Sat, Dec 21 2013 - Winter Solstice hike on the AT, Woody Gap to Jarrard Gap and back (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Clay White, Dorothea, Eva Participants: Dorothea, Eva, Clay White, Jeff, Kristi, Jennifer S, Bill, Sheri, Allan, Armin, Gordon Stephenson, Wayne A, Mark, Laura V, Jess H

The weather forecast was way off. Fifteen of us stepped out of our cars, gingerly, into pouring rain, then gathered under the roof of the information sign to contemplate the situation. One hiker crawled back into the car for a winter-solstice nap, and the remaining fourteen set off. The rain didn't let up until we were about two hours in, and by then everyone was pretty much soaked. The trick is to keep moving, however, so we did, and got back to the cars in record time. Then off to Shenanigans Pub in Dahlonega. We toasted the winter solstice, toasted the end of Clay's term as president of AOC, and ate heartily. Someone passed on a wonderful "fact" that anything a hiker eats or drinks within an hour of finishing a hike simply vanishes without any trace of alcohol, calories, or anything. That person then ordered a slice of peanut butter pie to follow his magnificant slab of lasagna. We accomplished all this before sunset! One correction to the hike description: according to the signposts, the hike was 11.8 miles long, not 10.5. So maybe it was a D4+ hike?