Volkswanderung - Helen to Unicoi (White County, Georgia)

This morning, I'm heading up to the little Bavarian-themed town of Helen, GA to participate in their annual Volkswanderung, or organized walk. This even will include options for a 1k, 5k, or 10k hike in and around town and upon the participant's return to the starting point at Bodensee Restaurant a Bavarian festival complete with music, food, and beer. Including the hike itself, that covers four of my favorite food groups. How could I not engage in this.

After finding a parking spot on the public lots in Helen, I checked in at Bodensee only to find out that the event was cash only. Luckily, there is a bank just a short distance away and I was able to get cash from their ATM. The gentleman checking me asked, which distance I was planning to do and of course, I replied with the 10k. Since I was checking in only a few minutes before registration closed, he expressed some concern that I might not be able to finish in time, but I was able to put his mind at ease. After all, I hiked 10-miles and 3,000 feet of elevation gain in only 4-hours as I climbed out of the western end of the Grand Canyon coming from Havasu Falls. I really don't think it's going to take me much more than 2-hours to hike 6.2 miles over mostly flat ground. 

With that, I was off. The first section traverses town and allowed me to take a slight detour to drop a bag off at my car before continuing into the woods on the Helen to Unicoi trail, which connects town to the Unicoi Lodge. I passed a number of other participants as I made my way through the woods. I've hiked this trail a few times in the past and while nothing spectacular, it is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the tourist town that Helen has become. 

Along the way, I stopped a couple of times to take a picture of Lower Smith Creek, which pours into the Chattahoochee River that flows through town, though it isn't much of a river until it gets further south. There are some nice views though. As I make my way along the well-traveled trail, I'm felling really strong and I continue to push a very fast pace. 

After about 3.1 miles, I reached Unicoi Lodge and got my stamp. The gentleman manning the check-point offered me water, but I still had plenty left. I made a quick turn and started heading back down towards Helen still at a blazing pace. At his point food and beer are on my mind and the sooner I get back to the restaurant, the sooner, I can enjoy both. 

The trip back is uneventful, though I do stop to chat with a few other hikers along the way. Some are struggling on the uphills and ask me what my secret is. I simply reply with 'persistence'. They laugh and we continue our march back to Helen. I remind them that cold beer is waiting for us, which gets another chuckle.

Getting back to Bodensee, I do my final check-in and I'm pointed towards the food. I grab a cold Paulaner Munich Lager, hot-off-the-grill garlic wurst (which the woman serving it refers to by a different name that I can't remember), and a seat. With the hike complete, I enjoy my well-deserved refreshment and meal. Damn! This thing really has some garlic. It's quite delicious and I finish it pretty quickly, along with my beer. My hike was right about 6.9 miles including the detour to my car and I completed in just about two-hours. This is a cool little event and if we're still living in the area, I'll probably try to do this again next year.