Diamorpha at Arabia Mountain (DeKalb County)

 

It been raining all night and most of the morning as expected. I had cancelled my planned trip to Grandfather Mountain this weekend and was content with the short hike I got in yesterday at Fort Yargo. My plans for were to just do some things around the house given the wetness of everything outside. Last minute though, someone from the Atlanta Outdoor Club (AOC) posted a hike to see the colorful Diamorpha smallii on Arabia Mountain. Having hiked Arabia Mountain a number of times over my years in Atlanta, I thought this would be a somewhat unique experience to visit this endangered species just after a rain when it is at its perkiest. 

After about a forty-five minute drive to the parking area of the Nature Center, I quickly found the small group from AOC and after a quick round of introductions, we hit the bike trail. Soon, crossing the road we started walking along the long (and in my opinion, completely unnecessary) board walk to the southern end of the primary granite outcropping that is Arabia Mountain. 

Six of us in total, it seems most of us have hiked here before. After passing through the southern parking area, we're soon on the granite, where solution pools of dissolved and dissolving granite provide a plethora of minerally goodness for the flora. These pools are where the Diamorpha thrive. We can already see a number of examples of the vibrant red plant life in these lower elevation pools.

We quickly make our way to the highest point and locate the USGS cap. Calling this place a mountain has always been a little erroneous in my opinion, as it is much more of a small hill. The nearly barren landscape though does remind me of places in the Sierra Nevada. The group kind of meanders around taking in the amazing colors of the Diamorpha and other plant life growing on this 'desert in the rainforest'. The reds will fade in the coming days and not be seen again until next year, at least not with this level of richness.

Exploring around the formerly quarried areas, we eventually turn back south and begin making our way back to the southern end of the boardwalk. The rain has made few sections very slippery and we proceed cautiously. Luckily, everyone makes it safe and we follow the boardwalk back to our cars. Total distance as just over 5.2 miles, but seeing the palate of the flora made the trip worth it. I think the leader for organizing and we all say our goodbyes. A short trip, but I'm glad I did it.

Fort Yargo Lake Loop (Barrow County, Georgia)

I had planned to hike Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina this weekend, but the weather forecast was calling for storms and given the rugged and treacherous nature of that trail, it didn't seem like a good idea to be up on the ladders and ridges during a storm or even after one. I still wanted to get some miles in though and decided to head over to nearby Fort Yargo State Park, which is only about twenty minutes from my home. I've hiked in this park with one of the Meetup groups a couple of times in the past and found it satisfying enough for another visit. As long as I get my miles in early, I should be well head of the storm.

After parking near the visitors center and getting my bearings a bit, I decided to hike the loop around the lake. At least right now, the weather is just about perfect, with sunny skies, moderate temperatures, and nice breeze blowing. I can already see a number of kayakers out on the lake. The hike starts just behind the visitors center with a little patio offering a view of the actual fort, for which the park and lake are named. Fort Yargo was built in 1793 as a defense against the Cherokee and Creek. On past visits, I have explored the area in around the fort itself and opt to just see it from a distance today.

Next, the trail follows a well-constructed and long walking bridge across one of the fingers of the lake. It's wide and allows for both foot traffic and bikes. The trail then leads into the wood with a couple of options. I decided to take the Rock Garden path, which follows the shoreline of the lake much more closely and includes some very basic rock scrambling. I think the other path runs parallel, but avoids the rocks. The two paths rejoin after only about a tenth of a mile.

From here, the trail follows fairly closely to the lake shore, darting in and out of the woods. The trail itself is maintained really, really well. I even encounter a young man with a leaf blower clearing the fallen leaves and pine needles from the soil. The one thing I do note though is an abundance of poison ivy lining the sides of the trail. It appears to be kept under control and off the actual pathway, but should you wander off the trail, be prepared for an itchy good time. 

Hitting the southern end of the lake, I cross another wooden bridge just past the boat ramp where a couple of kayakers are getting ready to launch. I think to myself that this would be a great place to put my kayak in on my next visit. After this bridge, the trail goes through a camping and yurt area of the park, where a number of visitors appear to be going about their daily routines. 

The trail then leaves the shoreline and heads a little deeper into the woods. It's still very easy and I pass a few other hikers and mountain bikers as I finish the last part of the loop. Arriving back a the visitors center, I check my app and see that my distance is almost exactly 6 miles. Not a bad day and with the beautiful weather, this was a great alternative to the long drive to North Carolina.

Partial Solar Eclipse over Atlanta (Gwinnett, Georgia)

Solar eclipses don't come around very often and in eons past, scare the living daylight out of people (literally and figuratively). I had originally planned on flying up to Niagara Falls for today's eclipse and enjoying totality, but schedules didn't work out and I ended up staying home and just watching from my back yard using the proper eye ware. 

As our maximum of ~82% approached at 3:04 PM, my mother, my wife, and I gleefully stared up at the astronomical wonder and tried our best to cover our phone camera lenses with filters and snap a few shots. We got a couple that were okay. I've seen total solar eclipses before and it's somewhat eerie, even with a full understanding of the mechanics of the alignment. It's still quite the spectacular thing to experience though.

Appalachian Trail - Gooch Gap to Cooper's Gap (Union County, Georgia)

 

Continuing my quest to complete all sections of Georgia's portion of the Appalachian Trail this year, I posted a section from Gooch Gap to Cooper's Gap on the Meetup as an event. My event descriptions always tend to be very descriptive and detailed of the hike in an effort to ensure those that join me are up to the challenge. I don't mean to be harsh, but I am trying to scare people off. I've had far too many "I walk around my neighborhood twice a week" folks try to jump into 10+ mile mountainous hikes over the years. That said, my event had a few signups and after driving the 1.5 hours to the Gooch Gap parking area just south of Suches, GA, I met up with the five other hikers that would be joining me today. I knew a couple of them from past events, but it's always good to meet new folks with common interests.

At the appointed time, we did a quick round of introductions and I explained our plan for the day. With that, we were southbound on the Appalachian Trail. I had listed the hike with a 2.5ish mph pace, but I've been feeling pretty good and pushed the up to 3-3.25 mph. I asked the group if anyone objected and if anyone had voiced a concern, I would have slowed it down. However, everyone here seemed to be in good hiking shape and welcomed the faster pace.

The trail is so well maintained this time of year, as a large 2024 class of thru-hikers would have passed through this section in the past couple of weeks. We also encountered a few late-starters who had only begun their 2200 mile odyssey a couple of days ago. All of us gave them words of encouragement as they take those steps towards Mount Katahdin in Maine. Along our route, I point out the white blazes to my companions. These single white vertical lines on some of the trees mark the AT and ensure hikers are going the right way.

With a couple of minor water crossings, we finally reach Cooper's Gap and stop for quick snack break. We've been keeping a great pace and arrived here almost thirty minutes sooner than I had planned. The group seems to be in good spirits and welcomes the short break. I remind everyone to drink plenty of water. It's a gorgeous day with temperatures hovering in the low sixties right now. The sun is shining and a light breeze passes over us as we sit around someone's abandoned campsite here at the parking area.

After twenty minutes or so, I ask if everyone is ready to head back and get nods of agreement. We quickly put our packs back on and head back the way we came. The pace is similar and everyone comments about how quickly we seemed to arrive at the turn. It's always nice to hike with fast people. It makes me feel like I'm actually getting some good exercise.

As we make our way along the undulating trail, I note that one of the hikers has fallen behind a little bit. When I ask, it seems she's getting some cramps and has taken some salt pills to try help. We continue on, but I keep an eye on her and one of the other hikers agrees to hang back a bit to help her.

With only a mile or so to the cars, I tell those that are hanging with me that we'll go ahead and make for the trailhead and that I'll wait around to ensure everyone makes it safely. They seem to like that plan, though everyone is a little concerned about our comrade. As the cars at the parking area come into site, I announced that we've made it and congratulate everyone on a job well done. All but one of the hikers decides to stick around until the last two joins us at the trail head, which happens just a few minutes later. The troubled hiker is tired, but in good spirits. I remind her to keep drinking water and to get some electrolytes into her, which we offer her from our collective stash. She's seems fine and we all head home.

Today's hike was just at 9.6 miles with nearly 1,700' feet of elevation gain. In the way I've divided the Georgia sections of the AT up, this is number 4. I'm not necessarily doing them in order, but more by convenience. It will probably be late into the fall before I finish out all of the sections, but I'm looking forward to checking them off of my 'to do' list. This section was actually quite pretty, though I think a lot of that perception was based on what a fabulous day it was to be outside.

Chicopee Woods (Hall County, Georgia)

 I was supposed to run a 5k early this morning, but overslept. To ensure I still got some exercise, I made the last minute decision to join the Meetup group for a hike around Chicopee Woods, which isn't too far from my house. After a short twenty-five minute drive and paying the $5 daily fee, I drove to the meeting point. There are a lot of cars with bike racks here. I know these trails are popular among mountain bikers, but I wasn't expecting this many. I quickly locate my group, who are a bit surprised to see me since I only signed up on the website a few minutes before leaving my house.

After our customary round of introductions, we head into the woods. The trails are well marked and well maintained, but these first trails we're on are the kind that I really don't enjoy. The trails cut back and forth to add mileage for mountain bikers, while not actually going anywhere. Soon though, we depart this area and get deeper into the woods where the trails open up. They still cut back and forth, but in much wider loops and around ridges, which is far more interesting to me.

Soon, we hit a crossroads with a gravel road where the ruins of a structure are half-buried in a hill. Up top, I can see what I think is a boiler and below is some intricate brickwork, but after walking around what remains, I'm at a loss to make a call on what this building was. No one else is really sure either. It's always interesting to see these kinds of abandon pieces of civilization in the woods.

Making our way further in, we get passed by a number of mountain bikers. We call them out as they approach and everyone in our well-trained group steps off of the trail and gives the bikes plenty of room. However, a couple of the bikers mouth off about hiking other trails instead of these. Before I can respond, they are already gone, but it puts me in a pretty foul mood and I start pushing the pace a bit to satiate my anger. Before I know it, I'm a good distance ahead of the main group, though a couple of hikers have managed to keep up with me. I go for a while longer, but eventually decide to stop and allow the group to catch up.

Once everyone has reached this clearing and had a couple of minutes to catch their breath, I head out again and what someone calls a "blistering pace". Still charged from the mountain biker encounter, I continue pushing hard and before I know it, I've opened up that big gap again. Luckily, there is a junction and not knowing which way our organizer wants to go, I stop and wait for the group.

The day goes on like this and without really noticing it, we've already put in just over eight miles and still have a ways to go before getting back to the cars. I mention this to the organizer. "I guess we'll get a few bonus miles today", he says. I don't mind that at all. The more the better. I've got a couple of big hikes coming up later this year and need the exercise.

Finally, we reach the parking area having hiked about 11.3 miles in total. The elevation gain was only around 800', but that's still a decent day and with the pace I maintained throughout, I feel like a got a pretty good workout. The trails here were actually pretty nice, especially after that first section. We say our goodbyes and head off.

One final note - When I returned home, I looked up this trail system and as it turns out, it is on private property and foot traffic is not allowed. These trails are exclusively for mountain bikers. I didn't realize that when we were out there, but perhaps those mouthy bikers were actually in the right.

Sweetwater Creek (Douglas County, Georgia)

 Sweetwater Creek State Park is one of my favorite parks in the Atlanta area. The wide creek and historical ruins always make for an interesting hiking destination. I had signed up to do this hike with the Meetup group several weeks ago, but with the heavy rains the Atlanta area has received over the last week, I thought it make the hike even more of an adventure. I was right.

After doing our normal round of introductions, we hit the trail and headed east from the parking area. Unfortunately, the large foot bridge that crosses the creek and leads to the northern section of the park is under construction and we're unable to cross. This forces us to double-back a ways and head south alongside the raging brown waters of the creek.

I can honestly say that I've never seen this creek flowing with this much fury. There is so much water traversing over the shallow rock formations that it makes for something like a class 4 rapid right now. We pass by the ruins of the old Manchester Mill and continue along the trails. In places the waters are almost washing out the trail, but with a fair amount of rock scrambling and sinking our feet in the mud, we're able to continue along the southern loop trail Some of the vistas are fantastic

All along the way, I enjoy great conversations with the other hikers as I always do with this group. Eventually, we reach a point where one of the feeder creeks has washed out the trail and we're forced to turn back. No matter, this park has many miles of trails and we quickly adjust our plans and continue on. 

Finally returning to the parking area, we've put in about 7.6 miles and will call it a day at this point. The views of the raging waters made this truly a fantastic hike and I'm really glad I decided to join the group for it. 

Ichetucknee Springs - Blue Hole (Columbia County, Florida)

 

My final stop on this long road trip brings me to Ichetuckee Springs. I had thought the trail listed as Blue Hole might be interesting to check out. After parking my car, I followed the rangers directions and walked along a long boardwalk that eventually returned me to solid ground and on a well maintained gravel trail. Apparently, this place is quite popular. After about half-a-mile, I reach the Blue Hole spring, which has an observation deck built over it. 

Some teenage swimmers are dipping in the water, which is a rich blue color and reminds me of what the eyes of Fremen must look like in Frank Herbert's Dune fantasy world. I take a few shots of the spring and in the distance of a number of large soft-shell turtles sunning themselves on fallen trees. 

Afterwards, I return the way I came and check out a few other features of the park. It really is great to see all of these spring-fed creeks down here and the crystal clear water. It brings back memories of kayaking through these areas a couple of years ago in search of manatees. For now though, I must finish my journey home.