2018-07-21 GA-AT 5 of 8 Unicoi Gap to Wide Gap & back

Delay carpool departure time and starting time by 1 Hour.

We section hike the entire Appalachian Trail (AT) in Georgia in 8 trips. We go from Springer Mountain all the way to GA/NC border.

Each trip is an out and back going both AT North Bound (NoBo) and South Bound (SoBo) directions without any special car arrangement. No car shuttle and no key swap. We want to enjoy hiking AT both ways.

When we’re done, we have completed the entire AT in GA twice in both NoBo and SoBo directions. We have climbed twice amount of elevation gain both ways. That’s right! We leave no hill un-climbed!!

GA 5 of 8: Unicoi Gap to Wide Gap & back

We start from the Unicoi Gap (at 2,949 feet Elev.) follow AT SoBo. First 1.4 miles we climb Blue Mt. to its summit at 4,025 feet Elev. This section is very rocky with many switchbacks. We’ll pass Chattahoochee Gap at 4.4 miles, Cold Springs Gap at 5.6 miles, Low Gap at 9.4 miles, and Wide Gap at 11.5 miles with short breaks along our way for water, photos, and re-group.

We’ll retrace and hike AT NoBo, and take our lunch break at the Low Gap Shelter. It is 0.1 mile off AT. After lunch break we’ll continue AT NoBo to get back to our cars. Total distance is 23.2 miles = 11.5x2 + 0.1x2. Total elevation gain is approx. 5,049 feet, measurements provided by Georgia Appalachian Trail Club.

The event duration does NOT include our travelling/ driving time. If you choose to meet at the event, please arrive 10 minutes before our starting time. Our duration time is an estimate, and we need to have some flexibility.

This event is physically challenging and rewarding! You can fully enjoy it IF AND ONLY IF you have good fitness and endurance. Please only register if you are comfortable hiking long distance at a pace of 2.5 MPH in the remote mountains environment, and have recent D5/D6 experience.

We’ll move at a moderate pace of 2.5 MPH, and everyone is expected to keep up with the group. Please be honest to yourself and only register if you can keep up at this pace the entire trip.

If your recent experience is not from the club, please include it in a note when you register, or email me. If I don’t hear from you, then I have to put you on the waiting list. TL reserves the right to remove registrants without sufficient track record for the safety of everyone. We encourage our members to actively participate with joyful experience, and most importantly to stay healthy and safe at the end of our trip!

Take GA-400 N/US-19 N to its end. Continue straight onto GA-115 N for 4.8 miles. Turn right onto GA-115 N/GA-52 E for 2 miles. Keep left to continue on GA-115 N for 9.5 miles. Turn left onto Tesnatee Gap Valley Rd. for 2.7 miles. Continue onto McAfee Rd for 0.2 miles. Turn left onto US-129 N for 0.8 miles. Turn right onto GA-75A for 8.1 miles. Turn left onto GA-17 N/GA-75 N for 7.8 miles to arrive at Unicoi Gap parking lot.

1. This event may be cancelled or rescheduled if weather conditions are not satisfactory for an enjoyable outing.

2. Itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of the trip leader.