McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 12/08/2024 | AT Mile 2123.5 | Day Total: 23.5 miles | Gain: 4295 ft

Another good nights rest. Woke up at 6:15 and made some breakfast. I was packed up and hiking at 7:30. It’s much easier to get ready in the morning when it’s warmer.

Had a gradual 700ft climb this morning. Ever wonder where the party balloons go after getting released into the air? Well in this case, a few feet off the Appalachian Trail. I grabbed it and put it in my pocket for now.

Had some beautiful views this morning while the sun was low on the sky. It was hard to look up at the trail ahead because the sun was directly ahead and barely above the horizon. Need a hiking visor (like a car). I will never get over the layers of mountains in the views.

The top ridge had a lot of dead trees with not many living ones around. I wonder what happened here?

I eventually made it to Coleman Gap. This is where I began my climb to Standing Indian Mountain. It’s not a steep climb, which is nice but it’s still 1300ft up. Just as I began my climb I crossed paths with a backpacker. She was solo and probably in her 60’s maybe 70’s. Every time I pass older hikers I’m think to myself, “I want to be in that kind of shape when I’m older”.

During this climb I had to take all my layers off, down to my sun hoodie. It’s been a while since it’s been warm enough to hike without layers on. Still wearing the pants and long underwear but I could definitely gone without I just didn’t feel like removing my shoes to change. I just rolled up the pant legs and it did the trick.

Along the ridgeline with all the views I spotted a gentleman wearing a bright orange cap. As I got closer it was clear that he was a trail maintainer. We talked for a while. He’s recently joined the local club and has adopted this section of trail. The previous volunteer had maintained it for over 20 years. Afterword I continued to have amazing views as I made my way down.

Not too far into the descent I decided to stop and have lunch at Standing Indian Shelter. It’s a nice shelter – well maintained. I also messaged The Green Dragon Hostel about staying there tomorrow night. I secured a bed and pickup time at 10:30am! I’ll have 4.7 miles to do in the morning for a nero.

After lunch I descended a little more down to Deep Gap. To my surprise the trail maintainer was also down here talking with a day hiker. He must have come back down and passed while I was eating lunch. He offered me a beer but I politely passed.

I bumped up and down some smaller mountains and through some Gaps. Each climb was 300-500ft. The first was Watter Oak Gap followed by White Oak Stamp Gap and Muskrat Creek Shelter. Or maybe Muskrat Creek Sheeter?

I passed a large group of, I’m guessing, college students day hiking. Right after the sheeter I had an amazing view towards Hiawassee (where The Green Dragon Hostel is).

A little over a mile later I and similar view towards Hiawassee from Sharp Top.

After some descending I made it to Bly Gap. There is an iconic twisted oak tree here with multiple places to camp. A big milestone was .1 after, the NC/GA boarder sign!!! This is my last state! While I was walking I throught about my response to “how far you hiking?”. It would always be “Georgia” but now that’s gotta get more specific “Springer Mountain Georgia”.

Tonight’s shelter was just 4 miles further. First down to Blue Ridge Gap then a 500ft climb up and down As Knob. Had some random views along the way. Lots of bonus views when the leaves are off the trees.

The top of As Knob is “viewless” but I was still able to make out mountains in the distance.

Once I was down at Plum Orchard Gap I made the .2 miles to Plum Orchard Shelter. The good thing is that the spring is directly on the side trail on the way.

Big mile day today. I wanted to get to the shelter because it supposed to rain tonight. Better to keep my tent dry. I made some dinner and setup my things. Just 6 more nights! The squirrels are quite loud around here in the leaves.

As I journaled before bed a bat flew into the shelter. It kept swooping down towards me until it found the exit again. I’ve got a video and it’s pretty funny now that it’s gone. I was able to grab a frame of the video. It’s a black blur.