’s no need to carry more than enough for an hour’s worth of hiking until you get to Wolf Pen Gap. This is valuable information! Use it.

Leaving White Oak Stomp, there is a sidehill walk around Buckeye Knob (5.5 miles, 3820’) before a long drop into Buckeye Gap (6.5 miles, 3280’) where you’ll see FS-39 again.

Next is an extremely narrow sidehill trail across a steep slope overlooking farms in the valley below. The trail drops into Bryant Gap (7.1 miles, 3250’) where you’ll see FS-39 for the last time.
Across the road from Bryant Gap –used- to be an old FS road that led about a quarter mile to a stream. Recent road construction on FS-39 has obliterated this road. But you shouldn’t need water because you found the spring at White Oak Stamp, right?

A sharp climb out of Bryant Gap leads up to Buck Knob (3460), a drop to a small gap (7.9 miles, 3380’) then a short climb to West Wildcat Knob (8.2 miles, 3500’). There must have been a lot of wildcats in these mountains at one time, that makes two ‘Wildcats’ in 8 miles! After this Wildcat, there is a nicely switchbacked drop into Mulky Gap (9.1 miles, 2780’) , where FS-4 crosses the trail.

There are campsites and a spring down a gated road on the west side of Mulky Gap. Follow the road approximately 250 yards, where the road dips. The springs are to the right. This is really just an area of water seeps that combine to form a small stream, you might have to follow the stream downhill a little ways to find a place deep enough to get water.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7059/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/


Section 3 – Mulky Gap to GA-60 (11.4 miles)
This section is the stretch that has earned the DRT its reputation. The trail stays on or very near the ridge, there are few switchbacks, and very few peaks along the ridge are bypassed. It is quite remote, being interrupted only by one dead-end Forest Service road at Fish Gap. The DRT joins the Benton MacKaye Trail for the last 4 miles or so. GA-60 is a paved road, the same road that the AT crosses at Woody Gap. The trail crossing is about 15 miles from Suches.

You’ll start Akin and continue to Payne, mountain and knob, respectively. “Akin and Payne”, heh! Going west from Mulky, the next water source is over 4.5 miles away. Carry what you’ll need.

West of FS-4, the long but gradual climb up Akin Mtn begins. Although all maps show the trail heading straight up the ridge, the trail has been relocated with a series of long switchbacks to the south of the gap. There is a large patch of Ladyslipper orchids near the east base of Akin, near the road, that bloom in Spring. After summitting Akin (1.4 miles, 3530’),and dropping into a small gap, there is a short but steep climb to the top of Clements Mtn. (3500’).

There will be another climb to the top of Fish Knob before, finally, a relatively long flat section around a cove into Fish Gap (3.5 miles, 3100’) where FS-28 deadends. The entire area between Mulky and Fish Gaps show signs of a recent fire. The trail to the east of Fish Gap has many dead rhododendrons killed by the fire.

There is a gradual climb out of Fish Gap that follows a series of old Forest Service roads. The trail regains the ridge, rolls along it for awhile to about 3320’, then drops straight down into Sarvis Gap (4.6 miles, 3020’). A sign on a tree points to water, a good spring approximately 150 yards downstream. The next water source is about 3 miles away, but there’s a lot of climbs in between.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7060/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/

Now the fun starts! There are a series of major climbs from Sarvis Gap to Rhodes Mtn, including Payne Knob (5.1 miles, 3420’), Gregory Knob (5.9 miles, 3360’). There are signs of mining on the east side of Payne and a big trench dug on the western slope of Gregory. I believe mica was mined from these areas at one time.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6086/sort/1/cat/500/gallery/index.php

After Gregory, the DRT will climb over N-S ridge called Clingman’s Ridge. There appears to be a jeep road near the ridge that still gets occasional use. In other words, there’s some trash in this area. Beyond the Ridge is Rhodes Gap (6.7 miles, 2980’)

At the summit of Rhodes Mountain (7.1 miles, 3380) is a nice viewpoint. The summit is marked with a small cairn of rocks. Walk out on an exposed rock ledge to the north for a Kodak moment:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6087/sort/1/size/medium/cat/500/page/

After the DRT intersects the BMT downhill from Rhodes, it is about ½ mile to a campsite at the base of Licklog Mountain. Follow a trail, blazed with sloppy blue splashes on trees and orange surveyors tape to a spring.

This is the campsite at Licklog Gap, there is a small rock fire ring in the middle. The trail down to water starts to the right of the evergreen tree behind the fire ring. This is an important water stop, don’t miss it! The next water source is about 4 miles off.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7062/size/big/sort/1/cat/578

There is another campsite on the Licklog summit (8.2 miles, 3472’). It is marked with an old metal fence post. Several of these fence posts are scattered along the DRT – I believe they were once used for orienteering practice by the Army Rangers.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7061/size/big/sort/1/cat/578

Then a long climb up to Walhalla! Coming down Walhalla Mtn (9.7 miles, 3100’) on the south side, is a nice view of the Taccoa River valley.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7063/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/

Then there’s a long drop to Skeenah Creek and GA-60. A wooden footbridge crosses Skeenah Creek (11.4 miles, 2030’).
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7064/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/

Turning east on GA-60 for approximately ¼ mile is a store. At this store, “Martin’s Dixie Depot” are a pay phone, cold soft drinks, a short order grill with breakfast and lunch menu items like ham biscuits or hamburgers and BBQ sandwiches, a hardware store, short term food supplies, and some camping equipment though mostly car-camping stuff. The staff are friendly and hospitable mountain folk. Don’t be intimidated by the numerous in-your-face signs decorating the outside of the store or the staff uniform of rebel flag caps.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7065/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7066/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/

As you walk to the store, you’ll see that Skeenah Creek passes a farm with free-range chickens roaming along the creek. Aren’t you glad you didn’t get a drink from that stream? If you need water and aren’t going to the store, cross the road and within a quarter mile or so on the trail you’ll be beside a small creek.

Section 3: GA-60 to Long Creek Falls (10.8 miles).
This section, which runs concurrent with the Benton MacKaye Trail for its entire length, is the most heavily used portion of the Duncan Ridge Trail. Many locals go to the Taccoa River Bridge (reachable by high-clearance vehicles on a FS road), and many Scout groups also camp at the bridge. Weekends can draw fairly large crowds to the bridge area. Fortunately there is a beautiful, secluded campsite at Bryson Gap, less than 3 miles from the bridge.

The trail between GA-60 and the Taccoa River is over Tooni Mtn (2720’), really just a long ridge. The trail has been extensively relocated in several places since this sign was installed. The distances to the places listed are now probably a bit longer, but not by more than a quarter-mile or so.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7068/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/


The Taccoa River bridge (3.5 miles, 1900’), the highlight of this section, is 260 feet long.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7067/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6083/sort/1/cat/578/page/5

On the south side of the bridge, a small stream enters the river. That stream, not the river, is your water source.

After the bridge comes a long climb to regain the ridge. It crosses a closed road at Sapling Gap (5..4 miles, 2780’), then follows the ridge to the lower slopes of Big John Dick Mountain. Big John Dick and Little John Dick are the only mountains I’ve seen in this area that have both a first and a last name! I mean, there’s not “John Springer Mountain” or “Bill Justus Moutain”, but we have both Big and Little “John Dick Mountain”. Wonder why?

The trail doesn’t go over Big John’s mountain, it wraps around it. So climbing up Big John’s Mtn isn’t really that hard, it doesn’t rise much, the climb isn’t too stiff, you could say the trail just limps around the mountain. Or you might not. Anyway, a nice sidehill trail leads to Bryson Gap (6.3 miles, 2780’) where there is water and a beautiful grassy tent site with a well-constructed fire ring surrounded by stone and log seats.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7069/size/big/sort/1/cat/578
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7070/sort/1/size/medium/cat/578/page/1

Leaving Bryson Gap, the trail passes by the lower slopes of Little John Dick Mountain and regains the ridge where it again starts the no-switchback up and down climb and drop routine for which the DRT is famous.

On about the 5th mountaintop from Bryson there are several sets of grave-sized piles of rocks. These look similar to Indian graves I’ve seen in other places, but several locals have assured me that they are more likely piles of rocks cleared from fields during the time when these mountains were farmed.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7071/size/big/sort/1/cat/578

The summit of the last mountain before Long Creek has been cleared and planted in grass and clover for wildlife. There is a view of Springer mountain to the south.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7072/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/

Dropping off the mountain, the trail soon joins a small creek that eventually flows into Long Creek. Many small waterfalls, each singing its own melody, makes this portion of the trail a shaded, musical stroll through a beautiful rhododendron thicket. The DRT ends at the junction of the AT and Benton Mackaye Trails. The Benton Mac and the AT continue south on occasionally intersecting paths to Springer.
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7073/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/

Side Trip: Turning north on the AT for approximately half a mile, towards Hawk Mtn, you will come to a gravel road. Take a left on the road for 150 yards and you’ll see a covered picnic pavilion, and perhaps the strangest sight – a home made merry-go-round! Sit on the yellow tractor seats welded to the ends of the horizontal pipes, hold onto the handlebars, and give yourself a ride!
http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/7074/sort/1/size/big/cat/578/page/

So that’s the Duncan Ridge Trail: A roller-coaster walk with a merry-go-round waiting at the end!

---Dances with Mice.

Dances with Mice
04-01-2007, 11:24
Update: At this time the 4 miles of sidehill trail between White Oak Stomp and Bryant Gap no longer exist. That portion of the trail is unsafe. Walk FS road 39 between WOS and Bryant Gap.

Bryant will be recognizable by a wide gravel parking area on the south side of FS 39. There is a large bulletin board with nothing but bullet holes beside the parking area. Blue blazes and the trail will be visible on the north side of FS 39 with one tree marked in blue paint with an arrow pointing across the road and a circled "W". The water is about a quarter mile or more down an abandoned road in back of the parking area.

Dances with Mice
02-11-2008, 23:33
Let's try this again, with pictures.

But first, to answer a common question, the best map of the DRT is the "Guide to North Georgia Wildlife Management Areas" published by Atlantic Mapping, Inc. www.fishinggpsmaps.com (http://www.fishinggpsmaps.com), 770-426-5768. It's sold at many gas stations in the area and at Atlanta Wal-Marts, in their sporting goods section.

The DuncanRidge (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22132&catid=member&imageuser=1030) Trail (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22132&catid=member&imageuser=1030)is a blue-blazed trail connecting the Appalachian Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail in Georgia.

The ‘sections’ below are entirely arbitrary. I just hooked up trail terminus points with major road crossings, then major road crossings to each other. The description is clockwise, starting at the DRT-AT intersection on the south side of Blood Mtn.

Section 1 – DRT Terminus at Blood Mtn to Wolf Pen Gap (2.3 miles)
Just a short stretch between the eastern trailhead and the first road crossing.

The DRT terminus was moved to the base of Blood Mountain (http://www.home.earthlink.net/~stewartholt/AT/Slaughter%20Gap%20Relocation%20Map.jpg)when the AT was relocated around Slaughter Gap. It is about 1 mile from its junction with the AT to the sign just west of Slaughter Gap at an intersection of several trails. The DRT is concurrent with the Coosa Backcountry Trail for most of this section.

This sign (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22142&catid=member&imageuser=1030)marks the ‘old’ terminus of the DuncanRidge Trail near Slaughter Gap. The terminus was relocated after the AT was relo’d to bypass Slaughter.

From the above sign it is about 1.3 miles to Wolf Pen Gap. The trail traverses across the flat, fern covered peak of Slaughter Mountain (4140 feet) then drops sharply through hardwoods and scrub brush to Wolf Pen Gap (3260 feet). A paved road, GA-128, crosses the trail here. Ready to bail out (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22140&catid=member&imageuser=1030)yet?

Wolf Pen Gap (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22141&catid=member&imageuser=1030)– The view is looking south from the east side of GA -180. Water is available where the road curves in the background, on the west side of GA-180.

Campsites beside a stream are behind and downhill from this sign (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22133&catid=member&imageuser=1030)on the east side of GA-180. It will, rather obviously, be a bit of a bushwhack at first, then the old roadbed clears. GA-180 gets lots of motorcycle traffic on the weekends. Walk back a bit to get away from most of the noise.

Section 2 – Wolf Pen Gap to Mulky Gap (9.1 miles)
This section runs mostly along the northern edge of the Cooper Creek Wildlife Management Area. The DRT shares the same path as the Coosa Backcountry Trail from Wolf Pen Gap to near the top of Coosa Bald. At Wolf Pen Gap a gravel Forest Service Road (FS-39) parallels the ridge and the DRT until Bryant Gap. The DRT will intersect this road several times but will not cross it. Mulky Gap is crossed by an all-weather gravel Forest Service Road, FS-4.

From Wolf Pen Gap, the climb up Wildcat Mountain (3840’) is long. It goes over a shoulder of the mountain then sidehill across the mountain’s slope. Just when you might believe the trail will bypass the mountain, the trail turns and climbs right to the summit. The downhill on the west side of Wildcat is easy! The trail intersects and follows FS-39 road at Wildcat Gap (3180’) for approximately 30 yards before beginning the climb to Coosa Bald. I looked for a spring near Wildcat Gap but did not find one.

The trail up the west side of Coosa Bald is an old road that, evidently, still gets some ORV traffic. The trail is rough, rocky, and not very pretty (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22134&catid=member&imageuser=1030).
The Coosa Backcountry Trail turns away from the DRT a few hundred yards from the Coosa Summit. Yellow birch trees (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22135&catid=member&imageuser=1030)grow around the Coosa Bald summit (2.9 miles from Wolf Pen Gap, 4270’ elevation). This is the southernmost limit of the yellow birch’s range. There are some large ones near the survey marker at the summit. The tree is recognizable by its twisted branches, peeling bark, and light yellow foliage.

The trail passes close to the rocky summit of Coosa Bald then drops straight down the ridge to White Oak Stomp. White Oak Stomp (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22136&catid=member&imageuser=1030)(3.8 miles, 3460’) is on the west side of Coosa Bald, where the DRT intersects FS-39. The trail is an old road bed that is blocked by the large rock. After walking on the beaten footpaths of the AT and Coosa Backcountry Trails, the DRT is a soft carpet by comparison. Notice the grass growing in the footpath. In Spring, parts of the DRT are covered by wild violets.
There is a spring directly across the road and approximately 150 yards downhill. It’s easy to find – across the road you’ll see a small valley sloping away from the road. The spring is in the middle of the valley. The spring originates at the root base of a blown down tree (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22156&c=683).

Now that you know about this spring, carefully consider this: There are water sources on either side of the Coosa/Wildcat Mountains climb! There is no need to carry a lot of water over these two mountains! If you’re headed westbound the next water source is over 5 miles away, plan accordingly. If you’re headed eastbound, you’ll need water but there’s no need to carry more than enough for an hour’s worth of hiking until you get to Wolf Pen Gap. This is valuable information! Use it.

Leaving White Oak Stomp, there is a sidehill walk around Buckeye Knob (5.5 miles, 3820’) before a long drop into Buckeye Gap (6.5 miles, 3280’) where you’ll see FS-39 again.

Next is an extremely narrow sidehill trail across a steep slope overlooking farms in the valley below. The trail drops into Bryant Gap (7.1 miles, 3250’) where you’ll see FS-39 for the last time.

Across the road from Bryant Gap –used- to be an old FS road that led about a quarter mile to a stream. Recent road construction on FS-39 has obliterated this road. I suppose you could bushwhack back and find the spring. But you shouldn’t need water here because you found the spring at White Oak Stamp, right?

A sharp climb out of Bryant Gap leads up to Buck Knob (3460), a drop to a small gap (7.9 miles, 3380’) then a short climb to West Wildcat Knob (8.2 miles, 3500’). There must have been a lot of wildcats in these mountains at one time, that makes two ‘Wildcats’ in 8 miles! After this Wildcat, there is a nicely switchbacked drop into Mulky Gap (9.1 miles, 2780’) , where FS-4 crosses the trail.

There are campsites and a spring down a gated road (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22137&catid=member&imageuser=1030)on the west side of Mulky Gap. Follow the road approximately 250 yards, where the road dips. The springs are to the right. This is really just an area of water seeps that combine to form a small stream, you might have to follow the stream downhill a little ways to find a place deep enough to get water.

Section 3 – Mulky Gap to GA-60 (11.4 miles)
This section is the stretch that has earned the DRT its reputation. The trail stays on or very near the ridge, there are few switchbacks, and very few peaks along the ridge are bypassed. It is quite remote, being interrupted only by one dead-end Forest Service road at Fish Gap. The DRT joins the Benton MacKaye Trail for the last 4 miles or so. GA-60 is a paved road, the same road that the AT crosses at Woody Gap. The trail crossing is about 15 miles from Suches.

You’ll start Akin and continue to Payne, mountain and knob, respectively. “Akin and Payne”, heh! Going west from Mulky, the next water source is over 4.5 miles away. Carry what you’ll need.

West of FS-4, the long but gradual climb up Akin Mtn begins. Although all maps show the trail heading straight up the ridge, and the old trail route is still visible, the trail has been relocated with a series of long switchbacks to the south of the gap. There is a large patch of Ladyslipper orchids (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=5503&catid=member&imageuser=1030)near the east base of Akin, near the road, that bloom in Spring. After summitting Akin (1.4 miles, 3530’),and dropping into a small gap, there is a short but steep climb to the top of Clements Mtn. (3500’).

There will be another climb to the top of Fish Knob before, finally, a relatively long flat section around a cove into Fish Gap (3.5 miles, 3100’) where FS-28 deadends. The entire area between Mulky and Fish Gaps show signs of a fire. The trail to the east of Fish Gap has many dead rhododendrons killed by the fire.

There is a gradual climb out of Fish Gap that follows a series of old Forest Service roads. Watch for direction changes in the trail, I’ve missed where the trail leaves one old roadbed and cuts across to another. The trail regains the ridge, rolls along it for awhile to about 3320’, then drops straight down into Sarvis Gap (4.6 miles, 3020’). A sign on a tree (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22138&catid=member&imageuser=1030)points to water, a good spring approximately 150 yards downstream. The next water source is about 3 miles away, but there’s a lot of climbs in between.


Now the fun really starts! There are a series of major climbs from Sarvis Gap to Rhodes Mtn, including Payne Knob (5.1 miles, 3420’), Gregory Knob (5.9 miles, 3360’). There are signs of mining on the east side of Payne and a big trench dug on the western slope of Gregory. I believe mica was mined from these areas at one time. An old trench (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22159&c=683)is to the left of my backpack and although the photo doesn’t show it, there are fist-sized chunks of mica laying all around.

After Gregory, the DRT will climb over N-S ridge called Clingman’s Ridge. You can easily see the ridge as you approach it. There appears to be a jeep road near the ridge that still gets occasional use. In other words, there’s some trash in this area. Once over ther ridge, you'll drop down into Rhodes Gap (6.7 miles, 2980’)

At the summit of Rhodes Mountain (7.1 miles, 3380) is a nice viewpoint. The summit is marked with a small cairn of rocks. Walk out on an exposed rock ledge (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22161&c=683)to the north for a Kodak moment,

After the DRT intersects the BMT downhill from Rhodes, it is about ½ mile to a campsite at the base of Licklog Mountain. Follow a trail, blazed with sloppy blue splashes on trees and orange surveyors tape to a spring.

The campsite at Licklog Gap is marked by a fire ring in the middle of a small clearing. This is an important water stop, don’t miss it! The next water source is about 4 miles off. There is a tree with a faint “W” (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22143&catid=member&imageuser=1030) carved into the bark – not the best way to mark the way to water.

There is another campsite on the Licklog summit (8.2 miles, 3472’). It is marked with an old metal fence post (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22144&catid=member&imageuser=1030). Several of these fence posts are scattered along the DRT – I believe they were once used for orienteering practice by the Army Rangers.

Then a long climb up to Walhalla! Coming down Walhalla Mtn (9.7 miles, 3100’) on the south side, is a nice view of the Taccoa River valley (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22145&catid=member&imageuser=1030).


Then there’s a long drop to Skeenah Creek and GA-60. A wooden footbridge (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22146&catid=member&imageuser=1030)crosses Skeenah Creek (11.4 miles, 2030’).
Turning east on GA-60 for approximately ¼ mile is a store. At this store, “Martin’s Dixie Depot” (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22147&catid=member&imageuser=1030) are a pay phone, cold soft drinks, a short order grill with breakfast and lunch menu items like ham biscuits or hamburgers and BBQ sandwiches, a hardware store, short term food supplies, and some camping equipment though mostly car-camping stuff. The staff are friendly and hospitable mountain folk. Don’t be intimidated by the numerous in-your-face signs decorating the outside of the store or their rebel flag themed outfits

As you walk to the store, you’ll see that Skeenah Creek passes a farm with free-range chickens roaming along the creek. Aren’t you glad you didn’t get a drink from that stream? If you need water and aren’t going to the store, cross the road and within a quarter mile or so on the trail you’ll be beside a small creek.

Section 3: GA-60 to Long Creek Falls (10.8 miles).
This section, which runs concurrent with the Benton MacKaye Trail for its entire length, is the most heavily used portion of the DuncanRidge Trail. Many locals go to the Taccoa River Bridge (reachable by high-clearance vehicles on a FS road), and many Scout groups also camp at the bridge. Weekends can draw fairly large crowds to the bridge area. Fortunately there is a beautiful, secluded campsite at Bryson Gap, less than 3 miles from the bridge.

The trail between GA-60 and the Taccoa River is over Tooni Mtn (2720’), really just a long ridge. The trail has been extensively relocated in several places since this sign (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22148&catid=member&imageuser=1030)was installed. The distances to the places listed are now probably a bit longer, but not by more than a quarter-mile or so.
The trail climbs very gradually through a mature hardwood forest to the ridge. Once atop the ridge it rolls along with a few short ups and downs until a long, winding switchback drops to the river. The Taccoa River bridge (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22150&catid=member&imageuser=1030)(3.5 miles, 1900’), the highlight (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22151&catid=member&imageuser=1030) of this section, is 260 feet long.

On the south side of the bridge, a small stream enters the river. That stream, not the river, is your water source. You think the chickens upstream of Skeenah Creek were bad? There’s lots of cows upstream of the Taccoa.

After the bridge comes a long, steep climb to regain the ridge. It crosses a closed road at Sapling Gap (5..4 miles, 2780’), then follows the ridge to the lower slopes of Big John Dick Mountain. Big John Dick and Little John Dick are the only mountains I’ve seen in this area that have both a first and a last name! I mean, there’s not “John Springer Mountain” or “Bill Justus Moutain”, but we have both Big and Little “John Dick Mountain”. Wonder why?

The trail doesn’t go over Big John’s mountain, it wraps around it. So climbing up Big John’s Mtn isn’t really that hard, it doesn’t rise much, the climb isn’t too stiff, you could say the trail just limps around the mountain. Or you might not. Anyway, a nice sidehill trail leads to Bryson Gap (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22152&catid=member&imageuser=1030)(6.3 miles, 2780’) where there is water and a beautiful grassy tent site (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22153&catid=member&imageuser=1030)with a fire ring surrounded by stone and log seats.

Leaving Bryson Gap, the trail passes by the lower slopes of Little John Dick Mountain and regains the ridge where it again starts the no-switchback up and down climb and drop routine for which the DRT is famous. These climbs aren’t as intense as the ones north of GA-60, you’re just rolling along a long ridge again.

The summit of the last mountain before Long Creek has been cleared and planted in grass (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22154&catid=member&imageuser=1030)and clover for wildlife. There is a view of Springer mountain to the south. NOTE: During hunting seasons – both the spring turkey season and the fall deer season, make some noise when approaching this clearing.

Dropping off the mountain, the trail soon joins a small creek that eventually flows into Long Creek. Many small waterfalls, each singing its own melody, makes this portion of the trail a shaded, musical stroll through a beautiful rhododendron thicket. The DRT ends at the junction of the AT and Benton Mackaye Trails. (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=22155&catid=member&imageuser=1030)The Benton Mac and the AT continue south on occasionally intersecting paths to Springer.

---Dances with Mice.

Dances with Mice
04-02-2008, 22:29
Update and corrections. My last trail guide describes the trail counter-clockwise. If you can now trust a directionally challenged trail guide author, continue reading.

The GATC has taken over responsibility for maintenance of the DRT. The GATC will do maintenance to keep the trail open - blazing, signing, clearing blowdowns and weed whacking - but will not maintain the trail to the same standards as their portion of the AT. It's a wilderness trail. It will be adequately but not abundantly blazed. Relos or additional switchbacks aren't going to happen. Shelters or privies? Forget about it.

The trail is now (this date) cleared of all blowdowns for its entire length. The trail is blazed with new plastic blazes set with nails designed to allow tree growth without swallowing the blaze or harming the tree. Some new signs at trail intersections or road crossings have been installed - at the Benton Mac intersection and at Mulky Gap, for example. The road leading to water is directly behind the new "Duncan Ridge Trail" sign.

Today I walked Fish Gap to the Benton Mac intersection near Rhodes Mtn. Here's news you can use:

The water sign at Sarvis Gap is no more. There is no sign pointing the way to water. Where the sign used to be is now just a collection of nails in a tree. Water is about 200 yards to the north, walk down the northern slope (opposite direction of the farmland view side of the ridge) and look for a place that seems like a stream should be there. A line of vegetation in a depression running downhill is a good clue. You'll find it. The spring is flowing at this time.

Speaking of Sarvis Gap, continuing counter-clockwise from there the next mountains are: Payne Knob (it really is a pain), Gregory Mtn (with an old pit mine on the downhill flank), then you'll climb over a ridge running across the Duncan Ridge. That's all as described in the guide. Imagine my surprise when I found yet another mountain between that ridge and Rhodes Mtn. I don't know who put it there but I'd like to strangle them. I don't know the name of the mountain. It's about as high and steep as Payne or Gregory. I was not amused.

This portion of the trail is in good shape. Pay attention to blazes, double blaze means the trail turns. The lead hiker in our maintenance crew walked off in the wrong direction once when he missed a turn.

And this is a good time to mention that a map and compass shouldn't be considered optional gear on the DRT.

take-a-knee
04-02-2008, 22:45
Many thanks DWM.

bloodmountainman
04-03-2008, 10:02
Great information!!!! This is a big help in planning this hike in October!
Thanks:D

take-a-knee
04-03-2008, 10:49
Great information!!!! This is a big help in planning this hike in October!
Thanks:D

That would be deer/bear season, wear some orange.

Dances with Mice
04-03-2008, 11:30
The water sign at Sarvis Gap is no more. There is no sign pointing the way to water. Where the sign used to be is now just a collection of nails in a tree. Water is about 200 yards to the north, walk down the northern slope (opposite direction of the farmland view side of the ridge) and look for a place that seems like a stream should be there. A line of vegetation in a depression running downhill is a good clue. You'll find it. The spring is flowing at this time. Uh, I guess that's another directionally challenged description. The spring is south rather than north of the trail. Away from the steep drop with a view of the farms in the valley.

Oh, forget the directions. The take-away information is that there is a spring at Sarvis Gap. When you get there think "If I were a spring, where would I be?" Then walk there. Can't miss it.

bloodmountainman
04-03-2008, 11:51
That would be deer/bear season, wear some orange.I intend this to be a hunting - hike. This trail is close to home and I'll find a way to retrieve any game taken. ;)

take-a-knee
04-03-2008, 12:35
I intend this to be a hunting - hike. This trail is close to home and I'll find a way to retrieve any game taken. ;)

We need to hook up. This sounds like an adventure.

Dances with Mice
04-03-2008, 14:18
I intend this to be a hunting - hike. This trail is close to home and I'll find a way to retrieve any game taken. You can skip the Mulky Gap to Benton Mackay portion then.

There's only one animal stupid enough to follow that path.

Dances with Mice
04-03-2008, 15:41
A couple of photos of the GATC clearing the DRT.

Before. (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=23602&catid=newimages&cutoffdate=1)

After. (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=23603&catid=newimages&cutoffdate=1)

That soft, leaf-covered path in the "After" photo is the trail. It ain't the AT.

Egads
04-03-2008, 18:09
Oh, forget the directions. The take-away information is that there is a spring at Sarvis Gap. When you get there think "If I were a spring, where would I be?" Then walk there. Can't miss it.

I'll bet you are a hoot to hike with too.

DWM, thanks for all your hard work.

Egads

Skidsteer
04-03-2008, 18:14
I'll bet you are a hoot to hike with too.

DWM, thanks for all your hard work.

Egads

That's an understatement.

Dances with Mice
04-03-2008, 18:36
DWM, thanks for all your hard work.Thank the GATC. On this trip I just rolled logs out of the way and carried gas for the chainsaws. I tried to get the sawyers to top off their tanks as often as possible.

So I just rolled logs and passed gas.

Dances with Mice
04-04-2008, 09:43
Speaking of Sarvis Gap, continuing counter-clockwise from there the next mountains are: Payne Knob (it really is a pain), Gregory Mtn (with an old pit mine on the downhill flank), then you'll climb over a ridge running across the Duncan Ridge. That's all as described in the guide. Imagine my surprise when I found yet another mountain between that ridge and Rhodes Mtn. I don't know who put it there but I'd like to strangle them. I don't know the name of the mountain. It's about as high and steep as Payne or Gregory. I was not amused.I had to look this one up - I was sure I was in Rhodes Mtn Gap then I had to climb another mountain to get to Rhodes. What's up with that? The "new mountain" to the west of Rhodes Mtn Gap is "just" a shoulder of Rhodes Mtn.

Boy, is it a big damn shoulder (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101721653630761113264.00044a0c2b1df2bd1633e&ll=34.799109,-84.116006&spn=0.015541,0.025663&t=p&z=15). And the ridge between Gregory and Rhodes is named "Chinquapin Ridge" but I'm sure you can make up your own name for it. I did.

Optoomistic
04-05-2008, 01:00
just hiked thru the drt from west to east and ill say that its reputation as challenging is well deserved. I'll put it this way. Dont take out of shape rookies that you work with they will bring cans of beer, steaks, whiskey and a fishing pole?? and not get up the first hill... quitting before the first night.. and the other two, one a self proclaimed "alpha male" thumbing it to 60 early on day 2... shakes head..

water sources are not marked
the trail was blazed and cleared inconsistently (from cosa bald to 180 there were 2 major re-routings unmarked and confusing)
id love to see a few of the summits marked as-well for reference

that being said
the remote and rugged qualities of the trail make for an adventure and as sore as your legs might get and as scarce as the water may seem, your really not far from rescue if it hits the fan GO FOR IT but dont bring "the guys from work"

Dances with Mice
04-05-2008, 08:20
just hiked thru the drt from west to east That was one great trip report. Tell us some more! So your buddies never made it past GA-60? Did you tell them that was the easy part? The DRT has chewed up and spit out a lot of hikers, myself included.

I'm going to try to mark some water sources on my walk this year.

The trail hasn't been relo'd but it can be confusing in places. It's a good time to talk about it - the trail will often follow old logging roads for relatively long stretches. The trail will be wide and well-graded then it will veer off the old roadbed. The roadbed continues and if you miss where the trail goes you tend to keep walking down the roadbed. The trail isn't worn down to mineral soil like the AT, it's covered with leaves and grass so it can be easy for a tired hiker to keep slogging away the wrong way. If the trail makes a turn it will be double blazed but sometimes the roadbed turns and the trail continues straight. Those places won't be double blazed. If you start fighting through a lot of blowdowns you're probably off the trail. Turn around and backtrack looking for blazes.

We tried to barricade off some of those places on our last work trip. But some locals ride those old jeep roads during hunting season, clearing blowdowns and barricades as they go. I've seen a jeep at Bryson Gap, a place where the trail slants off a roadbed.

So stay alert. The trail is what it is. It's a little surprising that happened to you around Coosa because somebody went wild blazing the Coosa Trail portion with yellow paint.

It's a physically demanding trail that you have to think your way through.

Dances with Mice
04-13-2008, 18:16
Next week I'm hiking the DRT, east to west. Mr. Two Speed has kindly volunteered to shuttle me from the Springer lot, where I'll leave a vehicle, to Winfield Scott where I'll take the Slaughter Creek Trail up to meet the AT near the start of the DRT.

And by the way, be aware that if Two ever offers to shuttle you he has a tendency to ask lots of nit-picky questions like "What day do you want to start?" and "Where should I meet you?" and "What time will you be there?" and "Where do you want me to drop you off?" He wanted to know all sorts of miniscule trivia like that. I humored him and eventually provided answers to all those questions.

I'll be taking notes & photos and updating the Trail Guide. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there any sort of information you'd like to know that is missing from the previous guides?

But wait! There's more! I'll be carrying signs to mark three water sources - the one at White Oak Stomp, Bryson Gap, and Licklog Gap, none of which are now marked. The GATC has given their permission and blessing so it's official.

I have sections of cedar fence boards painted with large blue "W"s and arrows. I'll place one facing each way on the Trail at the turn-off to the water source, pointing to the water and another with just a "W" somewhere near the source. So three markers per water source, follow the arrows and look for the last marker. I have a spare for possible placement at Bryant Gap if I can locate the source, road construction obliterated the old FS road that used to lead to a stream.

That will leave two major water sources unmarked - at Wolfpen Gap and Mulky Gap. Those sources are a ways off the trail on roads so I can't mark them.

This is going to be a slow hike with all the stopping and carrying what amounts to enough wood for a very nice campfire most of the way, plus a bunch of monster nails, a hammer and a big honking knife for smoothing the bark under the signs and trimming branches if needed to place the signs. Rambo himself would be scared of this knife. So if anyone wants to meet me and hike for a bit it will be no problem trying to find or keep up with me. Leaving beer at any road crossing ahead of me is sure to earn you big Karma points.

If I could locate a surveyor's wheel I'd take that too. Might as well since "ultralight" and "fast" are not going to be words used to describe this hike now anyway. There's a week before I start if anyone knows of one I could borrow.

I'm really looking forward to this. It's my spring break.

envirodiver
04-14-2008, 11:01
Yeah I missed where the trail slanted off the roadbed at Bryson Gap. It was a long walk back up the mountain after I realized my error.

How many total miles is the BMT, DRT, AT loop?

Dances with Mice
04-14-2008, 11:11
Yeah I missed where the trail slanted off the roadbed at Bryson Gap. It was a long walk back up the mountain after I realized my error.

How many total miles is the BMT, DRT, AT loop?Twice in different years I've spaced out and missed turns off roadbeds between Fish and Bryson Gaps. The Loop is about 60'ish or high-70'ish miles depending on if you include the portion from Long Creek Falls to Springer and back or not.

envirodiver
04-14-2008, 11:18
Hmmmm the loop sounds like a great week hike. Sounds like you could walk 8-10 miles per day and do it in a week easy. I've done the BMT section to where the DRT splits off to the east, but really liked it and wouldn't mind doing it again.

Is there a prefered direction that it would be better to do the loop?

Dances with Mice
04-14-2008, 12:48
Something didn't look right - and it wasn't. I've already gotten lost and I haven't even left yet.

Substitute Sarvis Gap for Bryson Gap in my last couple of entries. Markers at White Oak, Sarvis, and Licklog will be installed. The spring at Bryson is already well marked.

Egads
04-14-2008, 17:18
Don't forget to mark the stream at Hwy 60 "Drink at your own risk, chicken poop in water".:eek:

Egads

John Klein
04-14-2008, 17:36
[quote=Dances with Mice;593985]Is there any sort of information you'd like to know...
quote]
Campsites, please. Thanks for marking the water sources. I'm sure you'll let us know how well they are flowing.

Hikerhead
04-14-2008, 18:58
Something didn't look right - and it wasn't. I've already gotten lost and I haven't even left yet.

Substitute Sarvis Gap for Bryson Gap in my last couple of entries. Markers at White Oak, Sarvis, and Licklog will be installed. The spring at Bryson is already well marked.

The one at Licklog will be appreciated by the BMT hikers also. Thanks

kentuckyblue
04-15-2008, 22:08
There are several of us 2007 thru-hikers trying to do this loop before Trail Days. What are your recommendations for direction? Your trail guide is counter-clockwise, just curious.

Egads
04-15-2008, 22:44
Depends on whether you want to hike the hard part first or last. The climbs on the DRT will be easier with a lighter pack (last), but it will be easier with fresher legs (first). You choose.

It also depends on where you start.

The hardest section is from Hwy 60 north to Blood (clockwise). The rest is easy.

Egads

Dances with Mice
04-17-2008, 08:55
There are several of us 2007 thru-hikers trying to do this loop before Trail Days. What are your recommendations for direction? Your trail guide is counter-clockwise, just curious.I've done it both ways. In Spring I think it's fun to go with the flow of the aspiring thru-hikers on the AT portion, so that's the way I've done it the last couple of years and mostly why the trail guide is counter-clockwise. Your starting point determines whether you do the AT portion first (start at Springer) or last (start at Blood and do the DRT/BMT first.)

I like to do the DRT/BMT portion first, either direction. You get the hardest portion over first with fresh legs and then the AT looks like an 8-lane super highway.

Dances with Mice
04-19-2008, 13:48
Bag is packed, just killing time waiting to go.... Here's some figures to share:

Pack with hiking stuff (tent, bag, clothes, stove, etc), no food, fuel or water - 15 pounds.

Pack with 4 days food - 22 pounds.

Pack with all the above plus fuel, signs, nails, big honking knife, maps, notebook and copy of trail guide to revise on the go - 32 pounds. Not too bad, really.

A week off in Spring to hike the DRT then help clear my section of the AT: Priceless.

And with that I'm about out of here! Look for an update next week.

Oh, almost forgot: Beer. Road crossings. Beer. Road crossings. Beer. Road crossings.

Dances with Mice
04-24-2008, 21:22
OK, I'm at Cloud 9 tonite, finished the Duncan Ridge yesterday evening, waiting here for my co-maintainer to come up tomorrow and hit our portion of the AT.

So I hiked using my trail guide and made copious notes and at the top, written in all caps, underlined, are the words "KEEP THE GUIDE TO ONE FRICKIN' PAGE!!"

Update coming soon. Trail's in good condition, all water sources are flowing well, 3 of them are newly marked and one more is marked more clearly. The DRT is blue blazed, right? So how did the Benton Mac maintainers mark the trail to water at Licklog Gap? Right. It's blue blazed. The DRT gets no respect.

To DRT hikers it appeared that the Benton Mac & DRT split at Licklog gap. But now the first blue blazes at that gap are co-signed with "W" signs. Sources at Whie Oak Stomp and Sarvis Gap are also marked, as is the road leading to water at Mulky Gap.

The Trail is well marked, no major blow-downs, and the briars and brambles haven't covered the trail. Yet.

It was a good hike.

Egads
04-24-2008, 21:45
The DRT is blue blazed, right? So how did the Benton Mac maintainers mark the trail to water at Licklog Gap? Right. It's blue blazed. The DRT gets no respect.

To DRT hikers it appeared that the Benton Mac & DRT split at Licklog gap. But now the first blue blazes at that gap are co-signed with "W" signs.


I noticed that too. Also, there are few if any blue blazes for the DRT on the ridge between Licklog & Rhodes Mtns.

Enjoy your hike.

Egads

Dances with Mice
04-29-2008, 14:06
I haven't loaded my photos yet or redone the trail guide but I guess a trip report is overdue.

The DRT is in the best shape I've ever seen it. Sunday afternoon Two Speed dropped me off on the Slaughter Creek Trail, I hiked up to the AT and up the southern side of Blood to the DRT intersection. I meant to camp on Wildcat but missed the campsites somebody had reported beside the newly relo'd trail. So I found an idyllic little campsite on the east side of Coosa. Nice little fire ring, cute little grassy tent clearing, great view to the north, giant dead tree with broken trunk leaning over the campsite. Yeah, everything was perfect except for that whole 'chance of being crushed to death' thing. I tented across the trail out of range of the leaner.

Monday I hiked to Mulky Gap. I stopped and marked the spring at White Oak Stomp with "W" signs pointing across the road, and placed another sign down near the spring. The trail was well marked but you had to hike with your head up. The trail often follows old logging roads then slides off the road onto a single track path. Since the trail isn't worn down to mineral soil you can easily miss these changes and continue merrily down the roadbed. You have to watch for the blazes. After the DRT splits from the Coosa backcountry, the path is often covered with leaves or even grass. There are even some intersecting game trails that look just like the DRT. The sidehill portion that had been rooted out by wild hogs last year had settled and firmed up. I cowboy camped above the water source at Mulky Gap and, on the way out the next morning, left a "W" sign at the gated entrance to the road that leads to water.

Tuesday I did the mountains between Mulky and a little campsite just north of Walhalla. I marked the spring at Sarvis and added signs at Licklog Gap. The trail is easy to follow on this portion. It's almost always directly on the ridge.

Wednesday I hiked over Walhalla Mtn and continued on to the Springer parking. After the DRT hits the Benton Mac, you're back on a much more worn, easy to follow footpath.

Nice weather, all water sources were flowing. Dogwoods were blooming and bloodroot was just starting to flower.

The only interesting wildlife were two vultures perched on the side of Slaughter Mtn.

Skidsteer
04-29-2008, 18:05
Dang, I figured you were ahead of me.

I did the Slaughter-AT-Jarrard Gap loop hoping to catch you. Got back to Winfield Scott about lunchtime or a little after.

Dances with Mice
04-29-2008, 18:19
Dang, I figured you were ahead of me.

I did the Slaughter-AT-Jarrard Gap loop hoping to catch you. Got back to Winfield Scott about lunchtime or a little after.We started this treck off in grand fashion. Two, me and a buddy of mine left Springer Sunday morning and bushwhacked over to the AT. Only it was the Benton Mac.

We discovered this but figured "What the heck, how far out of the way can it be?" and instead of turnng around we kept going. Later we looked at the map and discovered the answer was about 5 miles.

So that's how you turn a 0.9 mile downhill stroll into a 6 mile walk and an early morning start into a mid-afternoon start. But it reminded me to pay close attention to my whereabouts while on the DRT.

And we drove up to the end of Slaughter Gap road, didn't start at the park.

Hoop
04-29-2008, 21:24
DwM,
Thanks for all your work - locating water (or at least the signs) will be easier. Plan on a Fall hike there. Please post when you update the trail guide.

Egads
04-29-2008, 22:21
We started this treck off in grand fashion. Two, me and a buddy of mine left Springer Sunday morning and bushwhacked over to the AT. Only it was the Benton Mac.

Did you happen to check out the blue blaze trail about 1.75 mi down the BMT from Springer? Nice overlook facing NE.

Egads

Dances with Mice
04-29-2008, 22:43
DwM,
Thanks for all your work - locating water (or at least the signs) will be easier. Plan on a Fall hike there. Please post when you update the trail guide.Take long pants. Between Coosa & the Benton Mac intersection there are lots of brambles. Not only leaning over the trail but also growing IN the trail. The Benton Mac & Coosa Backcountry portions are clear.


Did you happen to check out the blue blaze trail about 1.75 mi down the BMT from Springer? Nice overlook facing NE.We saw it but didn't walk it.

whitefoot_hp
04-30-2008, 15:42
DWM, how was that section which was ransacked by wild boars?

troglobil
04-30-2008, 17:10
DWM, how was that section which was ransacked by wild boars?


The sidehill portion that had been rooted out by wild hogs last year had settled and firmed up.

This answer the question?

Dances with Mice
04-30-2008, 20:12
DWM, how was that section which was ransacked by wild boars?It was firm but really narrow - the trail is only about a foot wide through that portion.

This section is immediately before Bryant Gap going counter-clockwise.

Cool! I just tried this - Go to Google, switch to maps and type in "Bryant Gap, Georgia". It came up in 'terrain' mode for me.

Just west of Buckeye Gap the trail turns due north and follows that side ridge over two hills then sidehills south back to Bryant Gap. It then goes due west over a ridge, one end is called Buck Knob the other end West Wildcat Knob. It's really the same mountain. Mulky Gap is northwest of W Wildcat. Water, and where I camped, is down the road called "Old Mulky Gap Rd", though no roadsigns like that are on the ground.

ytsuejam
05-08-2008, 08:33
I just hiked from Three forks to Hwy 60 on an overnight.As of yesterday,the Bryson gap spring is just a seep,almost.The water source just before Hwy 60 was nowhere to be found..all dried up.So I just walked back to the river on Tuesday evening.

To recap:(North bound)last water source is the streams/heath thickets before the cleared Mtn. top until spring right before the Toccoa River.

As others mentioned,the trail is nice and soft compared to the AT.I didn't see one person after I left the AT.

Patrick

ytsuejam
05-10-2008, 08:16
Weird...I can't edit that last post.
Anyways,I forgot to mention that the clearing on top of the first ascent from 3 three forks look weird with out getting a mow for awhile.

Dances with Mice
05-11-2008, 22:30
I tried to download new photos of the DRT but had problems, mostly because file sizes are too big. I'll download them to another site and post links later. For now, let's try the 1 Page DRT Trailguide: Counterclockwise.

Section 1 - Blood Mtn Trailhead to Wildcat Gap. 2.5 miles
Trail is easy to follow and well marked. From Blood it follows the old route of the AT to near Slaughter Gap, then cuts north, joins the Coosa Backcountry Trail and regains the ridge. It follows the ridge to Wildcat. WATER - About 1 mile past the Blood Mtn trailhead is a small creek the trail crosses with stepping stones. At Wildcat Gap water is south on the road. CAMPSITES - down a closed road immediately south of the Trail, east side of road: Flat campsites on overgrown logging road above a stream.

Section 2 - Wildcat Gap to Mulky Gap, about 8 miles.
Extensive trail relo around Wildcat Mtn. WATER - Whiteoak Stomp, Mulky Gap. CAMPSITES on east side of Coosa (dry), just west of Coosa summit (dry), several campsites at various gaps between Whiteoak Stomp and Bryant Gaps (dry) and Mulky Gap.

Heads up! Once the trail separates from the Coosa the trail will often follow old logging roads then cut away from them and rejoin another old road. The cutoffs are blazed but your attention is required. The Trail is not worn and becomes a soft forest path. This may be the least-used portion of the trail. I can't emphasize this enough: Stay alert! Old logging roads and even game trails resemble the DRT along this section. Watch for blazes and check your map often.

Water location at Whiteoak is marked. It's across the road and downhill. Water at Mulky is down a gated road, a tree at the gate is marked with a blue "W" sign. Water and campsites at Mulky are about 250 yards down the road, west side of road. Trees in the area have been bulldozed down, so lots of firewood (!!!). Nice campsite between spring and road on old logging road.

Mulky Gap to GA-60 - about 11 miles. WATER - Mulky (described above), Sarvis Gap, Licklog Gap. CAMPSITES - Fish Gap (drY), Sarvis Gap, Rhodes Mtn summit (dry), Licklog Gap, Wallalah Gap (dry), just before GA-60 (creek not recommended as water source).

Easy trail to follow, difficult footpath to walk. Lots of climbing. Trail connects with Benton MacKay downhill from Rhodes Summit. Springs at Sarvis and Licklog Gaps are marked. Creek immediately before GA-60 is downstream from livestock. Small store about 1/4 mile east on GA-60 has resupply items, drinks, and prepared food but no beer. :-(

GA-60 to Long Creek Falls - about 11.5 miles. WATER - stream south side of Taccoa footbridge, Byson Gap, stream 1/4 mile south of large wildlife clearing near mile 9. CAMPSITES - Taccoa footbridge, Bryson Gap, several along stream mentioned above, large campsites near Long Creek Falls.

Easy to follow footpath, the only major climb is from river to ridge, a few short climbs along ridge leading Long Creek.

Two Speed
05-11-2008, 22:33
. . . Heads up! Once the trail separates from the Coosa the trail will often follow old logging roads then cut away from them and rejoin another old road. The cutoffs are blazed but your attention is required. . . Do you mean that one should have a map AND a clue?

That's totally wrong.

Dances with Mice
05-11-2008, 23:03
Do you mean that one should have a map AND a clue? That's totally wrong.You figured out my trick - if someone looks at their map they have to slow down and may even look around where they are standing. There's then a chance they may remember to look for blazes. The maps show some funny topography or, as I call it, "comic relief".

Dances with Mice
05-12-2008, 23:20
One more time - with pictures! Rather boring pictures, but still....

Section 1 - Blood Mtn Trailhead to Wildcat Gap. 2.5 miles
Trail is easy to follow and well marked. From Blood it follows the old route of the AT to near Slaughter Gap, then cuts north, joins the Coosa Backcountry Trail and regains the ridge. It follows the ridge to Wildcat. (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTWolfPenGap2.jpg)WATER - About 1 mile past the Blood Mtn trailhead is a small creek the trail crosses with stepping stones. At Wildcat Gap water is south on the road. CAMPSITES - down a closed road (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTWolfPenGap.jpg)immediately south of the Trail, east side of road: Flat campsites are on another overgrown logging road above a stream.

Section 2 - Wildcat Gap to Mulky Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTMulkyGapsign.jpg), about 8 miles.
Extensive trail relo around Wildcat Mtn. WATER - Whiteoak Stomp, Mulky Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DSCN0053.jpg). CAMPSITES on east side of Coosa (dry), just west of Coosa summit (dry), several campsites at various gaps between Whiteoak Stomp and Bryant Gaps (dry) and Mulky Gap.

Heads up! Once the trail separates from the Coosa the trail will often follow old logging roads then cut away from them and rejoin another old road. The cutoffs are blazed but your attention is required. The Trail is not worn and becomes a soft forest path. This may be the least-used portion of the trail. I can't emphasize this enough: Stay alert! Old logging roads and even game trails resemble the DRT along this section. Watch for blazes and check your map often.

Water location at Whiteoak is marked. It's across the road and downhill. Water at Mulky is down a gated road, a tree at the gate is marked with a blue "W" sign. Water and campsites at Mulky are about 250 yards down the road, west side of road. Trees in the area have been bulldozed down, so lots of firewood (!!!). Nice campsite between spring and road on old logging road.

Mulky Gap to GA-60 - about 11 miles. WATER - Mulky (described above), Sarvis Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTSavrisGapafter.jpg), Licklog Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtlicklogsign.jpg). CAMPSITES - Fish Gap (dry), Sarvis Gap, Rhodes Mtn summit (dry), Licklog Gap, Wallalah Gap (dry), just before GA-60 (creek not recommended as water source).

Easy trail to follow, difficult footpath to walk. Lots of climbing. Trail connects with Benton MacKay (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtbmtintersection.jpg)downhill from Rhodes Summit. Springs at Sarvis and Licklog Gaps are marked. Creek (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtga60intersection2.jpg) immediately before GA-60 is downstream from livestock. Small store about 1/4 mile east on GA-60 has resupply items, drinks, and prepared food but no beer. :-(

GA-60 to Long Creek Falls - about 11.5 miles. WATER - stream south side of Taccoa footbridge (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drttaccoabridge.jpg), Byson Gap, stream 1/4 mile south of large wildlife clearing near mile 9. CAMPSITES - Taccoa footbridge, Bryson Gap, several along stream mentioned above, large campsites near Long Creek Falls.

Easy to follow footpath, the only major climbs are from GA-60 to the ridge (very gradual) from the river back to the ridge and a few short climbs along ridge leading Long Creek.

But remember: Beware of the most dangerous part of the DRT:

THE SIGN (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTsign1.jpg) EATING (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTsign3.jpg) TREES! (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtsignface1a.jpg)

Gladiator
08-16-2008, 21:08
How are the views from Coosa Bald? If I'm section-hiking the AT in the Blood Mountain area, is it worth the extra effort to hike over to Coosa (and back)?

I realize the answers to this question might be somewhat subjective, but I value the opinions of my hiking brethren.


Thanks,
Gladiator

Skidsteer
08-16-2008, 21:20
How are the views from Coosa Bald? If I'm section-hiking the AT in the Blood Mountain area, is it worth the extra effort to hike over to Coosa (and back)?

I realize the answers to this question might be somewhat subjective, but I value the opinions of my hiking brethren.


Thanks,
Gladiator

Decent in winter and OK in Summer but you're right, it's subjective.

Blood Mtn. views are better for the most part, but Coosa has it's own brand of charm.

To answer your question, no, I wouldn't make the extra effort. But I've seen it many times...

Dances with Mice
08-17-2008, 11:45
Decent in winter and OK in Summer but you're right, it's subjective.

Blood Mtn. views are better for the most part, but Coosa has it's own brand of charm.

To answer your question, no, I wouldn't make the extra effort. But I've seen it many times...View from Blood is nicer than Coosa.

Mr. Parkay
08-17-2008, 19:09
Hey Guys,

As some of you know... I've been creating tons of elevation profiles recently. Here's one for the Duncan Ridge Trail:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/4848379/Duncan-Ridge-Trail

It's interesting to see how different the BMT section is as compared to the other half.

Hope this comes in handy,

-- Mr. Parkay

Dances with Mice
08-17-2008, 19:18
Hey Guys,

As some of you know... I've been creating tons of elevation profiles recently. Here's one for the Duncan Ridge Trail:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/4848379/Duncan-Ridge-Trail

It's interesting to see how different the BMT section is as compared to the other half.

Hope this comes in handy,

-- Mr. ParkayVery, very cool! Could you e-mail me that file? I can't seem to save the scribd.com document.

As of this weekend, the DRT is now completely cleared from Slaughter Gap to the intersection with the BMT. Blowdowns gone, weeds whacked back, new blazes, water sources marked and everything's all spiffy and shined.

Saturday the GATC put together a crew of 21 people that worked the section between Mulky and the BMT intersection. We got'er done.

Mr. Parkay
08-17-2008, 19:25
Sure.. just PM me your email address and I'll email it to you... since I don't think I can send attachments through whiteblaze

Egads
08-17-2008, 19:40
This is interesting. How do you obtain & compile the data?:-?

John Klein
08-17-2008, 22:00
Very, very cool! Could you e-mail me that file? I can't seem to save the scribd.com document.

As of this weekend, the DRT is now completely cleared from Slaughter Gap to the intersection with the BMT. Blowdowns gone, weeds whacked back, new blazes, water sources marked and everything's all spiffy and shined.

Saturday the GATC put together a crew of 21 people that worked the section between Mulky and the BMT intersection. We got'er done.
Wow. I did part of that section in June and I thought no one else had hiked it in years.

Mr. Parkay
08-18-2008, 01:00
This is interesting. How do you obtain & compile the data?:-?

hey Egads,

Here's a link to a post on the BMT forum, where I talk about how I create profiles: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showpost.php?p=683107&postcount=32

However, the DRT profiles required some extra work since I only started off with a partial gps track. I've hiked the BMT section of the Duncan Ridge with a GPS unit in the past... so I already had a pretty good gps track for that section.... for the other half of the trail I had to sketch a rough gps path in Google Earth .... based on the DRT route shown on USGS topo quads. The accuracy of this gps track isn't great, but it probably doesn't affect the profiles too much.

Mr. Parkay
08-20-2008, 13:31
Hello Again,

After creating the elevation profile... I decided that I should make some maps to complement the profiles.

Here are the results:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Johnsonc80/DuncanRigeTrailMaps

Notes:
1. I have hiked the BMT section of the Duncan Ridge with a GPS unit.. so the GPS track for that half of the trail is pretty good. However, I have never hiked the other half, so I don't have an accurate gps track for that section. The route for that section follows the route shown on the USGS background map... which may or may not be accurate. If someone has some good gps data that they can provide, I should be able to update the maps.

2. The Northern Terminus of the DRT may be a little bit off on the maps... due to the issue mentioned above.... I noticed that it doesn't match up with the small map posted by Dances With Mice earlier in this thread. Basically, I need better data before I can make changes to this.

3. The maps are high resolution, about 3.5 megabytes each. You can download them by clicking the "Download Photo" link on the right side of the picasa screen. The maps may appear distorted if you zoom in online... this is due to picasa's online viewer, so you'll need to download the photo to your computer to view it in higher resolution.

4. The mileage on the labels is consistent with the mileage on the elevation profile... which is calculated based on the gps track.

5. As with all of my maps, this is a work in progress, and this is post is for the "first edition" so there's certainly room for improvement.

--Mr. Parkay

bloodmountainman
08-20-2008, 14:09
Wow. I did part of that section in June and I thought no one else had hiked it in years.
The DRT gets walked about more than it's talked about.

Dances with Mice
10-09-2009, 07:13
Y'know, after all this time you think I could get it right. Some corrections...

Section 1 - Blood Mtn Trailhead to Wolfpen Gap (GA-180 intersetion). 2.5 miles. The trail is easy to follow and well marked. From Blood it follows the old route of the AT to near Slaughter Gap, then cuts north, joins the Coosa Backcountry Trail and regains the ridge. It follows the ridge to Wolfpen Gap. (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTWolfPenGap2.jpg)WATER - About 1 mile past the Blood Mtn trailhead is a small creek the trail crosses with stepping stones. At Wolfpen Gap water is south on the road, right at a bend in the road. CAMPSITES - At Wolfpen Gap, down a closed road (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTWolfPenGap.jpg)immediately south of the Trail, east side of road: Flat campsites are on another overgrown logging road above a stream.

Section 2 - Wolfpen Gap to Mulky Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTMulkyGapsign.jpg), about 8 miles.
Extensive trail relo around Wildcat Mtn, the trail sidehills around Wildcat, climbs Coosa Bald then after Whiteoak Stomp the trail is mostly sidehill along the ridge until it turns north at Bryant Gap. WATER - Whiteoak Stomp, Mulky Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DSCN0053.jpg). CAMPSITES on east side of Coosa (dry), just west of Coosa summit (dry), several campsites at various gaps between Whiteoak Stomp and Bryant Gaps (dry) and Mulky Gap.

Heads up! Once the trail separates from the Coosa the trail will often follow old logging roads then cut away from them and rejoin another old road. The cutoffs are blazed but your attention is required. The Trail is not worn and becomes a soft forest path. This may be the least-used portion of the trail. I can't emphasize this enough: Stay alert! Old logging roads and even game trails resemble the DRT along this section. Watch for blazes and check your map often.

Water location at Whiteoak is marked. It's across the road and downhill 150 yards. Water at Mulky is down a gated road, a tree at the gate is marked with a blue "W" sign. Water and campsites at Mulky are about 250 yards down the road, west side of road. Trees in the area have been bulldozed down, so lots of firewood (!!!). Nice campsite between spring and road on old logging road.

Mulky Gap to GA-60 - about 11 miles. WATER - Mulky (described above), Sarvis Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTSavrisGapafter.jpg), Licklog Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtlicklogsign.jpg). CAMPSITES - Fish Gap (dry), Sarvis Gap, Rhodes Mtn summit (dry), Licklog Gap, Wallalah Gap (dry), just before GA-60 (creek not recommended as water source).

Easy trail to follow, difficult footpath to walk. Lots of ups and downs, the trail mostly stays on the ridgeline and hits most of the peaks along this section, with one nice break as it avoids Fish Knob and skirts around a pretty hardwood cove leading into Fish Gap. Trail connects with Benton MacKay (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtbmtintersection.jpg)downhill from Rhodes Summit. Springs at Sarvis and Licklog Gaps are marked. Creek (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtga60intersection2.jpg) immediately before GA-60 is downstream from livestock. Small store about 1/4 mile east on GA-60 has resupply items, drinks, and prepared food but no beer. :-(

GA-60 to Long Creek Falls - about 11.5 miles. WATER - stream south side of Taccoa footbridge (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drttaccoabridge.jpg), Byson Gap, stream 1/4 mile south of large wildlife clearing near mile 9. CAMPSITES - Taccoa footbridge, Bryson Gap, several along stream mentioned above, large campsites near Long Creek Falls.

Easy to follow footpath, the only major climbs are from GA-60 to the ridge (very gradual) from the river back to the ridge and a few short climbs along ridge leading Long Creek.

But remember: Beware of the most dangerous part of the DRT:

THE SIGN (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTsign1.jpg) EATING (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTsign3.jpg) TREES! (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtsignface1a.jpg)[/QUOTE]

Dances with Mice
09-14-2011, 11:28
Bump, since there's been some interest in the DRT lately.

Y'know, after all this time you think I could get it right. Some corrections...

Section 1 - Blood Mtn Trailhead to Wolfpen Gap (GA-180 intersetion). 2.5 miles. The trail is easy to follow and well marked. From Blood it follows the old route of the AT to near Slaughter Gap, then cuts north, joins the Coosa Backcountry Trail and regains the ridge. It follows the ridge to Wolfpen Gap. (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/DRTWolfPenGap2.jpg)WATER - About 1 mile past the Blood Mtn trailhead is a small creek the trail crosses with stepping stones. At Wolfpen Gap water is south on the road, right at a bend in the road. CAMPSITES - At Wolfpen Gap, down a closed road (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/DRTWolfPenGap.jpg)immediately south of the Trail, east side of road: Flat campsites are on another overgrown logging road above a stream.

Section 2 - Wolfpen Gap to Mulky Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/DRTMulkyGapsign.jpg), about 8 miles.
Extensive trail relo around Wildcat Mtn, the trail sidehills around Wildcat, climbs Coosa Bald then after Whiteoak Stomp the trail is mostly sidehill along the ridge until it turns north at Bryant Gap. WATER - Whiteoak Stomp, Mulky Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/DSCN0053.jpg). CAMPSITES on east side of Coosa (dry), just west of Coosa summit (dry), several campsites at various gaps between Whiteoak Stomp and Bryant Gaps (dry) and Mulky Gap.

Heads up! Once the trail separates from the Coosa the trail will often follow old logging roads then cut away from them and rejoin another old road. The cutoffs are blazed but your attention is required. The Trail is not worn and becomes a soft forest path. This may be the least-used portion of the trail. I can't emphasize this enough: Stay alert! Old logging roads and even game trails resemble the DRT along this section. Watch for blazes and check your map often.

Water location at Whiteoak is marked. It's across the road and downhill 150 yards. Water at Mulky is down a gated road, a tree at the gate is marked with a blue "W" sign. Water and campsites at Mulky are about 250 yards down the road, west side of road. Trees in the area have been bulldozed down, so lots of firewood (!!!). Nice campsite between spring and road on old logging road.

Mulky Gap to GA-60 - about 11 miles. WATER - Mulky (described above), Sarvis Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/DRTSavrisGapafter.jpg), Licklog Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/drtlicklogsign.jpg). CAMPSITES - Fish Gap (dry), Sarvis Gap, Rhodes Mtn summit (dry), Licklog Gap, Wallalah Gap (dry), just before GA-60 (creek not recommended as water source).

Easy trail to follow, difficult footpath to walk. Lots of ups and downs, the trail mostly stays on the ridgeline and hits most of the peaks along this section, with one nice break as it avoids Fish Knob and skirts around a pretty hardwood cove leading into Fish Gap. Trail connects with Benton MacKay (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/drtbmtintersection.jpg)downhill from Rhodes Summit. Springs at Sarvis and Licklog Gaps are marked. Creek (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/drtga60intersection2.jpg) immediately before GA-60 is downstream from livestock. Small store about 1/4 mile east on GA-60 has resupply items, drinks, and prepared food but no beer. :-( NOW CLOSED.

GA-60 to Long Creek Falls - about 11.5 miles. WATER - stream south side of Taccoa footbridge (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/drttaccoabridge.jpg), Byson Gap, stream 1/4 mile south of large wildlife clearing near mile 9. CAMPSITES - Taccoa footbridge, Bryson Gap, several along stream mentioned above, large campsites near Long Creek Falls.

Easy to follow footpath, the only major climbs are from GA-60 to the ridge (very gradual) from the river back to the ridge and a few short climbs along ridge leading Long Creek.

But remember: Beware of the most dangerous part of the DRT:

THE SIGN (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/DRTsign1.jpg) EATING (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/DRTsign3.jpg) TREES! (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT 2008/drtsignface1a.jpg)

stevew
09-19-2011, 20:54
Hello to "Dances with Mice", and to others....I'm planning a drive up from Orlando in the first or second week of October. Planning to pay to park at Vogel, and then hike the loop counter clockwise and return to Vogel (5 or 6 days?). I searched a few minutes and found this discussion. Coincidently it was recently bumped by the author, which is great.

Over the years, I've sectioned the AT from the parking lot at Amicalola to Unicoi Gap. Also day-hiked several times on car camping visits. I hiked the Coosa circle out of Vogel in a one day thing. And I've covered in my jeep most all the forest roads in the area around Suches crossroads. So I'm familiar with what I want to do. But I have not hiked the "loop" before (the trail described in the above comments from "dances", and associates.

Just wanted to say thank you for the details.

Vogel will be busy with fall campers on the weekends, so I'll poke around in the jeep when I get up there. Maybe park on a sunday night and hike during the week days. Was planning to cache some water at a few forest road crossings (maybe wolfpen gap, mulky gap, cooper gap, etc. I've owned the green and white n. georgia wildlife management area map for many years. Was planning to use that on the hike, and the specific 5 part map posted a few entries back in this thread.

I also found another topic with a couple fellas planning to hike this loop...perhaps as I type. So maybe they'll report in a few days.

Really nothing else to say...just yet. Gotta get a few ducks in a row over the next few days. Thanks for any comments or suggestions. Kind of interested in observations about hunting activities in early October, and maybe water sources along the AT (hightower to slaughter) finish.

Steve

Dances with Mice
09-23-2011, 12:27
Go here (http://www.georgia-atclub.org/trail/water.htm)for the best information on water sources along that portion of the AT.

I don't see a need to cache water, the DRT specific sources that might be dry would be the Whiteoak Stomp gap immediately after Coosa Bald. Bryson Gap gets pretty iffy in dry weather also.

Water sources at Wolfpen & Mulky should be fine, stashing water might not be needed. But I'd consider hiding a food cache at the GA-60 / DRT crossing, a black plastic trash bag hung like a bear bag in that area would work. That would keep your pack weight down while traversing the most fun part of the DRT.

stevew
09-23-2011, 21:45
thank you for the reply. I checked out your link to the georgia trail club. It helps with my plans.

I don't hang out here on your forum, I only recently signed up. So maybe I should limit what I say in this particular thread.

Steve

Toli
09-23-2011, 22:57
thank you for the reply. I checked out your link to the georgia trail club. It helps with my plans.

I don't hang out here on your forum, I only recently signed up. So maybe I should limit what I say in this particular thread.

Steve

Myself, Shannan and his friend are hiking that Trail starting Sunday... We have just had 3 or 4 days of rain, so I'm not worried about water anymore... Shannan had the same idea to stash water, but it won't be a problem... DWM is right about some of water sources are a hike in a hike :rolleyes:... You are also cutting it close to it being general gun season, and at least 3 campsites I came across in March when I hiked it looked like were used as Hunting Camps...

Dogwood
11-06-2013, 10:56
Bumping it up. Not a bad time to do the DRT or include it as part of a longer hike.

divinjup
03-30-2015, 09:49
My wife and I are doing the Georgia loop the second week of May. Any updates on the Duncan Ridge trail? It's the part that worries us the most. Did this store re-open->Small store about 1/4 mile east on GA-60 has resupply items, drinks, and prepared food but no beer. :-( NOW CLOSED.

skater
03-30-2015, 15:43
The store did not appear to have re-opened when I went by there a few weeks back. The driveway was still blocked off. Water supply is good (for the DRT, that is) as of this past weekend. In the past month or so, I've covered from Fish Gap to Coosa Bald and it's all passable although a couple large blowdowns that may require stooping to get under. If you are worried due to the elevation changes, all I can say is do be sure you're in good shape, as it is strenuous but manageable. If it's water or trail conditions you're concerned with, I don't think there should be any major issues. In case you aren't aware - DO NOT get water from the Toccoa River or Little Skeenah Creek! For me, this is a local trail. PM me if you have specific issues that are not of general interest, and I'll be happy to do what I can to help ensure your journey is as pleasant as possible.

divinjup
03-31-2015, 08:16
Thanks skater! We were more worried about trail and water conditions. We are in as good a shape as flatlander Floridians can be, but we know we can get through it (We hiked in the Rockies last year, and the Inca trail a couple of years ago). I'll probably reach out to you a week or so before we go for any additional updates you may have.

Hot Flash
03-31-2015, 11:32
My wife and I are doing the Georgia loop the second week of May. Any updates on the Duncan Ridge trail? It's the part that worries us the most. Did this store re-open->Small store about 1/4 mile east on GA-60 has resupply items, drinks, and prepared food but no beer. :-( NOW CLOSED.



That store was not open when I went past last September.

Aram
09-18-2015, 10:26
Thanks again to Dances with Mice for the excellent information on this loop. I just got back from attempting the loop in a day but bailed half way through due to poor planning, a failing headlamp, and cut/bloodied legs from running the Duncan ridge. The Duncan ridge isn't nearly as tough as was expected based on the hype but the spider webs and thorny vines in and across the trail were too much for this spoiled AT hiker. I'd recommend this hike in the winter to afford the best views, less thorny encroachment, and less spider webs.

Quick note: Two bear sightings, one being on Wallalah Mtn. Tons of Boar activity on Rhodes Mtn. The only water I got along the Duncan Ridge was at Mulky gap and the W sign was blocked by a pine tree sapling which I pushed back to expose the W. Has anyone seen a good elevation profile for the Georgia Loop? There was one in this thread a while back but the link is expired. I have a desire to assemble information from various sources (mainly DwM) into an AWOL styled Georgia Loop guide if it does not already exist.

-May The HIKE Be With You!-
Obi-Wan

ChrisJackson
09-18-2015, 11:11
...an AWOL styled Georgia Loop guide... That would be awesome! Not sure how I could help but shout.

Ewker
09-18-2015, 11:21
You have to like a thread like this one. It keeps coming up every yr for 10 yrs

Squirrel29
05-06-2018, 11:46
Anyone hike this loop lately, just curious about updates to the trail as far as water sources. Is there a trail guide available? Thanks

royalusa
05-06-2018, 13:21
We hiked it in March 2017 as part of the 56-mile Georgia Loop (AT-BMT-DRT). We used Sgt Rock's DRT databook, which he used to do as part of his BMT Book (http://bmtguide.com/). Not sure if he is still doing the DRT page, but you can check with him at [email protected] per his website to see if he still does it.

Our journal can be found here http://www.trailjournals.com/journal/entry/556475 for more information that may help you.

skater
05-06-2018, 20:34
Water is good this year. Good flow at Sarvis Gap, which was dry last year. Even some of the seasonal/occasional sites have water. Good time to hike the DRT.

Squirrel29
05-07-2018, 22:06
What part of the Ga. AT does it compare to.

Uncle Joe
05-07-2018, 23:29
I’ve been wanting to close the loop and hike from Wolfpen to the BMT.

skater
05-08-2018, 18:30
I’ve been wanting to close the loop and hike from Wolfpen to the BMT.

I'm planning that exact hike next month.

skater
05-08-2018, 18:36
I’ve been wanting to close the loop and hike from Wolfpen to the BMT.

I'm planning that exact hike next month.

Uncle Joe
05-09-2018, 09:43
Keep me posted.

johnspenn
07-23-2018, 22:14
Hoping to do the GA Loop next week. Wish me luck!

Big_Country
10-15-2018, 18:00
Hoping to hike the loop next month, starting the 10-11th. will be driving up from FLA on the ninth. Any updated info, water sources, best parking area for 6-7 days, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Best guess on weather conditions for that time of year as well.

Cheers,

B_C

skater
10-16-2018, 18:13
What part of the Ga. AT does it compare to.

The best description I've seen compared it to walking over Sassafras and then Justus Mountain. Then back. Then releaet 6 times.

Dogwood
10-16-2018, 19:57
One DRT source that is very detailed exists here on WB thx to folks like DWM.

It's a roller coaster. The GA Loop is a nice leg stretcher. The Loop isn't extremely tough or IMHO not as tough as it's rep but still a good test of one's legs and and cardio. Everyone seems to yak about the water. It's not all that big a deal either even in dry times. Go light, put in the time actually on the move, and the Loop is easier. In cooler fall times but not icy winter weather easier still.

Slugg
11-06-2018, 13:58
Y'know, after all this time you think I could get it right. Some corrections...

Section 1 - Blood Mtn Trailhead to Wolfpen Gap (GA-180 intersetion). 2.5 miles. The trail is easy to follow and well marked. From Blood it follows the old route of the AT to near Slaughter Gap, then cuts north, joins the Coosa Backcountry Trail and regains the ridge. It follows the ridge to Wolfpen Gap. (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTWolfPenGap2.jpg)WATER - About 1 mile past the Blood Mtn trailhead is a small creek the trail crosses with stepping stones. At Wolfpen Gap water is south on the road, right at a bend in the road. CAMPSITES - At Wolfpen Gap, down a closed road (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTWolfPenGap.jpg)immediately south of the Trail, east side of road: Flat campsites are on another overgrown logging road above a stream.

Section 2 - Wolfpen Gap to Mulky Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTMulkyGapsign.jpg), about 8 miles.
Extensive trail relo around Wildcat Mtn, the trail sidehills around Wildcat, climbs Coosa Bald then after Whiteoak Stomp the trail is mostly sidehill along the ridge until it turns north at Bryant Gap. WATER - Whiteoak Stomp, Mulky Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DSCN0053.jpg). CAMPSITES on east side of Coosa (dry), just west of Coosa summit (dry), several campsites at various gaps between Whiteoak Stomp and Bryant Gaps (dry) and Mulky Gap.

Heads up! Once the trail separates from the Coosa the trail will often follow old logging roads then cut away from them and rejoin another old road. The cutoffs are blazed but your attention is required. The Trail is not worn and becomes a soft forest path. This may be the least-used portion of the trail. I can't emphasize this enough: Stay alert! Old logging roads and even game trails resemble the DRT along this section. Watch for blazes and check your map often.

Water location at Whiteoak is marked. It's across the road and downhill 150 yards. Water at Mulky is down a gated road, a tree at the gate is marked with a blue "W" sign. Water and campsites at Mulky are about 250 yards down the road, west side of road. Trees in the area have been bulldozed down, so lots of firewood (!!!). Nice campsite between spring and road on old logging road.

Mulky Gap to GA-60 - about 11 miles. WATER - Mulky (described above), Sarvis Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTSavrisGapafter.jpg), Licklog Gap (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtlicklogsign.jpg). CAMPSITES - Fish Gap (dry), Sarvis Gap, Rhodes Mtn summit (dry), Licklog Gap, Wallalah Gap (dry), just before GA-60 (creek not recommended as water source).

Easy trail to follow, difficult footpath to walk. Lots of ups and downs, the trail mostly stays on the ridgeline and hits most of the peaks along this section, with one nice break as it avoids Fish Knob and skirts around a pretty hardwood cove leading into Fish Gap. Trail connects with Benton MacKay (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtbmtintersection.jpg)downhill from Rhodes Summit. Springs at Sarvis and Licklog Gaps are marked. Creek (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtga60intersection2.jpg) immediately before GA-60 is downstream from livestock. Small store about 1/4 mile east on GA-60 has resupply items, drinks, and prepared food but no beer. :-(

GA-60 to Long Creek Falls - about 11.5 miles. WATER - stream south side of Taccoa footbridge (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drttaccoabridge.jpg), Byson Gap, stream 1/4 mile south of large wildlife clearing near mile 9. CAMPSITES - Taccoa footbridge, Bryson Gap, several along stream mentioned above, large campsites near Long Creek Falls.

Easy to follow footpath, the only major climbs are from GA-60 to the ridge (very gradual) from the river back to the ridge and a few short climbs along ridge leading Long Creek.

But remember: Beware of the most dangerous part of the DRT:

THE SIGN (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTsign1.jpg) EATING (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/DRTsign3.jpg) TREES! (http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h299/raystern/DRT%202008/drtsignface1a.jpg)[/QUOTE]

I'm planning on hiking the entire DRT next month as part of a longer hike of the AT, weather permitting. This still the best guide out there? It's been the most I can find.

skater
11-08-2018, 16:37
It is still the best I've ever seen, and I have a personal interest in the DRT, so I'm always on the lookout for any info on it.

Dances with Mice
01-06-2019, 15:11
DRT Update: Want to do the "fun" version of the DRT between Fish Gap and the Benton Mac Trail? Better hurry.

There's a crew out there right now relocating the trail down, following closer to countour lines rather than the ridge. I walked the portion they've completed between Fish and Sarvis Gap. It's nice, smooth and probably doesn't rise more than 40 feet up and down the whole way. When complete the DRT will be a completely different trail. On that portion, I mean, but it's still the portion that has given the DRT it's reputation. Mulky Gap to Fish Gap will still be the original tread with three sharp climbs.

The original path is still open but will be blocked off in the next few weeks.

Slugg
01-06-2019, 16:16
DRT Update: Want to do the "fun" version of the DRT between Fish Gap and the Benton Mac Trail? Better hurry.

There's a crew out there right now relocating the trail down, following closer to countour lines rather than the ridge. I walked the portion they've completed between Fish and Sarvis Gap. It's nice, smooth and probably doesn't rise more than 40 feet up and down the whole way. When complete the DRT will be a completely different trail. On that portion, I mean, but it's still the portion that has given the DRT it's reputation. Mulky Gap to Fish Gap will still be the original tread with three sharp climbs.

The original path is still open but will be blocked off in the next few weeks.

I was out there a couple weeks ago and talked a bit with the contractors doing the re-routes. Three re-routes total. Cool that we were one of the last!

Cedar Tree
02-19-2019, 13:24
Any recent news on the Duncan Ridge Trail? I am considering a DRT thru in the next couple weeks.

skater
02-19-2019, 21:25
I haven't heard any updates on reroute. GATC just cleared numerous blowdowns between the AT and Wolfpen Gap, so trail should be fairly open. Maybe a couple small ones around Bryant Gap. I'm waiting for the weather to clear to check that out. The road to Fish Gap is closed, so don't count on that as a bailout point. Water should be less of an issue than normal, but there are still a limited number of points to get water.


If you encounter any issues with the trail, I'd appreciate it if you'd let me know.