- Date:
2024-02-01 - 2024-02-03
My first backpacking trip since last May. A familiar trail with scenic views and excellent radio propagation. I spent two nights instead of cutting the trip short, and I'm glad I did.
I ate lunch at Windy Gap - several miles into the trip.
Couscous that Haocheng made
Only 5 miles to the summit of Rabun Bald.
Another view from the same area. This may be a great place to car camp in the future.
Same place. I stopped for a few minutes, so Mabel took the opportunity to nap.
After climbing another couple of miles we reached a stream where I refilled water, called Haocheng, and checked my text messages from a bunch of people.
The last 0.9 miles to the top. This was a steep mile.
There was frost on the ground near several of the mountain tops. I was in a tee shirt, but it was acceptable since backpacking generates lots of heat.
A welcome sight. Finally.
I arrived just in time for the sunset. I knew it would get dark soon, so I quickly set up the tent on top of the observation tower.
Frost.
Dinner was Mountain House freeze dried food. Any food tastes good at the end of the day after hiking 14 miles.
After eating I settled in for the night. I made a few radio contacts, and then retired for the evening.
Around 2:30am the wind started blowing constantly until I left the next morning. I mean, it was relentless. If I would have stepped out of the tent I believe that the tent would have blown away. Naturally, this was not conducive to sleep!
Fortunately, the next morning I was able to enlist the help of a group of early day hikers to hold the tent down while I got out and packed up.
I don't think I'll be spending the night up there again any time soon - at least not with wind in the forecast.
Just before sunrise the next morning. The actual sunrise was obscured by clouds, but it was a beautiful day.
I walked a couple of miles to to eat breakfast so that I could escape the wind. Oatmeal and trail mix for me, and dog food for Mabel.
Any time I stop to rest, Mabel follows suit.
A favorite lookout spot with excellent radio propagation and a wonderful view. I made a few phone calls and checked up with my people, then I listened to the FM radio and chilled out for a few minutes.
Wilson Gap. This appears to be the end of a forest service road, and it looks like it would be a good place to car camp.
Pinnacle Knob. This is where I spent the second night. There was ample sunlight to eat dinner and set up camp.
While I didn't use this puddle at the summit as a water source, I probably would have if I would have run out of water. It was a long, steep trip down the mountain to the closest stream. Mable appreciated the puddle, though, and I did use it to clean my camp stove pot before boiling fresh water.
The clouds and the scenery were gorgeous. Pinnacle Knob will be a great place for a return day hike.
The photo I sent Chuck in Dunnellon, Florida.
This night I made sure to securely stake down my tent and make all provisions for wind and rain. I didn't want a repeat of the previous night!
Chuck gave me this ground pad to replace my old nonworking Therm-a-Rest. This Coleman model is much better, and it's completely worth the slightly extra bulk.
In the middle of the night I shined the red light into my sleeping bag. Both nights Mabel snuggled up in the sleeping bag with me. It was cold.
A beautiful, red sunrise the next morning.
Breaking down camp.
Dog Food
Experimenting with the super-zoom on the cell phone camera from Pinnacle Knob. It's ok, but it's not a DSLR with a proper lens.
Morning
The waterfall a couple miles from the car.
Just before this point I met Kevin, W4KIB, from the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society (GARS). He was traveling to Pinnacle Knob for a SOTA activation. We had a pleasant 20-30-minute discussion which started with him asking me if I was the car in the parking lot with the amateur radio antenna. Yes, that's me!
What a difference a couple of days makes. On Thursday morning at 9:00am the Warwoman Dell parking area was completely vacant. Saturday morning it was crowded.
