The day is absolutely beautiful… it is our day off from work (yeah, right!)… and we decide to take a quick overnight hike from Neel’s Gap to Blood Mountain. This is most likely the most popular hiking section of The Appalachian Trail in the state of Georgia (no doubt the highest elevation of the AT in our state). So off we go (after a quick BBQ lunch at Rib Country in Blairsville, Ga.
So we arrive at the nice parking lot to the trailhead, hop out, take a photo of “Slipper” by the Blood Mountain sign, and off we go (up…up…and up) toward our destination.
Being that we are approaching our Thanksgiving holiday, thanks truly must be given to the men and women who volunteer much of their time to maintaining a trail that we all love so much. I always say, “It doesn’t just happen!” While we are conditioned to self-service just about everywhere we go (just slide a credit card in this machine and put some money in that machine and “walla”… you are served)…”It doesn’t just happen!” There is a ton of work (no pun intended) in making this trail enjoyable to all ages! These stone steps don’t just happen! The way the trail is directed doesn’t just happen! When storms and “the steps of thousands of people” wear and tear the trail system, there are some people who are committed to making it an enjoyable experience for all.
Here is a section of the trail where a few new “switch-backs” have been added to allow this well-worn section to recover.
The views atop of Blood Mountian are well worth the hike. If you don’t get out often and are concerned about hiking a steep trail, just take your time. Hike a slow pace! Stop often! Rest if you need to! Sit down on a rock! We do!
Trust me… when you finally arrive (and who gives a “rat’s ass” how long it takes)… these views are well worth the traverse. Remember… It doesn’t just happen!
At the top of Blood Mountain is the famous Blood Mountain Shelter and a welcomed sight to many weary hikers (especially if they get caught in a storm). This is a larger shelter on the AT and is kept quite clean by those who use it, but remember… it doesn’t just happen. Please…please…please…always apply the “no trace left behind” principle to hiking and camping. This is where YOU and I can help make the trail enjoyable by all!
“Tripper” and “Slipper” decide to forgo the shelter and pitch their tent at the edge of the cliff face with a 180 degree view 🙂
Just as soon as we set up camp, we turn around and see a bank of unexpected clouds rolling in. Knowing what was approaching, we decide to “hunker down” (can you tell that “Tripper” is a Georgia Bulldog fan) and ride out the night. The clouds did make for a spectacular sun set. Epic!
And then came the wind… and the cold… and the rain… and the wind… and the wind… and the wind… and the wind… and the wind. Needless to say, you see how this evening, night and morning is going to end, right? I thought that we were going to be blown right off the side of this mountain and give our families a personal remembrence of the mountain’s name. OMG!
You’ll find no beautiful, long range photos of our hike back down. Why? Because all we could see was fog! What a difference a day makes, right? But remember… It doesn’t just happen!
Happy trails to you and your family this holiday season! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all… and to all a good night 🙂 (I have to end this blog on that note).
