Sunday Hikes the Entire GA Appalachian Trail Series-Week 7

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE LAST OF OUR 7 SERIES OF SUNDAY HIKES AND WE WILL STOP FOR DINNER TO CELEBERATE COMPLETION OF GA AT. IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DINNER PLEASE DO NOT SIGN FOR THIS HIKE. 

This is the 7th 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 Completed 9/14/2014

Week 4: Neel Gap to Hogpen Gap and back  ~ 14.6 miles and 4000' Ascent Completed 9/21/2014

Week 5: Hogpen Gap to Unicoi Gap         ~ 14.5 Miles and 2500' Ascent Completed 9/28/2014

Week 6: Unicoi Gap to Dicks Creek Gap ~ 16.5 Miles and 5000' Ascent Completed 10/5/2014

Week 7: Dicks Creek Gap to Bly Gap and RT to Blue Ridge Gap ~ 14 miles 3000' Ascent ( Celebration dinner and GA 80 miler's thru hiker patch ceremony for those that completed all events.)

Week 7: Dicks Creek Gap to Bly Gap and Return to Blue Ridge Gap.

This is the 7th and last of Sunday AT hike series.

 To start our event, we are stepping back onto the AT, headed north from Dicks Creek Gap at 2675', the low elevation point for this section.

We begin with a ~500' climb over the first 1 mi to the camp site. After descending to Cowart Gap, we have our toughest steep ascent of the day.. ~790' over 1.5 mi to Bull Gap and the slope of Buzzard Knob at 2.9 mi.

 From that point, there are a number of relatively short ascents over 500' on the way out to Bly Gap at 3840'. On the way to Bly Gap there is a shelter at  Plumorchard Gap that we can check out at .2 mi down a side trail. So that will add .4 r/t to the hike.

Mileage breakdown:

* Dicks Creek Gap to Bly Gap: 9 mi

* Visit to Shelter .4 Rt

* Bly Gap to Blue Ridge Gap 3.3 mi

* Blue Ridge Gap dirt road to paved area 1 mi

 Total distance: ~13.7 mi

* Total ascent: ~3000 feet.

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. Detail of the Shuttle will be explained at carpool location.

North on GA 400 from the park and ride. When GA 400 ends at Chevron station. continue on GA 115. Go 4.8 miles where GA 115 meets GA 52. Turn right. Continue on GA 115 for 12.5 miles and turn left on Wilford Ash Parkway.  After 0.4 miles, Wilford Ash Parkway becomes GA-75.  Stay on GA-75 thru Helen.  From Helen it is about 14 miles take right to GA 76,  Dicks Creek Gap is about 8 miles on the left.

Sunday