Blood Mountain

I escaped to northern Georgia and the Blood Mountain Wilderness for a few days of backpacking earlier this week. We camped in a state park our first night after our long drive and then did a two-day, 13-mile hike through the Chatahooche National Forest on a trail with serious elevational changes.

We made it to the top of Blood Mountain, the highest peak on the Appalacian Trail in Georgia. It added a two-mile spoke to our loop, but it involved a short jaunt on the AT, something I think I was more enthusiastic about than Smriti. (It's sort of like the time Andrea drove across the Golden State Bridge, and I made us turn around so I could drive across it, too.) Somehow, I get super excited about actually seeing the sights I've always read and heard about. We also met some through hikers--retirees from New Mexico who had started at Springer Mountain two days prior to our intersection--who were already scrutinizing their packs for what could be sent home at the first post office they encountered.

Reflecting on my severe soreness during the car ride home, I realized it had been almost four years since I had gone backpacking in real mountains. It didn't feel as remote and rugged as Idaho, but I'll definitely be going back, as there's nothing like it in Florida.

Still too cold for much wildlife, but we found a toad
who was willing to pose for the camera.

Something weird happened with my camera,
but it was looking ratherly heavenly at the top.

Tired feet.