Hogpen Gap To Dicks Creek Gap

“Plan A >> Wednesday, March 13 through Sunday, March 17, 2002: Hogpen Gap To Dicks Creek Gap

Consider this a study in sociology, or a field experience regarding why people do things, but do not miss this chance to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail in March. Georgia is where is all starts for the season of thru-hikers, and we will be right there in the thick of it. We will start Wednesday at Neels Gap, home of the historic Walasi-Yi Inn and the only time in its entire length that the AT goes through a building. After spending some time in this well-stocked outfitter store, we will go in at Hogpen Gap and spend our first night at Low Gap Shelter, an easy 4.2 miles of moderate elevation changes.

Thursday morning and the climbs begin, guaranteed to warm us as we gain 1000’ in elevation on our way to Blue Mt Shelter (7.2 miles). In some parts of the AT, once you reach a high elevation, you stay there for a few miles, but not in Georgia. In exchange for our effort, we will be rewarded with high ridges, deep gaps, and no comparable mountains to the south.

As Friday morning comes, the fun is just beginning, as the climb out of Unicoi Gap is steep and unrelenting for the first ½ mile. If an aerobic challenge gets your heart pumping in many ways, this hike will be more to your liking – and it is worth every penny of oxygen debt, starting at the second highest mountain on the Georgia AT and includes remote, roadless areas of the Tray Mt Wilderness. Prepare for snow and wind as we camp at Tray Mt Shelter (7.7 miles) as past history tells us that this could be a really cold night here.

Saturday’s hike is easy by comparison, gentle descents and moderate climbs. The AT goes along an almost level ridgetop and then down smooth, easy trail before making a steep, short climb up to Kelly Knob. We get a short rest with a nice view of Chatuge Lake to the west and then down to Deep Gap Shelter (7.3 miles), a fitting place for our final night with two sleeping lofts, a large veranda for cooking, a deck, and a privy.

Sunday is a short downhill walk (3.3 miles) to Dicks Creek Gap and we are on our way home again. Total miles traveled is just under 30 miles.”

“done it, but i may follow you. like gollum. keeeeep onnn the trailsessssssssss...”

“Explanation: The other plan is WalkingDude's trip.. and it's posted on the TT calendar. He might change the itinerary slightly, but my guess is that this plan is fairly close.. What I wanted to do was to add some additional days and mileage.. thus this alternative plan.”

“TownDawg you're making me homsick for the trail...when I hiked into DCG last summer it was about 20 degrees, and snowing...stayed at Rainbow Springs campground...what an oasis that was...”

“so why dont you join us this yr, nucc97?”

“How realistic is it to do this longer itinerary in 3 days? How long is WD's itinerary allowing for this trip?”

“30 miles in three days.. but you better bring a tent.. the shelters fell the way I showed them..

WD's itinerary.... well I only guess at what he had in mind.. but he told me Unicoi Gap to Dick Creek Gap.. and told me Fri-Sun.. so those are the obvious stopping points each night.”

“I'm all about joining you guys...30 miles in 3 days isn't that bad...dayhiker the terrain really isn't that bad...”

“nucc97, I'm thinking of doing this one in 4 days. Coming in on Thursday morning and doing there Wed and Thur mileage on Thur. I'd catch them at Blue Mtn Shelter. Are you interested in that option? Where will you be driving in from?”

“I hear the water in Dick's creek is yellow.

...and warm.”

“In the mornings it's more yellow than later in the day. The gap in the creek can indicate prostate problems. That's what I hear.”

“TD
I told you on an e-mail that I could only do Friday through Sunday.
Also we both mentioned that that is when the potential thru-hikers would be going through. It's gonna be packed on the trail at that time.
we either need to move the date completely or move the trip to North Carolina.”

“We'll talk about it this weekend at Fiery Gizzard”

“I have a much better chance at Fri to Sun. My Thur to Sun. is hoping I can talk the Mrs. into it. WD, nucc97, and I could try the same 30 miles in 3 days and either all meet at the end, or set up our own shuttles. Right now I'm about 50/50 being able to do the Thur. thing.”

“I will be there LATE thursday night. By the time this trip rolls around, I'll have 1 vacation day left. I'll have to work on Thursday.”

“How far a drive is it for you WD? It's about a 3 1/2 or 4 hr drive for me (depending on ATL traffic) I can leave early Friday morning and be there by 9 EST.”

“about 4 hours”

“I talked with TD on the phone yesterday. He has an alternative plan that's about 18 miles that starts on Fri. It starts roughly where he'll be camping Thurs night. That is another option. I'm afraid that won't be enough mileage, but as he points out, we could get into some snow. Yall figure it out this weekend and I can probably make it work for me by either squeezing in Thur. or doing less mileage. The main thing for me is to get out there.”

“I'll be heading out Thursday night straight after work. Going from Centeral Time to East time, I'll be gettig there about 9:30 PM Eastern time. I'll be crashed in the truck at a trail Head.”

“Are you going in at Hogpen and going like hell or are you going in at Unicoi where TD's camping?”

“AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGG!

This is the time the Potential Thru-hikers will be comming through.

Lets all go to North Carolina”

“In my mind I'm going to Carolina,
Can't you see the sunshine,
Can't you just feel the moonshine,

Where'bouts did you have in mind.”

“I've been looking at the area around Standing Indian and Winding Stair Gap. Trying to figure a good 3 day trip.”

“I'm not familiar with that area. What town is it near?”

“As a former thru-hiker I say beware!! That is crazy time on the trail...dayhiker right now I'm in NH but moving down to the Asheville area...as it to when I'd meet with ya'll its a little early but just keep me posted-Cheers-S”

“DayHiker
That area is west of Franklin”

“nucc97
I figured that time of the year in Ga would be pretty wild.
What do you think about the Standing Indian Area for a 3 day trip that time of the year?”

“you folks PLAN too much.

one weekend this winter... let's wait for a cold one... maybe an ice storm.... and HIT the trail!

what do you need? 6 hours notice?”

“heh.. u guys do what you want.. as for me.. I WANT to go at that time.. I am looking FORWARD to that many thru-hikers.. it will be such a hoot.”

“I believe I'll stick with GA. It would be neat to talk to some of the thru-hikers.

nucc, I'm jealous. If it weren't for ownership opportunities where I am, I'd be living in Asheville too.”

“that's cool, too!”

“ya.. it's been my experience that having the thru-hikers around makes for a really fun trip.. good story tellers and such..

however.. everyone needs to drag a tent along, so we can give 1st pref to the TH'ers.”

“i don't sleep in shelters.”

“In my limited travels I've never slept in a shelter. After reading "A Walk in the Woods" I think I never will. I'll pass on the rats and mice.”

“lol.. well this section has plenty of great campsites..”

“I am travelling up with TD. I leave all planning to him. I just need to know what time to be at his house. I'm like you dayhiker, never slept in a shelter and have no immediate plans to start anytime soon.”

“chili36: come up Tuesday, after work.. we will drive out that night.. or EARLY next morning.”

“the nice thing about us all bringing tents is that when we get ready to stop.. we can.. we can plan on the way.. and if the SNOW slows us down.. or we make better time than we originally planned for -- we can adjust as required.

We knows? We might go all the way to PlumOrchard.. been wanting to see a three-story shelter anyway.

:)”

“Yall are nuts! Shelters are cool. I love hearing mice scamper around in them. They are a non-stop source of entertainment. Ever knocked a mouse off your food bag with a well placed boot throw? Too Fun!!!
Gotta remember though, The people you'd see on the trail that far south are Thru-Hiker wanna be's. I'm not impressed until they've at least made it to Fontana Dam. Many of them will drop out befor then.”

“I highly recommend a tent...the shelters are gonna be packed and if you're light sleeper, well sleep just aint gonna happen!”

“heh.. so u are changing your mind, WD?... gonna come along for the fun and crowds?”

“I'm not going to be able to make a 3 day trip here so I'm going to catch up on Saturday Morning and finish with yall.”