AT Segment : Dicks Creek Gap to Chunky Gal Trail

VERY RECENT D6 EXPERIENCE IS A MUST TO  JOIN THE FUN

Hiker qualifying:  Views vary on what is fast so let us just say that we expect an average pace of 2.6 mph. Adding a 20 to 30 minute lunch will have us at our cars on time. Trip Leaders are committed to keeping the group together hiking at the same pace. After registration, trip leaders will look at the recent hikes within the club for each individual. If there is not recent experience matching that of the hike, please expect an email with questions that allow the trip leaders to determine suitability to stay on the roster. This procedure is the same for every hike we lead and every member that signs up. Once we have ascertained your level of fitness if you hike with us, you may not need to be vetted for future hikes. 

For this hike, we are taking the regular D6/18-miler to Bly Gap and stretching the hike into a D7/25-miler by continuing north to skirt North Carolina's Nantahala Wilderness area with the addition of these climbs:

4338 foot Sharp Top - a 500 foot climb over 0.8 miles

4690 foot Courthouse Bald - a 350 foot climb over 0.6 miles including a fine view into Shooting Creek Valley and Hiawassee

After we are 3.5 miles past Bly Gap and completed Sharp Top and Courthouse Bald, we arrive at our turnaround which is the intersection with the Chunky Gal trail.

Over the course of 25 miles, we will eclipse 6500 feet of elevation gain.  We will also have time to explore the possible reasons for the Chunky Gal name.

During the first 9 miles, this hike is short on the large mountain climbs but long on the number of knobs to scale (6 of them times two with both directions).  We think of it as the roller coaster of the Georgia AT.

The highlight of this section is Bly Gap, at the northern end, with its views of the western North Carolina mountains.  The section also features views of the imposing Standing Indian Mountain (5498 feet), as well as the Nantahala mountains in North Carolina.  The isolated peak of Hightower Bald (4568 feet and Georgia's 4th highest) is conspicuous to the northwest.  

This segment generally follows the crest of the Blue Ridge, ascending and descending through a number of gaps in the ridge.   High points include As Knob, Buzzard Knob, and Little Bald Knob.  

Here is a rundown of waypoints with elevations and mileage into the trek along with our knob count during the first 9 mile roller coaster section:

0.0 Dicks Creek Gap (2675) NORTHBOUND through picnic area, 

1.1 Little Bald Knob (3160) #1, 

1.8 Cowart Gap (2920) stand of tall pine trees, 

2.9 slope of Buzzard Knob fine views #2, 

3.3 Bull Gap (3550), 

4.5 Plumorchard Gap (3090) shelter, 

5.2 As Knob (3440) #3, 

5.8 Blue Ridge Gap (3020), 

6.8 west side of Wheeler Knob (3560) #4, 

8.1 Rich Cove Gap (3400) with views of Hightower Bald and Dick's Knob (4620 and Georgia's 3rd highest) , 

8.4 rock outcrop with fine views near Rocky Knob (3570) #5, 

8.9 state border and Rich Knob (3927) #6, 

9.0 Bly Gap (3840) and the iconic twisted tree

There is no carpool for this hike as we may have hikers wanting to enjoy dinner and lodging in Blairsville or Hiawassee. We can consider adding a car pool after sign up. 

GPS Coordinates:

34.912267, -83.618832

Google Maps: 

https://goo.gl/maps/fkmjz7n 3hcJYkFrf6

 There is no carpool for this hike as we may have hikers wanting to enjoy dinner and lodging in Blairsville or Hiawassee. 

Free parking