1    Georgia         75 miles / 121 km

Having hiked most of Georgia during many day trips I had in winter a further ascent of Blood Mountain. This made me aware of that even so far south there is snow to be found; 20 cm that day. That was quite a difference to summertime and the high temperatures. This was to be the only time I had snow during all of the 2,174 miles / 3,500km.

Next time in Atlanta I brought my old backpack, sleeping bag and sleeping pad along. I had planned to spent a weekend on the AT with staying overnight at one the shelters. And during this weekend was the only time I met a bear on the total AT. There he was after I had turned a bend in the trail with only a short distance between us. We considered what to do next. He made up his mind first and ran into the bushes.

I very much liked that weekend. So following a stay in Atlanta I took a one week vacation and hiked the section from Dicks Creek Gap in Georgia to Wesser in North Carolina. Out of the main hiking season, mostly on my at night in the shelters and than the wrong gas cartridge for my stove from REI. Three day into the hike friendly hikers gave me a half empty but fitting cartridge. Now I had warm meals again. One day short of Wesser it rained so heavily the brook that should be 10 yards away from the shelter almost touched its front. The rain was like a white wall a few yards away.

Springer Mountain Approach Trail start at Amicalola Falls SP, Georgia

Springer Mountain, Georgia

Blood Mountain Shelter in snow, Georgia

Walasi-Yi shelter at Neel Gap, Georgia

AT at Addis Gap, Georgia

AT near Dicks Creek Gap, Georgia

<< Return to Overview <<      >> North Carolina / Tennessee >>