Every October our family spends a week in Sky Valley, GA, just outside of Dillard. Last year my son and I parked at Beegum Gap and walked up to the top of Rabun Bald, the second highest peak in Georgia. While we were at the top of the mountain I noticed a trail marker that pointed towards War Woman Dell 15 miles further down the trail.
Over the summer, I read up on the trail. It is just a small portion of the Bartram Trail that starts in Georgia and runs up through the Carolinas. http://www.georgiatrails.com/gt/bartram_trail
This year, my wife and daughter dropped me off at War Woman Dell on a Wednesday morning and met me at the Beegum Gap parking area the next day. Due to the drought there was a restriction on campfires. Also, the creeks where I was supposed to be able to refill water were dried up. The waterfall on Martin's Creek at about 3.5 miles in was the last water to be found until the next day. I hiked in 10.5 miles the first day and set up camp, leaving a short but steep 5.5 miles for the next day.
I use a Camelbak Fourteener 24 and Hill People Gear Recon Kit Bag for carrying my gear. Sleep in a Hennessy Hammock with the light weight sleeping bag from a military sleep system.
It's a beautiful, very solitary hike. I didn't see any other hikers on the first day, and only ran into a few people on my way down from Rabun Bald to Beegum Gap the next morning.
I'll upload a couple of pictures from my phone in this thread.
Over the summer, I read up on the trail. It is just a small portion of the Bartram Trail that starts in Georgia and runs up through the Carolinas. http://www.georgiatrails.com/gt/bartram_trail
This year, my wife and daughter dropped me off at War Woman Dell on a Wednesday morning and met me at the Beegum Gap parking area the next day. Due to the drought there was a restriction on campfires. Also, the creeks where I was supposed to be able to refill water were dried up. The waterfall on Martin's Creek at about 3.5 miles in was the last water to be found until the next day. I hiked in 10.5 miles the first day and set up camp, leaving a short but steep 5.5 miles for the next day.
I use a Camelbak Fourteener 24 and Hill People Gear Recon Kit Bag for carrying my gear. Sleep in a Hennessy Hammock with the light weight sleeping bag from a military sleep system.
It's a beautiful, very solitary hike. I didn't see any other hikers on the first day, and only ran into a few people on my way down from Rabun Bald to Beegum Gap the next morning.
I'll upload a couple of pictures from my phone in this thread.
