Little Skeenah Creek to Toccoa suspension bridge and Bryson Gap on BMT & DRT - Fri, Jan 3 2025

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Little Skeenah Creek to Toccoa suspension bridge and Bryson Gap on BMT & DRT


The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: Little Skeenah Creek trailhead   Hike: Little Skeenah Creek to Toccoa suspension bridge and Bryson Gap on BMT & DRT  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Jan 3 2025  9:00 am >> Fri, Jan 3 2025 4:00 pm  (Carpool Departure: 8:00 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Sun, Dec 29 2024 6:00 am
Registration Cut Off: Thu, Jan 2 2025 4:00 pm
Event Duration:7 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult (Exploratory)
Distance:12.6 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Chuck M
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:3
Number Registered So Far: 12 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: Yes

Note: This is an "EXPLORATORY" trip. This means that there are parts of this trip, or perhaps the whole trip, that is new to your Trip Leader(s). However, they are confident that this will not be an issue.
This note is here so that you can make an informed decision. When a Trip Leader isn't personally familiar with a trip, there is an increased chance of things not going as planned and you need to be prepared. The Trip Leader may have additional details in the itinerary.

Itinerary:

Join me for an exploratory hike on the Benton MacKaye Trail/Duncan Ridge Trail (they coincide for this section). We will begin at Little Skeenah Creek trailhead and head south. We will climb about 800 feet up Toonowee Mountain then Tooni Mountain before descending to the Toccoa River, where we will cross the 260' Toccoa suspension bridge, reputedly the longest one in the southern US. From there we will climb about 1,000 feet to Bryson Gap. We will stop at Bryson Gap for a lunch break before returning back the way we came to our cars. In 12.5 miles we will climb 3,132 feet (according to GaiaGPS). GaiaGPS tends to be right on the money for distance, but can be off by quite a bit on elevation, though.

This is an exploratory hike because I have not hiked between these points. I didn't find any prior AOC event that has, either. But we should get some great views from Toonowee and Tooni mountains, and we get to cross the famous Toccoa suspension bridge twice! The BMT is far less heavily used than the AT, but the Toccoa suspension bridge is a popular destination for locals and it is accessible by road. But only that section is likely to be busy.

Please bring your sense of adventure, sense of humor, and patience, as I can only estimate the duration of this event. 

Here is the route map:

 


Required Items to Bring:

Shoes and clothing appropriate to the weather and climbing

Water

Lunch

Snacks

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Hiking poles

Binoculars

Camera


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

I have not found a name for which GPS software will return the correct location. The best way to find it is entering the GPS coordinates into your navigation software:

34.76604° N, 84.16367° W

The following link should work in Apple Maps:

https://maps.apple.com/?ll=34.766042,-84.163673&q=Little%20Skeenha%20Creek%20Trailhead,%20%20BMT&t=m

There is a small paved parking lot on the north side of GA 60, about .7 mile east of Skeenah Gap trailhead. But be forewarned! There are at least three crossings of the BMT in this area. Your best bet is to meet at the carpool. 

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):186Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 8:00 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $74.40 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:

I was unable to confirm the presence of bathroom facilities at the parking lot, or anyplace else on the trail. There might be a privy at one or more of the campgrounds we pass, but I can't confirm that. So plan to make a bathroom stop before you get to the trailhead. Be sure to allow enough time to still get to the trailhead by 9:50.


* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.