Neel Gap to Amicalola State Park

[Mocs123]

I am hiking from Neel Gap to Amicalola State Park this weekend and wanted to know if anyone had any info on the current water conditions? I know it has rained more than it has in the area in recent years so I am thinking I should be fine.

I am also hoping to camp somewhere in between Gootch Mountain Shelter and Hawk Mountain Shelter but there doesn't seem to be anywhere flat on the map. For anyone who is familiar with this area, are there any decent camp spots in this section. If I have to stay at Gootch, I will force myself to do the last 25 miles on Sunday. Thanks for the help

Mocs

[Lone Wolf]

there are dozens of places to camp between gooch and hawk mtn. the maps mean nothing

[StarLyte]

Listen to LW.

[Cool AT Breeze]

Water is good, you just have to look for it.

[Survivor Dave]

Water is good, you just have to look for it.

After yesterday and todays rain, water will come looking for you!

[Survivor Dave]

You can camp at Justus Creek(really nice and the creek is outside your door), Horse Gap, or even Cooper Gap. Plenty of room.

Justus isn't too far from Gooch Mountain Shelter.

[bigcranky]

Justus Creek has a bunch of nice camp sites, and water.

[Phreak]

Justus Creek has a bunch of nice camp sites, and water.

Not anymore. The trail has been rerouted around the nice spots along Justus Creek. There are now several tents sites up a short climb from Justus Creek but not nearly as nice as the old route.

[Egads]

Not anymore. The trail has been rerouted around the nice spots along Justus Creek. There are now several tents sites up a short climb from Justus Creek but not nearly as nice as the old route.

Trail was rerouted May 09

[Mocs123]

Thanks for the info! Is there still places to camp at Cooper Gap (I am assuming that the road intersection there is unpaved FS roads and shouldn't have traffic all night) and Horse Gap? Also would Justis Creek still be my last reliable water source before either site as it is per the maps?

[shoe]

There is no water between Justus Creek and Hawk Mtn Shelter....Camping at Cooper or Horse Gap might bring some Ranger traffic your way.

[Egads]

IIRC, there are a couple of nice campsites on Sassafras Mtn & the next one between Hightower & Horse Gaps. Just bring water as they are up on the ridge.

[bigcranky]

Trail was rerouted May 09

Too bad, we stayed at Justus Creek in March and really enjoyed it.

[Phreak]

Too bad, we stayed at Justus Creek in March and really enjoyed it.

Yeah, that was one of my favorite campsites in GA.

[ChinMusic]

I am hiking from Neel Gap to Amicalola State Park this weekend and wanted to know if anyone had any info on the current water conditions?

From what I heard in the news I'd say the water conditions were "deep"

I can't wait to hear about this trip.......

[Mocs123]

The rain was solid and Biblical. I ended up camping at the Justis Creek Tent Pads the first night and that was a mistake. The pads are new hard packed clay and it was already a mud pit when I got there, the hard rain kept splashing water up under my rainfly and into the tent. It was not a good night. Also, Justis Creek, a creek that you could easily rock hop when I got to camp, was over my knees and flowing fast when I had to cross the next morning. It rained hard all the next day and the trail, which had been OK in the first days lighter rain, was a river. It was deep enough to be over the top of my shoes in many places, most of which had no where to skirt around. It was an experience, but still fun. It beats sitting at home.

Day 1 Neel Gap to Justis Creek 16.9 miles (that is using the guidebook, I don't know for sure with the relocation in that area)

Day 2 Justis Creek to Amicalola Falls State Park 22.6 miles

Here is a pic of myself at Springer Mtn. It's off center because I just had to set it on a rock and guess.



Here is a link to the rest of my pics:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/574749231hnYRJV

[rcli4]

nice pics

Clyde

[Pedaling Fool]

Yeah, the news shows much rain http://www.wsbtv.com/weather/20925117/detail.html Did you see many others out there?

[Mocs123]

The first day the GATC was doing trail maintenance (thanks GATC!) going up Blood Mountain. I also saw a group of Boy Scouts that were going NOBO to Blood Mountain Shelter and a solo hiker going to Woods Hole Shelter. The second day I ran into 2 hikers starting a week long hike NOBO and a dayhiker going to Springer Summit and back.

[Cool AT Breeze]

Most hikers are off the trail in this area. Haven't seen anybody hike in today. The ridge runner left this morning to do the Winfield Scott trails today, she's going home tonight.