Dicks Creek Gap to GA-NC Border
Day 1 | Saturday, November 15, 2014
|
|
Start Location: GA-NC Border (78.5 miles)
End Location: Dicks Creek Gap (69.6 miles) Parking Location: Dicks Creek Gap (69.6 miles). Views: GA-NC Border (78.5 miles). Water Sources: Dicks Creek Gap (69.6 miles); Campsite (70.6 miles); Cowart Gap (71.4 miles); Plumorchard Gap Shelter (74.1 miles); and Campsite (76.3 miles). Campsites: Campsite (70.6 miles); Cowart Gap (71.4 miles); Plumorchard Gap Shelter (74.1 miles); and Campsite (76.3 miles); and GA-NC Border (78.5 miles). AT Distance: 8.9 miles Hiking Distance: 9.5 miles |
I finished the Georgia Section of the AT as part of an overnight hike from Deep Gap, NC (85.4 miles) to Dicks Creek Gap (69.6). The first part of this hike can be found here. Unlike the majority of my other Georgia hikes, this hike was done SOBO. The description of my hike, then, will not match up with the pictures above from my hike, which I have rearranged to go NOBO.
I also did this hike with SB as a Friday-Saturday hike.
As we continued our descent down Courthouse Bald (79.9 miles) and passed the old and twisted tree at Bly Gap (78.6 miles). After that, we quickly reached the GA-NC border (78.5 miles). I was a little worried that I wouldn't get as excited as I would if I had done this hike going NOBO because while I did reach the GA-NC border, I wouldn't actually finish the GA portion of the AT until I reached Dicks Creek Gap. That worry was misplaced. I enjoyed taking a picture on the old tree at Bly Gap and taking my picture with the GA-NC sign; hell, I even kissed it.
After the high of reaching the GA-NC border, we continued our descent to Blue Ridge Gap (75.3 miles), passing a large campsite with water at 76.3 miles. This was my first experience with early winter hiking. I now understand why so many like it. The temperature is much kinder than in summer and the winter views are amazing. All summer long I was in a long green tunnel, but during the winter you can really see around you. You can see how isolated you are. How far from civilization you are. I loved it.
We considered taking a short break at Blue Ridge Gap, but decided to push onto Plumorchard Gap Shelter, which was only 1.2 miles away. Before reaching the shelter, however, we had a short 400 foot climb up As Knob (74.8 miles). We then began our descent down to Plumorchard Gap Shelter (74.1 miles). The shelter is down a marked side trail about 0.3 miles. Plumorchard Gap Shelter may be the nicest shelter on the Georgia AT. It is definitely the largest and has three separate floors. We had our lunch here. I didn't cook anything the night before at Muskrat Creek Shelter so I was kind of hungry. After having our fill, we continued to make our way to Dicks Creek Gap.
After leaving the Plumorchard Gap Shelter, we began our 600 foot climb up Buzzard Knob (72.7 miles). The summit of Buzzard Knob offered great winter views. We then began our descent to Cowart Gap (71.4 miles), which is a large, flat campsite. I can see why it is a popular campsite. We then began our final push down to Dicks Creek Gap. We passed another campsite at 70.6 miles and finally reached Dicks Creek Gap. Once I got down to the parking lot, I felt great. Georgia AT conquered!!! I saw every white blaze for 78.5 miles. Now my focus is on getting to that Virginia border!
I also did this hike with SB as a Friday-Saturday hike.
As we continued our descent down Courthouse Bald (79.9 miles) and passed the old and twisted tree at Bly Gap (78.6 miles). After that, we quickly reached the GA-NC border (78.5 miles). I was a little worried that I wouldn't get as excited as I would if I had done this hike going NOBO because while I did reach the GA-NC border, I wouldn't actually finish the GA portion of the AT until I reached Dicks Creek Gap. That worry was misplaced. I enjoyed taking a picture on the old tree at Bly Gap and taking my picture with the GA-NC sign; hell, I even kissed it.
After the high of reaching the GA-NC border, we continued our descent to Blue Ridge Gap (75.3 miles), passing a large campsite with water at 76.3 miles. This was my first experience with early winter hiking. I now understand why so many like it. The temperature is much kinder than in summer and the winter views are amazing. All summer long I was in a long green tunnel, but during the winter you can really see around you. You can see how isolated you are. How far from civilization you are. I loved it.
We considered taking a short break at Blue Ridge Gap, but decided to push onto Plumorchard Gap Shelter, which was only 1.2 miles away. Before reaching the shelter, however, we had a short 400 foot climb up As Knob (74.8 miles). We then began our descent down to Plumorchard Gap Shelter (74.1 miles). The shelter is down a marked side trail about 0.3 miles. Plumorchard Gap Shelter may be the nicest shelter on the Georgia AT. It is definitely the largest and has three separate floors. We had our lunch here. I didn't cook anything the night before at Muskrat Creek Shelter so I was kind of hungry. After having our fill, we continued to make our way to Dicks Creek Gap.
After leaving the Plumorchard Gap Shelter, we began our 600 foot climb up Buzzard Knob (72.7 miles). The summit of Buzzard Knob offered great winter views. We then began our descent to Cowart Gap (71.4 miles), which is a large, flat campsite. I can see why it is a popular campsite. We then began our final push down to Dicks Creek Gap. We passed another campsite at 70.6 miles and finally reached Dicks Creek Gap. Once I got down to the parking lot, I felt great. Georgia AT conquered!!! I saw every white blaze for 78.5 miles. Now my focus is on getting to that Virginia border!