March 19, 2013
| Today’s hike was on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia starting 9 miles from the NC border at Dicks Creek Gap and hiking southward to the Deep Gap Shelter and back. 8+ miles round trip.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Pam Euliss, Bill Hunt, Bob Magee, Dave Norton, Mary Lu Norton, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Pom Sinnock , and Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – This portion of the A.T. is typical of the GA section. Lots of great mountain views with lots of hills to climb along the way. Surprisingly, hiking southward is much more difficult with many uphill climbs. The return trip is much easier. We met 26 thru-hikers headed for Maine! They represented 10 different states. Directions: Dicks Creek Gap is on Highway 76 between Hiawassee and Clayton, GA. 10 mi east of Hiawassee or 18 miles west of Clayton. Another great day for a hike! Fair and cool. Temperatures ranged from 38 – 50 degrees F. Total distance – 8+ mi. Strenuous. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Vinca. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: PINE WARBLER, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, WHITE BREASTED NUTHATCH, TUFTED TITMOUSE, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, EASTERN PHOEBE, PILEATED WOODPECKER, CROW. . |
 Parking at Dicks Creek Gap on Highway 76 10 miles east of Hiawassee, GA. |
 The engraved boulder at the start. |
 We met these 4 thru-hikers at Dicks Creek Gap. They were from Huntsville, Alabama New Jersey and Rhode Island. For the day, we met 26 thru-hikers from 10 states. |
 Headed southward toward Deep Gap, GA we encounter lots of uphills! |
 By hikiing southward, we meet many thru-hikers headed for Maine! |
 Fungus of the Week! |
 Lots of mountain views through the trees. Here we can see portions of Lake Burton. |
 About three fourths of the way out, we get great views from this vista! Lake Burton near Clayton, GA. |
 Here is the side trail to the Deep Gap Shelter. |
 This shelter has two levels and the thru-hikers said that it was packed the night before. |
 Lunchtime at the Deep Gap shelter! |
 After lunch, the return trip was much easier with lots of downhills. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike! (l-r)Pam Euliss, Bob Magee, Vic Robson, Pom Sinnock, Mary Lu Norton, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Bill Hunt, Carole Wintle, John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Dave Norton, Phil Brownrigg and Tony Presley. |
SEE BELOW FOR VIDEO AND MANY MORE PHOTOS!