2018-06-29 GA-AT 6 of 8 Unicoi Gap to Young Lick Knob & back

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 6 of 8: Unicoi Gap to Young Lick Knob & back

<<< Distance and Ascent >>>

The GA AT section from Unicoi Gap to Dicks Creek Gap is 16.5 miles with 4,824 feet elevation gain and 5,104 feet elevation loss. These measurements are provided by Georgia Appalachian Trail Club.

Our section hike goes both NoBo and SoBo directions. We will trek 33 (16.5x2) miles with a total elevation gain of 9,928 (4,824+5,104) feet from 2 sections, i.e. our GA sections 6 and 7.

GA section 6: Unicoi Gap to Young Lick Knob & back. The round trip distance is 16 miles with a total elevation gain of approx. 4,964 feet.

<<< The Hike >>>

We go at a moderate pace and take breaks for water, photos, and re-group. We start from the Unicoi Gap parking lot going AT NoBo. We’ll have very solid climb on Rocky Mt. to its summit at 4,017 feet, and descend to Indian Grave Gap at 3,113 feet after 2.6 miles.

Then we start a steady uphill to Tray Gap at 3,847 feet, then to the summit of Tray Mt. at 4,430 feet after 5.2 miles. We will take time to enjoy the beautiful views along our way.

Going down Tray Mt., we’ll pass Tray Mt. Shelter at 5.7 miles, Wolfpen Gap at 6.6 miles, and Steeptrap Gap at 7.1 miles. Then we have a short ascent to our turning point at 8 miles, the Young Lick Knob along a grassy and almost level ridgetop. We’ll find a comfortable spot to take our lunch break before we retrace and hike the AT SoBo.

You’ll be really surprised that our turning point, the Young Lick Knob with its not so prominent appearance is recognized as the southern terminus of the ECD (Eastern Continental Divide). At this point it becomes a “triple divide:” on the northeastern flank of the Knob waters flow into the Chattooga-Savannah rivers and the Atlantic; on the southeastern flank waters flow into the Chattahoochee-Apalachicola rivers and directly into the Gulf of Mexico; and on the western flank waters flow into the Hiwassee-Tennessee-Ohio-Mississippi rivers and thereby eventually to the Gulf.

After lunch we’ll hike to the top of Tray Mt. the second time and down to Indian Grave Gap going SoBo. Our legs may be just a bit slower on the return trip, but that’s totally normal. The last continuous uphill to the summit of Rocky Mt. has always been very challenging. We could say this is the best part of the day building our fitness and endurance! We will take our time and enjoy the climb, and celebrate together when we all get to the top! After a well-deserved scenic break, we’ll go down Rocky Mt. and back to our cars.

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.