Unicoi Gap To Dicks Creek Gap

“Plan B >> Friday, March 15 through Sunday, March 17, 2002: Unicoi 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. 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 over 18 miles.”

“ummm... huh?”

“Explanation: This 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 the other plan.”

“TD, what's the current plan for this trip?

I would like to hook up with the group on Friday, but on Sunday continue on to Rainbow Springs Campground.

Is this thing still on ???”

“I hope so, I have been planning it for weeks.

TD details!”

“If I ever cancel a trip.. you will have a LOT of notice.. and I will make SURE you know.

Have I emailed you and told you the trip was off?”

“Surely you realize that ANY trip I plan is on, unless something comes up so UNMISSABLE that I am forced to CANCEL.

>> And since I have not given you ANY such notice.. you know the answer, Mike.”

“Sorry I asked.

I guess it's still "Plan B".”

“Hey guys.. my apologies.. bad day here.. typical Monday I guess.

Sorry to vent.”

“Alright now Mr. Cranky, does someone need a nap mat and a shot of juice?

nudge nudge.”

“yeah.. I do. Can I just go home now?”

“I do have a potential conflict with this trip tho.. that I have not worked out yet.

I don't want to cancel it, but I may have to either POSTPONE it until 2003, or slide the days one direction of the other.

(Vanderbilt is dedicating their brand new law building on the 15th, and my son wants us to go. They are courting him bad!)”

“Im shure its ok MDShiker still wants to go so do I so MDS email me if you still want to plan this!?

TD, you no Ino how kids are just do what they want first and you'll be happy later. Good kids are hard to raise and he's on his way. I would turn down or post pone any trip for my kids as well.”

“I sent some e-mail your way Prowler.”

“You know how "Dick's Creek Gap" got its name, don't you?
(nudge nudge wink wink say no more)”

“im glad Im not hiking w/ you! hehe

dirty,dirty”

“Prowler, MSDhiker.. if you guys DO start planning this thing on your own.. please include me in your emails?.. :)”

“TD, some of us have been discussing the issue of mileage. It's a long drive from North AL to the AT in GA. 16m in 3 days seems a little weak. If I'm gonna travel that far then I'd like to get in some more mileage and see more of the trail.

I'm looking forward to meeting some of the other TT'ers and would like to start with the group on that Friday, but I'll probably continue on to Hwy 64 in NC before I head home.

Other than that issue, I'm fired up and ready to meet everyone and get some hiking done.

( Maybe we can sneak in some TM while we're there! )”

“Well if you look at the webpage.. I have made several comments to that effect.

I set up the original itinerary thinking of the beginner crowd.. (people seem to think I make my trips a little hard) but no one I know is a beginner ANYway..

So I agree.. most of the two day mileages, could be done in one... and I dont think they would be a stretch.. look at doing the whole five dayer in three.”

“We should pull the three dayer”

“It would cover a lot of ground, but is very doable if you dont overpack.”