Dick's Creek to Deep Gap and Back

With over 14 months since my last backpacking adventure, I was well overdue for another walk in the woods.

This trip was solo with no dogs, starting around 9:00 am on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at the Dicks Creek Gap parking area in Towns County, GA, walking to Deep Gap and camping, and then returning to the Jeep the following day.  15.3 miles each way for a total of 30.6 miles.

This hike was on the Appalachian Trail, and there were a ton of AT through-hikers traveling North, which makes this was one of the more heavily traveled hikes I have been on.

A map of the trail.  The Dick's Creek parking area is on the South side on the side of US 76, and Deep Gap is on the North side.

This elevation profile contains Deep Gap on the left, and Dick's Creek Gap on the right.  My hike started the opposite of this, so I gained elevation on the first day and lost elevation on the second day.

The first photo I have from the hike is at Blue Ridge Gap, 5.6 trail miles from the start at Dick's Creek Gap.

There is a forest service road at Blue Ridge Gap, and on the other side of road from the previous photo is a sign indicating that it;s another 3.1 miles to Bly Gap.  I was making good time, but my pack was very heavy - and in all fairness I was fatter than I was on my previous hike on the Bartram Trail 14 months prior.

The trail is beautiful this time of the year.  Spring has not completely started with the plants yet, but it's very close.  What's really nice is that without the leaves on the trees there is more visibility.

Crossing the Georgia / North Carolina line.

Burritos that Haocheng made for me.

My first water pumping break.  Pictured is my VHF Motorola XTS5000 radio.  On this trip, the amateur radio repeater that worked the most consistently was the N4BAP Tiger machine on Glassy Mountain.  Thanks to David (N4TS) and Daniel (KQ4VUP) for weather reports, and for checking in with me throughout the hike.

The water supply was a small spring.  Fortunately it was next to the trail, so I didn't have to walk very far.

This was the second shelter I passed.  I considered staying here for the night, but I decided to press on.  It was only another 5 miles or so to Deep Gap.

Is it a "shelter" or a "sheeter"?  The more heavily traveled trails have more signs of mischief along the way.

One of the more spectacular views.  This area is gorgeous.

I did not take any photos at my Deep Gap camp site - I was super tired (see elevation profile above) - but I was able to get sleep and turn around the following morning.  I camped in my tent, and fortunately I was the only one at Deep Gap.

Passing Bly Gap on the return hike.  On Thursday, there were a couple of instances of rain.  One was heavy and contained hail, and the next one was more mild.

Back to Blue Ridge Gap.  I was worn out, but I only had 5.6 trail miles remaining to return to the Jeep, so I decided to endure the hike and keep going rather than spending another night in the woods, particularly because there was a lot of rain in the forecast.

The last camping area before returning to Dick's Creek Gap was crowded.

Back to the Jeep just as the sun was setting.

All finished.  I had lots of fun, but I was glad that the hike was over.