Currahee Mountain Sunset (Stephens County, Georgia)

 It has been quite a day, but I'm not quite ready to call it quits. I was originally planning to get in about 18 miles on the trail today, but with my knee acting up, I had to change those plans a bit. I'm still shooting for about 15 total, but with much less elevation gain. For my final hike, I decided to join the Atlanta Outdoor Club for a sunset hike to the top of Currahee Mountain, made famous by the 'Band of Brothers' miniseries and the training mantra "three miles up, three miles down".

As I was in the area and had already stopped for some dinner, I got to the trailhead about thirty minutes early. I simply listened to music and relaxed while I waited. I've already hiked 9 or so miles today and my legs didn't complain about the rest. Soon though, the other hikers began arriving and after super-quick round of introductions we were on our way. I did mention to the organizer that I didn't remember there being an unobstructed wester vista from the top, which would make for a nice sunset. She hadn't even thought about that, but I'm mostly here for the miles anyway. The views to the east though are really good.

Though with a listed expected pace of about 3-miles per hour, we were pushing hard and doing nearly 4-miles per hour for the first part of the hike. The entire trail follows a gravel road, which is probably used by the caretakers of the radio towers that sit atop the mountain. Even though my legs were a little tired from the hikes I had completed earlier, I was mostly able to keep up with the group and only started falling a little behind when the steep uphill started near the summit. Without too much trouble though, we all reached the radio towers and began looking for a clear view of the descending sun. We didn't find much though. 

After a little exploration of the top, we started back down maintaining a similar pace. I was feeling good by now though. I and one other nice lady that I was chatting with opened a considerable lead on the others as nigh descended around us. I pulled out my headlamp, but didn't even use it. The half-moon overhead provided more than enough light for us to arrive safely back at our cars. I said my goodbyes and headed home for well-deserved night of sleep. After all, I hiked 5.6 miles on this trail, bringing my grand total to nearly 15 for the day.

Travelers Rest and the Tugaloo Stone (Stephens County, Georgia)

 

I'm out in northeastern Georgia today getting a few hikes in, but with a little bit of downtime before my last one, which is a sunset hike, I decided to visit the nearby Travelers Rest State Historic Site. The main house was built between 1816 and 1825, as one of four facilities to lodge weary stagecoach travelers as they made their way between South Carolina and Tennessee along the newly constructed Unicoi Turnpike. The house was later expanded upon and additionally used as a base of operations for the new owner's various business interests, including a large cotton plantation.

Entering the large house, I'm struck by its size, measuring some 90 feet long with several bedrooms, studies, and a full dining area. After some chatting, the caretaker starts a short ten-minute educational film for me, which covers much of the history. The facility is about 85% original and has only been restored to its original condition to maintain it. It must have been quite a wonderful experience after a long travel day to arrive at such a fine establishment for dinner and rest.

While the house itself and its history are worth learning about, the real draw for me was a petroglyph stone that was supposedly found in 1796 by works constructing a chimney for the owner of the house that previously stood here. They claim to have found it along the nearby Tugaloo River and brought it to the house, where it now rests under a small wooden canopy just outside the large Travelers Rest house.

The stone is a large and volcanic in nature, with deep petroglyphs carved on all visible faces, including the narrow top and sides. Unfortunately, the images have been eroded down to the point of almost disappearing, though I did use the G-stretch app in an attempt to enhance the carved images. As you can see here, the results are somewhat disappointing. The app works much better on pictographs than on petroglyphs.

There seems to be some controversy about the origin of the stone. The informational placard suggests that it may be related to a piece treaty between the Cherokee and the Yuchis, but the exact age and original creators are something of a mystery. I have read one article, which provides some convincing evidence of the stone being of Viking origin. This hypothesis is largely based on detailed studies of the drawings and require the stone to be flipped 180° to allow the images to strongly resemble Viking long boats. We may never know. Whatever the history, this was a great way to spend a little time between hikes.

Tallulah Gorge - Persistent Trillium Hike (Habersham County, Georgia)

 Tallulah Gorge State Park is just a few minutes north of the Panther Creek Falls Trailhead, and I had noticed they were doing another of their Persistent Trillium hikes today, the timing of which worked well with my previous hike. So, I decided to join the rangers for a guide hike to see some rare endemic flowers.

After meeting the group at the visitors center and having a discussion about the appropriate amount of water to bring on this short hike, we headed out. We first hit a couple of view points of the gorge itself overlooking Tempesta Falls, which is currently raging. Earlier today, water was released from the dam and the kayakers were having a marvelous time navigating the river. 

From there, we walked across the highway bridge and to the South Rim Trail. Along the way, the rangers (who are actually the Manager and Assistant Manager of the park) pointed out several plant species. They also mentioned that this area had been a touristy garden in Victorian times and that much of the imported flora remains in one form or another.

Soon though, we reach a side trail that they lead us onto and here we are able to see a few examples of the persistent trillium. This specific species of the small ground flower only grows with a five miles radius of the park. From what we learn from the rangers, it gets its name because the leaves remain throughout the year, while many of its cousins shed theirs. The small flower itself starts white, but soon turns to a lavender color before degrading. We're only able to see a few examples of the flower, but it's nice to experience. 

After seeing the flowers, we head back the way we came. Along the way, the Park Manager has to correct a couple of children dangerously climbing on hand rails. I appreciate the tact with which she does it, but that must be the worst part of the job. Returning to the visitors center, I see we've gotten in about 1.9 miles during this short hike. It's not much, but it adds to the days total, and I still have a couple of stops remaining.

Panther Creek Falls (Habersham County, Georgia)

 

Originally, I was planning on knocking out the northernmost section of the AT today, but my right knee has been giving me some issues and I didn't think 18 miles and nearly 6,000 feet of elevation change would be a good idea (at least the elevation part) and so, I started looking for other options. I noticed that a friend posted a hike to Panther Creek Falls on the Meetup for which we both often hike with. This seemed like a great option, with a combination of reasonable miles, low elevation changes, and a great payoff destination.

Arriving early, I was surprised to see the trailhead parking area gated off with a sign indicating storm damage. I'm not exactly sure how a storm damages a parking lot, but I was able to park alongside the road without issue. This popular trail has been closed by the Forest Service off and on over the past several years, as the bridges have been washed out time and time again. The trail itself is supposed to be open right now though. Anyway, the other hikers joined me a short time later and soon, we hit the trail.

The first section is a pretty standard Georgia hike, as our path takes alongside Panther Creek. It's already getting pretty warm though. Soon, we hit a rocky outcrop section that requires a little maneuvering, but nothing too terrible. I do worry though that some of the trail in this section is not going to last much longer and ten or twenty good storms from now will be washed down the hillside into the creek below.

Soon, we approach the first and widest of the expected water crossings. We are surprised to see a new, sturdy bridge constructed across the creek here. Though, it's been a couple of years since I've hiked here, others in our group have been here as recently as late last year and even they were not expecting this welcome new addition. This is a fairly large and elaborate bridge and it's obvious by the track marks and fashioned road that heavy equipment was brought in for its construction. We wait for everyone to catch up and then proceed across.

We end up following the road made by the heavy equipment for a bit and crossing a couple of other smaller new bridges, before noticing a trail leading off to the left with a plywood sign on the ground with 'water' painted onto it. From past experience, we're confident that this is the right path to the waterfall and begin to head that way. There are some stragglers though and we are concerned that they may not make the turn. To raise confidence, I grab a couple of sticks and fashion an arrow to lay on the ground. We also move the sign to a more visible spot and lay a small log across the road. Honestly, if they can't figure it out from everything we've done there, they probably shouldn't have left their house.

From here, the trail gets a bit more treacherous, with muddy climbs and washed out sections. Steel cables help in some areas, but in others they concrete poles they are attached to have been washed out of the ground. We manage to make it though without incident. From this part of the trail, it's always possible to take in some great views of the raging creek. 

Soon, we are at the mighty waterfall, which I've always thought to be one of the best in the state. After climbing down the natural stone steps, we all find a spot on the sandy bank to stop and rest. Several members of the group strip down to bathing suits and wade out into the waters and even climb up on the cascading waterfall. They say the water is pretty cold, but refreshing. I have other plans after this and didn't really want to go swimming, and so, I just take it all in. There are a few others here in addition to our group and everyone seems to be having a great time.

After thirty minutes or so, we begin to rally the group and start heading back to the cars. The way back is equally challenging with slippery sections, but again, we make it without too much issue. With everyone back at the cars, I say my goodbyes and head for my next destination for the day. This hike was 7.2 miles with only about 650 feet of elevation change - a good start for the day, but I'm going to get more miles in.

Kennesaw Mountain - Pigeon Hill Trails (Cobb County, Georgia)

 

After hiking a fairly tough (though short) section of the AT yesterday and with my knee feeling quite a bit better today, I decided at the last minute to join the Meetup for some hiking around Kennesaw Mountain. Since we're not planning to climb the mountain, I think my fatigued knee will be okay. I met the large group in the overflow lot and immediately began chatting with several friends. Our introductions were short and sweet and we were soon in the woods to the west of the mountain.

This whole area was the site of a Civil War battle and has numerous historical reminders, which includes some fake cannons. We stop for some pictures before continuing further into the woods. Our path follows a small creek for some distance, before descending into some lowland areas that probably flood quite often. The result is a marshy muddy area that we struggle with a bit. 

A couple of small creek crossings later and our muddy boots reach firmer ground. Along the way, today's organizer has stopped a couple of times to play a some word games, which is his normal practice. It's fun and keeps the event very social.

Reaching the bridge over Noses Creek, we stop for quick lunch. While hiking and continuing here, I discuss some up coming trips with a few friends. The conversation with this group is always one of the draws and I've made many friends while hiking with these folks. 

Soon, we're on the trail again and headed back towards the parking area. Our leader decides to stray a little bit from the way we hiked in and we are required to cross another creek and then climb up a steep hill to a railroad track, which will pretty much lead us back to the parking area. I end up helping several hikers make it up the hill, which is pretty challenging. 

Before long, we're back at the cars. We say our goodbyes and head our respective paths home. Our total distance for the day was 8.0 miles, which is not bad. My knee bothered me just a little, but nothing to serious. I'll rest it for the next couple of days and I should be fine.

Appalachian Trail - Coopers Gap to Hightower Gap (Union County, Georgia)

 

Continuing my quest to knock out the remaining Georgia sections of the Appalachian Trail (AT) that I haven't yet hiked, I organized a Meetup event to do a shorter section from Coopers Gap to Hightower Gap. As I think I've mentioned previously, I sectioned out the Georgia AT in such a way that all portions could be done as an out and back hike based up on trailheads reachable in my Subaru Outback. Todays' section is not that long, but due to the elevation gain and loss should be pretty challenging. In addition, I felt as though I was coming down with something yesterday and didn't eat a great deal, which may play into my energy level today.

One hike asked to carpool with me and so after picking her up, we headed to the trailhead at Coopers Gap, which is close to a two-hour drive. The last short section of the forest service road is a bit rough, but my car didn't seem to have any issues with it. Soon after our arrival, several familiar faces began arriving and we arranged our cars in the crossroads of two forest service roads, which serves as the trailhead. We did our customary round of introductions and then entered the woods.

Temperature-wise, it looks like it's going to be a great day for hiking. This first section, as we ascend Sassafras Mountain, is a pretty good climb, but everyone seems to be doing okay. We stop at the top for what will probably be one of our best views today, but even it is blocked by trees. This section does not have any really notable vistas. The downwards side of the mountain is pretty steep though and we begin to encounter several AT thru-hikers. I offer them some words of encouragement as they start the first days of their 2,000+ mile trek to Mount Katahdin in Maine. 

Reaching the bottom, we hit Horse Gap and a nice gentleman has set up some chairs and is offering water to the thru-hikers. He offers us a respite, but we're anxious to get our miles in. The next couple of miles are relatively uneventful and we finally reach Hightower Gap and stop for a short lunch break. We make use of some fallen logs and gather round to take in some calories. 

After ten or fifteen minutes, I suggest that we should wrap-up and start heading back. Everyone agrees and we start the trek back towards our starting point. I can feel myself getting a little tired by now. Though I just ate a peanut butter sandwich, I think yesterday's low caloric intake may be affecting me. Not long after restarting, we encounter a small garter snake seeking safety in the warped portion of a small tree. He's a cute little guy and poses for a picture before slithering off.

The hills on the way back do a number on my right knee and eventually each downward step begins to ache. We decide to stop at the gentleman's 'trail magic' spot this time and enjoy a short rest, which my knee is thankful for. He seems nice and offers everyone water. It seems he does this just to occupy himself and enjoy some socialization. I'm sure the thru-hikers really appreciate it. 

The final push up Sassafras Mountain is by far the hardest section for me, as it ascends for nearly a mile before reaching the summit. I'm pretty exhausted and the way back down the other side to our cars is really hard on my aching knee, but we make it without incident. Everyone thanks me for organizing the hike and begins to head out. Our total distance for the day was right at 7.0 miles. Not much, but at least I can check off another section.

Panola Mountain - Diamorpha Days (Rockdale County, Georgia)

This time of year is always exciting around the three monadnocks (Stone Mountain, Arabia Mountain, and Panola Mountain) southeast of Atlanta due to the blooming of the diamorpha smallii. This is a tiny rare reddish plant that grows in the solution pools of these granite behemoths. It provides a stark contrast to the white granite and green mosses that generally cover the landscape.

I arrived at the park and checked in with the ranger a bit before the scheduled 9:00 AM start time. I've hiked here before, but it's always a treat as the public is only allowed on the protected mountain in the company of a ranger. This is done to protect the undeveloped environment that is home to a number of endangered plant species, including diamorpha smallii. 

After a brief round of introductions, we headed into the woods with Ranger Veronica leading the way. Along our path, we stopped to discuss some of the fallen tree and the remnants of some long abandoned moonshine stills that were left here from an earlier era. Soon though, we hit the base of the mountain and begin carefully making our way up through the rich green moss and mint green lichens, trying our best not to damage these fragile plants. 

We stop a few times along the way as the rangers shares more information about the mountain, the ecosystem, the flora, and the fauna. She's quite knowledgeable. At one point, we encounter some trees that have taken shallow root in the soil created over the millennia as the moss and lichens convert the raw granite into something softer. Perched near the the top of one of the trees, a couple of buzzards hold their wings out sun themselves. I've never witnessed this behavior before, but apparently it's pretty common on cool days like today. They are effectively using the back of their dark-colored wings as a natural solar panel to raise their body temperature. It's quite a stunning picture to behold.

Further up the mountain, we begin to see some great examples of the diamorpha smallii beginning to bloom. It fill some of the largest solution pools at the summit of the dwarf mountain. It looks almost like a fairy wonderland with all of the marvelous colors. Really stunning. 

The hike continues around the top of the mountain and eventually back through the woods to the parking area, where we say our goodbyes and head to our respective homes. Our total hike was only about 3.3 miles, but we had to take it pretty slow on the wet granite to ensure no one slipped and injured themselves. This was another great experience that I would encourage anyone in the Atlanta area to take advantage of.