Amicalola River Trail to The Edge of the World

Class IV Rapids

March 8, 2015 - This is a fairly easy "hike", the majority of which is a wooden boardwalk that runs from the parking area on Hwy 53 west of Dawsonville, GA. From the parking area, there is a stairway that leads down to the walkway that runs parallel to the Amicalola River for .5 miles until you reach the rapids. It is handicap accessible so all levels of mobility can take advantage of the beautiful scenery.

This trip was made a few weeks after a major ice storm hit the area, so there were quire a few downed limbs, and a large tree that was still blocking the boardwalk. 

At the end of the boardwalk, you can scramble down through some laurel, rhododendron, and a few small boulders to walk out onto the granite slabs that immerse you in the sounds of the rapids. Like all river rocks, tread carefully as they can be quite slippery in spots.

The trail continues on up into the higher elevations of the forest to the southeast of the river. Though not taken on this day, I will return soon to complete the entire loop and will describe it in a separate post.

For a quick trip with small kids or older folks, this is a definite walk to take. You won't be disappointed.

  

I'm Still Here!

Hello everyone, anyone, someone!?

I finally did what I thought would never happen. I have left my home north of the Blue Ridge for one located just on the south side. I'm not surrounded by trails like I used to be, but there are many within ten to fifteen minutes of my new home in Dawson County, GA, and I'm eager to get out and explore some new patches of ground.

My life has changed immeasurably since my last post. I became a first time father in October of 2013 with the birth of my son. One can never underestimate the amount of time, the fatigue, and the seemingly endless train of viral diseases that are brought home from daycare. As I type this, I have not experienced a healthy day since before October 26, nearly three months ago!

For those of you unfamiliar to Dawson County, it is the location of Amicalola Falls State Park, the Len Foote Hike Inn, and includes the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at the summit of Springer Mountain. It is also home to the 10,000+ acres of The Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area. As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities that await my being able to lace up the boots and get out there. Also as you can see below, I've got a hiker in training and hope to instill in him the joy of hiking, nature's beauty, and simply a love for the quiet places.

On the personal physical improvement front, I've made good on my efforts to shed some pounds, having dropped 42 since last August. It's amazing how much weight you can lose by restricting your diet to fresh cuts of lean meats, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and drinking about 96 ounces of water every day. No potatoes, bread, rice, or refined sugars. If you're struggling, the formula is quite simple. Try it for a month and you'll be shocked how much you can lose.

On a sad note, my canine hiking companions for the past six years are no longer with me. Tobey began to suffer from heart failure in July of 2014, and was mercifully euthanized. Then in September, Rocket's life abruptly ended when he was struck by a car near the house. He had a bad habit of taking advantage of our entering or exiting the house as an opportunity to escape for a jaunt through the neighborhood. As he had grown older he had shown this urge less and less, but on that day, he made a go for it with tragic results.  They were my trail companions who loved going for a hike, seeing deer, turkey, and even a bear on occasion. They were my eyes and ears as they were always able to see or hear animals and people long before I knew of their presence. They provided me "dogpower", if you will, when it came to climbing many long grades. I do, and will always miss them terribly.

Tobey and Rocket on Buzzard's Roost, Arkaqua Trail.