Planning Section 2 for June of 2011

Preliminary plans and preparations are underway for another June section hike. This time I'll be taking troop 407 out of Sikeston MO. We will do 5 monthly prep hikes and we've been working hard to gather gear and get everyone motivated and in shape. I am so anxious to see if my geocached picture of Kathryn can be found where I stashed it at Unicoi Gap in Georgia. Hoping to do 50 more miles. More details to come.

Finally Posting about half the pics from our June 2009 trip

These are mostly in order.  I have another 50 or so pictures and quite a few little video clips that I just don't feel the need to post.  Posted below are a few random highlights. 

Me and my Dad the night before we began.  June week 1, 2009

The view from inside my hammock looking down toward my feet.  I went to walmart and purchased a length of flannel and folded it in half, had it sewn like a sleepingbag with no zipper.  Think long wide flannel sleeping back liner.  It's all I took.  Looking back that was a good move.  If it had turned cold I would have been in a little trouble.  May adjust for future hikes. I just hate to add the weight. 

This little archway is the unofficial beginning at Amicalola Falls State Park.  This is where it all starts. 

The Amicalola Falls.  The total climb from the base to top is over 900 feet and presented quite a challenge for the group who loaded down with too much water and gear.  We were gung ho and didn't pace well. 

Here's one that stopped for  a breather.

About half way up and I was already dripping wet with sweat.

Past the falls we hopped on a blue blaze trail approach trail that was 8 miles from the official start of the AT, Springer Mountain.  We ascended the falls and planned to stop at Frosty Mountain, which was only about 3 miles up. 

Saw a few dozen of these little centipede type creatures.  Scientific name is Apheloria Virginiensis

This picture does little justice to the view and angle that I was going for for the shot, but this is very typical of the trail, craggy rocky and nearly straight up at times.  To do this for a week you gotta decide this is something you really want to do. 

I looked down and saw this white granite and had to do a double-take.  It almost looked like snow among all the ivy.  

On top of Frosty Mountain, night number 1 we were moving some rocks around and saw these two cool looking salamanders. 

We got a bit of a late start on camp on night number one because the water source was a good 300 yards back down the mountain.  This caused delays in dinner and hammock setup.  I have to admit as I crawled into the hammock I wondered what the week would bring and how much I might continue to enjoy it if every day went like the first. 

A view of the Hennessy Hammock and my Frosty mountain setup.  Bear bags were in place and it quickly cooled off so I crawled up into my hammock for a night of log sawing with my fleece and beenie.  OOH.  Do not forget to keep a set of soft ear plugs for camping!  I normally sleep with a fan at home and so all the sounds of the animals, other snoring campers and birds, as well as wind in the trees is actually rather annoying.  The earplugs helped me zonk. 

Lots of snails all over the trail.  Here's one on a oak leaf. 

The scout group, Todd Miller, Justin Mozina, Andrew Linares, T.J. Miller

random flora

A shady section of trail.  I brought sunglasses but as you can see here there are very few sections that would require it.  I really didn't need them all week and should have left them in the car. 

I think this was Stover Creek shelter.  Can't remember. We stopped to use one of the many outdoor privies (toilets) tied to each shelter.  It's not much but it is slightly better than going in the woods and having to bury it. 

There were these strange fire lily type trees in full bloom all along the trail.  1st week in June was a great time to be out on the AT

We finally made what seemed to be an eternal climb to the top of Springer Mountain the official start of the southern terminus of the Appalachian trail.  Kicked out boots off and packs and started to prepare a little lunch.  I laid back on a rock and not 10 feet from me was this beautiful little timber rattler sounding off that we had invaded his space.  Approx 4 feet in length.

Here he/she is taking off in a slow retreat. 

Me on top of Springer, Mountain Laurel in bloom in the background and a somewhat hazy view but was a great reward after our first really tough climb, especially for the old timers and scouts. 

The plaque signifying the official start to my quest.

The view from atop Springer Mountain GA

Our first rattler was tiny in comparison to the this big dude.  Another Timber Rattler this one was a beast and he was very perturbed by our presence.  If you don't take trekking poles then you might just get to step on one of these babies.  The poles kind of make a little non rubber noise when the poke into the rock and kind of put snakes like this one on alert.  This one was stretched out under the grass on the edge of the trail.  He moved about 4 feet off the trail to get away and to prepare to strike.  Again, if you don't take trekking poles or a good comfortable staff with you, I'd say you are missing out on a safety feature and a good knee saver for your down hill moves. 

The flora and fauna of the AT is exquisite.  This is a spider wort plant.  They were everywhere.  The trail was also bathed in lush green ferns (background)

At the junction of the Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) we had the official AT marker. 

The troop stops for an action photo and to filter.

We made it to Three Forks on our second night.  What a fantastic camp site. 

From what I have found online this is a pretty rare find. It looks like a shroom but it's actually an all white flower that works only when a certain subterranian shroom is present. Also called the ghost flower. Found this a Three Forks. Most commonly called the Indian Pipe

Getting our stride

another peak achieved

More Flora . . .

Squirrel boy and his Dad takin a rest on up the trail. 

Mountain Laurel beauty

More Mountain Laurel

Very large bear print

Coming up on Woody Gap

Woody Gap and a lunch break

Self portrait with the SticPic

A nice reward for our climb

Possibly one of my fav's.  We had just bounced up and down the ridgetops in the background with little rewarding views.  This one afforded us the view of all the peaks we had just worked so hard to climb and descend. 

And old Ent like tree.  I had not seen anything like it. 

My hammock tent on the side of side of Blood Mountain. 

A foggy peaking of Blood Mountain.

Inside Blood mountain Shelter with the group

Blood mountain shelter.

On top of Blood mountain.  Preparing for the decent to mountains crossing for a few hours of R and R and some laundry.  This was easily the the highlight summit of the trip. 

Still waiting on the fog/clouds to burn off for pics

Using my SticPic attached to my trekking pole for a self portrait.

June on top of Blood Mountain.  The first week in June has to be the best time to go.  Everything is coming into full bloom but it is not the hottest part of the summer.  Things were lush and blooming. 

Another shot

Some mountain laurel in bloom to the north

Still a litte fog

The purple "flower" in the forground is a spider wort.