Sat, Aug 8 2015 - Amicalola Falls to the Hike Inn via the AT Approach Trail returning by the Hike Inn Trail (View Original Event Details)
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What a day was had for the group that hiked Amicalola Falls to the Hike Inn. We started with a beautiful morning of clear skies and cool temperatures. Carpoolers were on time and so were the folks meeting us at the Falls. After a sleepy meet and greet we started up the trail to the Hike Inn via the AT Approach Trail. The group stayed together and we stopped a couple of times for a breather. About a mile from the Hike Inn our sweep was stung by a hornet. Although hurting, he pushed on to the Inn. Many of our hikers had not been on this trail and never seen the Hike Inn. During lunch we watched as he began to show signs of an allergic reaction. He took two Benadryl and we headed back returning by the Hike Inn Trail. About half way back, at mile 2.5 on the 5 mile trail we came across a nest of yellow jackets that swarmed and stung 6-7 hikers of our group. We quickly learned that two members had severe reactions to the stings. We called the Amicalola Falls Visitor Center and they dispatched emergency responders and EMTs. Our group stayed calm, kept the situation under control and took care of each other. The group separated. Those able to proceed went on to the Falls and maintained contact. Others stayed and took care of the two with the most serious reactions.
Later that afternoon, the two patients were released and everyone was either on their way home or to the carpool.
Thank you everyone for staying together and pitching in to make sure everyone had a ride back to the carpool and for looking out for each other. Each of you were wonderful.
Park Ranger’s recommendations: Everyone should carry Benadryl and Asprin for bee/yellow jacket stings.
Be aware of bees this time of year especially now on the Hike Inn trail.
I look forward to hiking with each of you again.
Trish
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