Ed'n Lauky
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Yesterday Lauky and I took off for Neels Gap for a hike up Blood Mt. Why Blood Mt? Well, we wanted to hike and everyone around here kept asking if we had hiked Blood Mt. so we decided to do it. The AT trail starts right at Neels Gap. The Car parking trailhead is about ¼ mile down the road.
Blood Mt. is located in the Blood Mt. Wilderness area. That being said, there perhaps were fewer trail markings on the trees than average but the trail was very easy to follow and well maintained.
This is Rhododendron country and again we passed through Rhododendron ‘tunnels.’
The trail showed more signs of usage than our last hike up Brasstown Bald. But nevertheless, what a joy to walk on. Switchbacks carried us all the way to the top. One person I talked to on the trail had some experience hiking in the Whites. He said: “I noticed up there that you folks don’t know anything about switchbacks.” There is a tremendous difference in philosophy about trail construction.
We went to the top which had no views then walked back down to an open area were some guys had been camping. We had a nice chat. I did encounter quite a few people on this hike. The day hikers were very nice and very much like the day hikers one encounters in the Whites. I did notice though that there is an ‘element’ on these trails a bit different. We talked briefly with a fellow who claimed to be through hiking. He had a fair size pack but was wearing cowboy boots and jeans. I must admit that for almost the first time in my hiking experience I felt very uneasy in the presence of another hiker and was glad to get away. I had just picked up some tear gas in a store down here which is clipped to my pack strap and was glad to have it with me although I had no need for it.
There were a few good views from some open ledges along the way.
Back at Neels Gap we posed for a picture in front of the famous passage of the AT trail through the building.
We then made our hiking wish under the famous hiking boot tree, stopped for a moment in the shop then headed home.
[email protected]
Blood Mt. is located in the Blood Mt. Wilderness area. That being said, there perhaps were fewer trail markings on the trees than average but the trail was very easy to follow and well maintained.
This is Rhododendron country and again we passed through Rhododendron ‘tunnels.’
The trail showed more signs of usage than our last hike up Brasstown Bald. But nevertheless, what a joy to walk on. Switchbacks carried us all the way to the top. One person I talked to on the trail had some experience hiking in the Whites. He said: “I noticed up there that you folks don’t know anything about switchbacks.” There is a tremendous difference in philosophy about trail construction.
We went to the top which had no views then walked back down to an open area were some guys had been camping. We had a nice chat. I did encounter quite a few people on this hike. The day hikers were very nice and very much like the day hikers one encounters in the Whites. I did notice though that there is an ‘element’ on these trails a bit different. We talked briefly with a fellow who claimed to be through hiking. He had a fair size pack but was wearing cowboy boots and jeans. I must admit that for almost the first time in my hiking experience I felt very uneasy in the presence of another hiker and was glad to get away. I had just picked up some tear gas in a store down here which is clipped to my pack strap and was glad to have it with me although I had no need for it.
There were a few good views from some open ledges along the way.
Back at Neels Gap we posed for a picture in front of the famous passage of the AT trail through the building.
We then made our hiking wish under the famous hiking boot tree, stopped for a moment in the shop then headed home.
[email protected]
