“Let’s take our hearts for a walk in the woods and listen to the magic whispers of old trees.”
~Unknown
September 24, 2021
Hike from Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap (Georgia)
AT miles: 14.3
Ascent: 2002’
Descent: 2520’
Weather: Perfect – clear, sunny, and temps in the mid-60’s
High points: all the purple flowers!
Today’s hike was glorious — perfect weather, a mostly smooth trail, and not too many humpty-dumps. The only drawback was that I didn’t have a single view all day.
Until the last three miles or so the trail was wide and smooth and the hiking was easy.
The morning started off with a gentle climb up Poor Mountain (3620’).
The bright sun shone through the woods, making quite a contrast with the shady woods.
Occasionally the trail would be surrounded by tall arching rhododendrons, effectively making the trail into a green tunnel.
Mostly people backpacking on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia stay in or near shelters, but there are so many people who start off in Georgia in the spring that there are also an abundance of campsites along the trail. Typically the sites have a fire pit and some logs for sitting on and a clear flat area for the tents.
About three miles before the end, just as I began the ascent up Blue Mountain (4025’), the trail became really rocky, a kind of foot puzzle. I had to really focus on my foot placement!
After a half mile or so of challenging hiking the trail became less rocky and I found a log to sit on so I could have a much-needed late lunch. The woods were beautiful and peaceful. And then I looked up at the sky through the trees and saw this beautifully layered pattern of leaves.
The descent from Blue Mountain was rocky, tough, and slow, but after a mile of focusing on my foot placement I found myself at Unicoi Gap. Another 14-mile section successfully completed!
Today is a great day for a long walk in the woods!