Len Foote Hike Inn Loop (Dawson County, Georgia)

 

In an effort to keep the momentum going, I decided to hike to and stay at the famous Len Foote Hike Inn for this first weekend of the new year. Unlike last year though, I posted this as an event on the Meetup I occasionally lead hikes for, explaining that attendees would need to secure lodging on their own at the inn if they wished to participate. I've always wanted to stay at the inn when there is snow on the ground, but I've never timed it correctly and based on the forecast, I don't think this year will fair any better. We're expecting cold temperatures, but no precipitation until later tomorrow afternoon.

Planning to depart our meeting place at the top of Amicalola Falls promptly at 1:00 PM, I arrived at the park and checked in with the Inn well before that. When I reached the parking area at the top of the falls, I was greeted by a friend from the hiking group that had signed up, as well as one other woman. This other woman was introduced to me and we began chatting. She was planning to do the hike, but due to other obligations would not be spending the night at the inn and would return on her own. Fine by me. While we waited for the appointed start time, we walked part of the way down the steps and took a slightly different view of the waterfall, which is the tallest in Georgia. 

Getting close to our departure time, we walked back to the parking area and were joined by another gentleman who had signed and whom I've hiked with before. As we had all had a chance to learn each other's names in these few minutes leading up to the start time and as no no one else had shown up, started our hike right on time, as I always like to do. 

The four of us began making our way up the hillside along the Len Foot Hike Inn Trail. This forms the eastern side of the full loop we will be making. After spending the night at the inn, we'll return on the other part of the loop, known as the AT Approach Trail, as it leads from Amicalola Falls to the official southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

We made great time and arrived at the inn around 3:00pm. Our fourth member had turned back just before the final push as she didn't want to be hiking in the dark. The remaining three members of our party each checked in and agreed to meet for the tour at 5:00pm. Leading up to that time, I enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate in the dining area and then took a quick shower. One of the charms of this inn is the ability to take a hot (well, warm) shower in the middle of the woods. I'm an avid backpacker and perfectly fine with going a few days without one if necessary, but if a shower is a available, I'm going to take full advantage of it.

Meeting in the toasty warm lobby just before 5:00pm along with many other guests of the inn, our host took us on a short tour of the facility. I've done this tour each time I've stayed at the inn, but I've always enjoyed it. The inn is owned by the state of Georgia, but managed by a non-profit. They have gained much notoriety and even some awards over the years for their environmentally friendly practices. 

After the tour, we head to the main dining hall, where we are joined by all guests. A bell rings out to signal dinner time and we sit down to enjoy a warm meal. On the menu tonight is turkey breast, mixed vegetables, and wild rice with a blueberry cobbler for desert. It's a hearty meal and quite delicious. Our group begins chatting with other folks sitting nearby during our meal and we all comment about how magical this place is. The Len Foot Hike Inn is truly one of my favorite places in the state.

As dinner concludes, some of us head down to the sun room and enjoy conversation around the wood burning stove while some groups play board games, assemble puzzles, or just read a book. It's a pleasant way to spend an evening among like-minded adventurers. Around 8:30pm though, I decided to head back to my room and listen to an audio book I had started on the drive up. Walking between the buildings on a cold night like this can be chilly, but with a warm room and blankets to crawl under awaiting me, it shouldn't alter my great mood.

Listening to the audio book for only a short time, I decided to cut the lights and try to fall asleep before too long and did with no effort. Though unusual for me, I had to use the restroom a couple of times during the night. Unlike at home, this requires me to get dressed and walk back outside to the bathhouse and the cold air hitting my face was an unpleasant reminder of the time of night. It must have been that cup of coffee I had with dinner. I almost never drink coffee.

I got up just before sunrise, got fully dressed and walked out to the Star Lounge to watch the magnificent dawning of a new day. Many others were already here and we all snapped photos while sipping our morning coffee as our mother star broke through an array of orange an pink clouds to bring light to our part of the world once more. Truly magnificent.

After a hearty break fast of bacon, eggs, and grits, I head back to my room, strip my sheets, and finish packing my bag. I met up with my hiking mates in the lobby and began our hike back around 9:30am. It's a bit colder this morning and I hiked with my gloves on for a bit, before the activity warmed me enough to not notice the frigid air. There is weather on the way and the cloudy skies confirm this, but hopefully, we can get back before it hits. 

We make great time and deal with few light drizzly periods on our way back, but nothing significant. The AT Approach Trail is just slightly longer and more challenging than it's counterpart on the other side of the loop, but that's okay, I wanted a good workout this morning. My friends seem to be managing well and in what seems like no time at all, we've made it back to our cars. We say our goodbyes and drive off into a new day. Total distance hiked over the two days was 9.9 glorious miles.