Wow! Below 90 degrees for an entire weekend in August! Just wow!
This time last year I can remember doing an insanely difficult hike up the Coosa Backcountry trail in Vogel State Park. It was more typical August weather then - upper 90s and 100% humidity. Your sweat was useless and overheating was a real problem for us. This past weekend was just incredible though. I got the chance to head up to Georgia's highest point - Brasstown Bald. Only a two hour drive from Atlanta the temps there were even cooler than in town. With great temps and low humidity it was very comfortable for hiking. In fact at times when we'd stop for a break I got chills especially if the breeze kicked up.
Most people drive up to the park where you can hike 6/10 up a steep trail or take a van ride up to the top. That sounded like cheating to me so I found a much better route up. We started at Track Rock gap which is an interesting place by itself. Think you need to go out west to see Petroglyphs? Think again. Georgia has numerous sites and this is one of the best and easiest to get to. We couldn't stay long though as we had a nice hike ahead of us. From Track Rock you get to Brasstown Bald via the Arkaquah Trail. This is probably one of the most strenuous hikes in Georgia. It starts out climbing fast to gain the ridge. 1400+ feet in a short 1.7 miles. Steep! Once at the top of the ridge you enjoy sweeping vistas into the valleys north and south. You can see the town of Blairsville and the mountains as far as North Carolina and Tennessee. We continued to follow the ridge. There are 4 separate dips of 400 feet which of course you must regain each time. Approaching one of the summits you pass through an amazing boulder field. Soon you'll see your ultimate goal - the tower on Brasstown Bald. You arrive at the Parking Lot - full of cheaters who have no idea what they missed. Just 6/10 of mile and you're there. From Brasstown you can see as far as the Smokies - or at least you once could. Each time I visit it seems the views are a little worse. Thankfully the recent rains cleared up the sky quite nicely for us. I could definitely see Standing Indian which is just inside North Carolina.
We backtracked to our trail head and boy was I worn out but happy with the hike! 12.6 miles and 2000+ feet of gain.
If this sounds like a good time to you please have a look at my new outdoor club - Outdoor Adventure Club of the South - at http://oacsouth.com. Put in promotion code ATLOUTSIDE for free membership.
