Back yesterday from our 3 day trip from Amicalola Falls to Neel Gap. It was hard! That's a tough, rocky section of the AT. We had a good time, the weather was (mostly) good, and our gear worked great. My new SLD hammock was awesome, and the DIY underquilys and top quilts the LOML made worked great (with the exception of the last night - see below).
Day 1: Approach Trail to Stover Creek Shelter: Man, those 609 steps to the top of the falls are a killer. Just a tough section overall. But the view from the top of Springer was worth it. It actually rained this night, which was a surprise.
Day 2: Stover Creek to Gooch Mountain Shelter: Probably the hardest day. Lots of elevation change on this section and a 6 mile stretch with no water. And the water flow at Gooch was very slow. I actually slept "topless" (no tarp) this evening and heard a bear in the middle of the night.
Day 3: Stover Creek to Blood Mountain Shelter: This was actually the longest stretch (13.5 miles) but didn't feel that hard until the steep climb at the end. It was windier and colder than we expected at the top of the mountain. The wind blew all night, steady at 20-30 miles p/hour with gusts to 35-40. Tarps were blowing around and the underquilts and top quilts just couldn't keep us warm (we would have been fine without the wind). Woke up to ice on the tarps. We bugged out early - got up at 6, threw everything in our packs, and picked our way down the mountain to meet our shuttle driver at Neel Gap.
Great trip, and can't wait to get out there! Pictures below.
MrSpeedy and MrsSpeedy at the famous Archway
View from the top of Amicalola Falls
At the top of Springer Mountain
View from the top of Springer
View from a bald north of Woody Gap
Trip Report: Amicalola Falls to Neel Gap
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