I had another successful extraction getting Jim. I meet him at Neels Gap. I saw someone come off the mountain with their dog. The dog had saddlebags on and didn't seem the least bit phased by the hike. It was interesting at Neels Gap. They have a store and a hostel there where hikers can restock their supplies and spend the night or just rest for a while before they go on. They even had a washer and dryer if you needed to do laundry. There were several hikers there when we there too.
You won't believe this but it rained when we got back to the campsite. We had enough time to make lunch and then it rained. It is sunny today so I hope that weather pattern prevails for a while. I have seen enough rain for now.
Today's hike: Blood mountain is the highest point in Georgia at 4460 feet. Cool at the start and had my jacket on, but 10 minutes later I was sweating and had it open, then half hour later it was off and I was soaked. Pretty much a climb for the first few hours. Passed a lot of hikers of all ages, and some birders. Overcast at the start but the sun came out for a couple of hours until I made it to the top of Blood mountain, then it got cold and windy again. Will attach a pic of the view here, spectacular. Top of the mountain is all granite rock, have to be careful, no handhold or tree's, the blazes are on the granite rock ground. Going down was tougher than going up, steep decent and slow going, all rock. Got to Neels Gap 5 hours and 20 ' later with three breaks for rest and pictures. 11.6 miles. At Neels Gap is the Walasi Center, a hikers hostel and supplier / outfitter. Splurged an bought a shirt that says : Hike faster, I hear banjo music !
My head cold is worse so tomorrow is another rest day to see if I can shake it. Into town for some cold drugs!
Bear facts: Total elevation of my climb up Blood was 1500 feet. An standard stair riser is 8", so converting all that would make the hike up equivalent to 2250 stair steps! Not counting those ups and downs prior to the mountain and along the ridges. AND going back down.
Animals: One bambi and two woodchucks, one of which was in the road challenging the van to hit him.
You won't believe this but it rained when we got back to the campsite. We had enough time to make lunch and then it rained. It is sunny today so I hope that weather pattern prevails for a while. I have seen enough rain for now.
Today's hike: Blood mountain is the highest point in Georgia at 4460 feet. Cool at the start and had my jacket on, but 10 minutes later I was sweating and had it open, then half hour later it was off and I was soaked. Pretty much a climb for the first few hours. Passed a lot of hikers of all ages, and some birders. Overcast at the start but the sun came out for a couple of hours until I made it to the top of Blood mountain, then it got cold and windy again. Will attach a pic of the view here, spectacular. Top of the mountain is all granite rock, have to be careful, no handhold or tree's, the blazes are on the granite rock ground. Going down was tougher than going up, steep decent and slow going, all rock. Got to Neels Gap 5 hours and 20 ' later with three breaks for rest and pictures. 11.6 miles. At Neels Gap is the Walasi Center, a hikers hostel and supplier / outfitter. Splurged an bought a shirt that says : Hike faster, I hear banjo music !
My head cold is worse so tomorrow is another rest day to see if I can shake it. Into town for some cold drugs!
Bear facts: Total elevation of my climb up Blood was 1500 feet. An standard stair riser is 8", so converting all that would make the hike up equivalent to 2250 stair steps! Not counting those ups and downs prior to the mountain and along the ridges. AND going back down.
Animals: One bambi and two woodchucks, one of which was in the road challenging the van to hit him.
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