Rabun Bald to GA-NC Border
Finally, it was time to finish the GA Bartram Trail. Making this trip special was that my good friend who got me into hiking long ago (and then abandoned me for "school" and "life") was going to join me for this hike. We did a lot of hiking together, but we never actually backpacked together. This was going to be a lot of fun.
This was going to be an out-and-back, overnight hike starting at Osage Mountain Overlook to Rabun Bald and back. Phantom and I started at Osage Mountain Overlook and hiked down 3.7 miles to the GA-NC border and crossed over Hale Ridge Road. From here, there was a 25 foot waterfall which we enjoyed for a little while before we started hiking again. We were making great time. We started to slow down a bit and the trail started to have longer uphills and shorter downhills. The trail in this section, however, is incredibly well maintained and an absolute pleasure to hike after some of the more rocky portion of the smokies. We arrived at Beegum gap parking and took a break here. From here, we had a 1.6 mile hike. The trail was constantly uphill but is was a moderate grade at worst and pretty easy to get up. Between the two of us, we had maybe a litter of water left. Not enough to get through the night. We went up to the fire tower to get the view and a small break. I took the opportunity to dry out my socks before we decided to go downhill 1.5 miles to a spring I remember passing in April on my way up to Rabun Bald. Luckily, it was still there and moving amazingly well. We had our fill of water and packed enough to take us through the night.
We started back up to Rabun Bald and at Flint Gap we had a decision to make. Here there is a blue blazed side trail to Flint Knob (0.7 miles) and Alex Mountain (1.9 miles). Phantom refused to go to Alex Mountain, which offered no view, but I convinced him to do Flint Knob. However, about 4 minutes into the side trail, I was not feeling it either. The trail was overgrown and you could tell not many people take it. I've also read the Flint Knob view is best in winter and likely only offered a limited view. After a hundred more feet, I decided we should turn around. I didn't want to deal with a overgrown side trail for a nothing view.
Unfortunately, that meant spending a whole lot of time at camp. If you know me, I hate camping. I would never camp if I could help it, but I need to camp to hike so I do it. Reluctantly, of course.
We got to the summit with way to much time to spare. Luckily, a huge group of high school kids arrived at the summit. My first worry was that they were going to spend the night on the Bald with us. I immediately asked if they planned to. Luckily, they were going down to Saltrock Gap 1.5 miles south on the Bartram Trail. Once I learned they weren't spending the night, I immediately started to like them. It is a troubled youth outreach program that takes kids with various degrees of trouble and takes them on a spiritual/nature hike.
They read poems and had a few chants. To be honest, I liked their presence. That is, until the leader started to tell a story about a mechanical heart. I didn't like that too much. It hit a little too close to home.
After eating they left and we got to see the sunset from the tower and played a little "tennis" on the tower itself. We had to do something to pass the time.
Once it got dark and cooler, we retreated into our sleeping bags and looked up at the night sky. This was the best night sky in Georgia. We saw an amazing sky full of stars and possibly Venus, which appeared to be the brightest "star." We also saw several fast moving lights which were moving too fast to be a plane. Phantom thought they might be satellites and I agreed. They were moving faster than planes and the light they emitted was constant unlike the traditional lights of planes that flash. Maybe we saw the internationa space station? Who knows, but I am pretty sure it wasn't a plane. Throughout the night, we also saw numerous shooting stars. I hadn't see one in a long time. Maybe since Glacier National Park. Around 1:00 am, we tried to go to sleep. Phantom was asleep within 30 minutes. As always, it took me longer, but I want to say around 3am I was asleep.
This was going to be an out-and-back, overnight hike starting at Osage Mountain Overlook to Rabun Bald and back. Phantom and I started at Osage Mountain Overlook and hiked down 3.7 miles to the GA-NC border and crossed over Hale Ridge Road. From here, there was a 25 foot waterfall which we enjoyed for a little while before we started hiking again. We were making great time. We started to slow down a bit and the trail started to have longer uphills and shorter downhills. The trail in this section, however, is incredibly well maintained and an absolute pleasure to hike after some of the more rocky portion of the smokies. We arrived at Beegum gap parking and took a break here. From here, we had a 1.6 mile hike. The trail was constantly uphill but is was a moderate grade at worst and pretty easy to get up. Between the two of us, we had maybe a litter of water left. Not enough to get through the night. We went up to the fire tower to get the view and a small break. I took the opportunity to dry out my socks before we decided to go downhill 1.5 miles to a spring I remember passing in April on my way up to Rabun Bald. Luckily, it was still there and moving amazingly well. We had our fill of water and packed enough to take us through the night.
We started back up to Rabun Bald and at Flint Gap we had a decision to make. Here there is a blue blazed side trail to Flint Knob (0.7 miles) and Alex Mountain (1.9 miles). Phantom refused to go to Alex Mountain, which offered no view, but I convinced him to do Flint Knob. However, about 4 minutes into the side trail, I was not feeling it either. The trail was overgrown and you could tell not many people take it. I've also read the Flint Knob view is best in winter and likely only offered a limited view. After a hundred more feet, I decided we should turn around. I didn't want to deal with a overgrown side trail for a nothing view.
Unfortunately, that meant spending a whole lot of time at camp. If you know me, I hate camping. I would never camp if I could help it, but I need to camp to hike so I do it. Reluctantly, of course.
We got to the summit with way to much time to spare. Luckily, a huge group of high school kids arrived at the summit. My first worry was that they were going to spend the night on the Bald with us. I immediately asked if they planned to. Luckily, they were going down to Saltrock Gap 1.5 miles south on the Bartram Trail. Once I learned they weren't spending the night, I immediately started to like them. It is a troubled youth outreach program that takes kids with various degrees of trouble and takes them on a spiritual/nature hike.
They read poems and had a few chants. To be honest, I liked their presence. That is, until the leader started to tell a story about a mechanical heart. I didn't like that too much. It hit a little too close to home.
After eating they left and we got to see the sunset from the tower and played a little "tennis" on the tower itself. We had to do something to pass the time.
Once it got dark and cooler, we retreated into our sleeping bags and looked up at the night sky. This was the best night sky in Georgia. We saw an amazing sky full of stars and possibly Venus, which appeared to be the brightest "star." We also saw several fast moving lights which were moving too fast to be a plane. Phantom thought they might be satellites and I agreed. They were moving faster than planes and the light they emitted was constant unlike the traditional lights of planes that flash. Maybe we saw the internationa space station? Who knows, but I am pretty sure it wasn't a plane. Throughout the night, we also saw numerous shooting stars. I hadn't see one in a long time. Maybe since Glacier National Park. Around 1:00 am, we tried to go to sleep. Phantom was asleep within 30 minutes. As always, it took me longer, but I want to say around 3am I was asleep.
Day 2 | Sunday, May 21 2015
|
Start Location: Rabun Bald (32.3 miles).
End Location: GA-NC Border (37 miles). Parking Locations: Hale Ridge Road (36.9 miles). There are others, but significantly more difficult to access. Views: Rabun Bald (32. 2 miles); Waterfall (36.5 miles). Water Sources: Stream (34.7 miles); ample water hereafter. Campsites: Rabun Bald (32.3 miles); campsite (33 miles); campsite (34 miles); campsite (35.2 miles); campsite (36 miles). BT Distance: 4.7 miles Hiking Distance: 4.7 miles |
|
The night sky from Rabun Bald Fire Tower was amazing. I know I will be back, and I am pretty sure it will be this year and every year thereafter. It was just a really epic experience.
In the morning, I was happy with our decision to cowboy camp on the fire tower itself. Around 6 am, I woke up to the sun starting to rise, but I was too comfortable in my sleeping bag to get up. I watched the sun rise from my sleeping bag and then went back to sleep. (Sorry, no pictures of sunrise!). Around 7, I woke up again and asked Phantom when he wanted to get up. He said in "an hour." I took that to mean two. I went back to sleep and woke at 8:00 am. Phantom was still sleeping, but I couldn't anymore. So I got up quietly and walked around the fire tower getting the view in the morning hours. It truly is an amazing place. I love it there. |
Around 9:00 am, I figured it was time to wake him up. He had a bonus hour of sleep. We had breakfast and got one last view from the firetower and off we went. He hiked back down toward the trail and hit a hard right at the sign for Beegum Gap Parking. For the next 1.6 miles, the trail has a moderate descent until you reach Beegum Gap (33.9 miles).
Leaving Beegum Gap, the trail continued downhill to Sky Valley Side Trail (34 miles). Short after, the trail passes this small home (34.1 miles) on your left that is in the middle of nowhere. The trail in this section is mainly downhill or flat. Shortly after the home, you come across a campsite at 34.3 miles. It is dry, but 0.5 miles up the trail you come to the first water source in 4 miles where you cross over a footbridge over a stream (24.8 miles).
This next section has ample water, footbridges, rock hopping. I counted at least 15 footbridges and a handful of rock crossings. Like I said, there is ample water. At 35.6 miles, there is a large dry campsite with a fire pit. I've noticed that most of the campsites here do not have water in the campsite, but there is usually water in the general area so I wouldn't worry.
The trail here begins a series of very short ups and downs. At 36.5 miles, the trail crosses the 13th bridge (i gave up shortly after this one). At this bridge there is a really nice 25 foot waterfall (36.5 miles). This waterfall is also about 0.5 miles from Hale Ridge Road (36.9 miles) and the GA-NC border (37 miles). Hale Ridge Road is a trailhead access with parking for 2-4 cars. Take a right onto Hale Ridge Road and the Bratram Trail actually follows this road for maybe 200 feet until it pulls off to the left where you find a Hale Ridge Road kiosk. The trail goes uphill for maybe 100 feet until you will pass between two trees with a blaze on each side. On the tree of the left, you will find a blaze which shows the GA-NC line. With this, I have completed the GA Bartram Trail!!! Onto the NC Bartram Trail!
Previous Section: Warwoman Dell to Rabun Bald.
Next Section: GA-NC Border to Osage Mountain Overlook.
Leaving Beegum Gap, the trail continued downhill to Sky Valley Side Trail (34 miles). Short after, the trail passes this small home (34.1 miles) on your left that is in the middle of nowhere. The trail in this section is mainly downhill or flat. Shortly after the home, you come across a campsite at 34.3 miles. It is dry, but 0.5 miles up the trail you come to the first water source in 4 miles where you cross over a footbridge over a stream (24.8 miles).
This next section has ample water, footbridges, rock hopping. I counted at least 15 footbridges and a handful of rock crossings. Like I said, there is ample water. At 35.6 miles, there is a large dry campsite with a fire pit. I've noticed that most of the campsites here do not have water in the campsite, but there is usually water in the general area so I wouldn't worry.
The trail here begins a series of very short ups and downs. At 36.5 miles, the trail crosses the 13th bridge (i gave up shortly after this one). At this bridge there is a really nice 25 foot waterfall (36.5 miles). This waterfall is also about 0.5 miles from Hale Ridge Road (36.9 miles) and the GA-NC border (37 miles). Hale Ridge Road is a trailhead access with parking for 2-4 cars. Take a right onto Hale Ridge Road and the Bratram Trail actually follows this road for maybe 200 feet until it pulls off to the left where you find a Hale Ridge Road kiosk. The trail goes uphill for maybe 100 feet until you will pass between two trees with a blaze on each side. On the tree of the left, you will find a blaze which shows the GA-NC line. With this, I have completed the GA Bartram Trail!!! Onto the NC Bartram Trail!
Previous Section: Warwoman Dell to Rabun Bald.
Next Section: GA-NC Border to Osage Mountain Overlook.