Sunday Hikes the Entire GA Appalachian Trail Series-Week 3

Are You Ready For Another Fun and challenging Sunday on the AT?

This is the third of series of day hikes that will cover entire GA Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain to just past NC border to Bly Gap.

Week 1: Springer Mtn to Hightower Gap ~ 11 miles and over 1000' Ascent  completed on 8/31/14

Week 2: Hightower Gap to Woody Gap   ~ 12 miles and 3000' Ascent  Completed on 9/7/2014

Week 3: Woody Gap to Neel Gap           ~ 11 miles and 2700' Ascent

Week 4: Neel Gap to Hogpen Gap and back  ~ 14.6 miles and 4000' Ascent ( no shuttle )

Week 5: Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap         ~ 14.5 Miles and 2500' Ascent

Week 6: Unicoi Gap to Tray Mountain and back ~ 11 miles ( no shuttle, subject to change)

Week 7: Tray Gap to Dicks Creek Gap ~ 12.5 Miles ( subject to change)

Week 8: Dicks Creek Gap to Bly Gap and back ~ 18 miles ( Celebration dinner and badge ceremony for those that complete all 8 events and are willing to pay $5 so I can order badges from GA Appalachian Trail Club- Victor )

We start AT northeast from Woody Gap (3160') and with a 550+ foot climb over 1.3 mi to near the top of Big Cedar Mtn (3732')...soon we come to our first side trail to Preaching Rock, where we will enjoy views to the southeast. Further down the AT, we will pass the Dockery Lake Trail and soon reach the low elev. point of this section at near 2900'. Over the next five miles, we pass through Jarrad Gap 

But from here, we climb roughly 1500' to the summit of Blood Mtn at 4458' at mile 8.3.. At the summit, we will enjoy views to the west and check out the historic shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934.  We will descend about 1000' in 1.5 mi to Flatrock Gap where the Freeman trail snakes off to the right.
Continuing down the AT for about another mile, will emerge at Neel Gap. We will then walk down the road to the parking area. From here, we will return to Woody Gap to pick up the other cars, and head home
Mileage breakdown: - Woody Gap to Neels Gap: Total distance: ~10.7 miles. Total ascent: ~2700+ feet. 

The information above about our hike is the modified version of Tony C.'s previous hike. Thanks Tony.

PLEASE NOTE: I LIKE EVERYONE TO STAY TOGETHER IN THIS HIKE. FAST HIKERS ARE WELCOME BUT MUST STAY WITH THE GROUP, SLOW HIKERS MUST BE ABLE TO HIKE 2.5 MILES AN HOUR. THIS HIKE IS DESIGNED FOR MODERATE SPEED HIKERS.

Please note: because of shuttle requirement this event is car pool only, if you are planning to drive by yourself alone this hike is not for you. Here is how it works: We take 4 cars preferably SUVs with each carrying 3 persons including driver. At point A (Neal Gap) we leave 1 car; we then have 3 cars each with 4 persons including driver to drive to point B (Woody Gap). After our hike only drivers ride with the car that we left at point A to bring back the rest of the cars. With exactly 12 hikers each person pays $20.00 so each driver recieves $40.00. Please come with exact change. If the number drops below 12 persons or we add above 12 persons, then we will adjust the cost.

Sunday