As many of you already know, I hike with Golden Retriever Rescue of Atlanta once a month. I have become co-leader of these hikes with Lisa. This means any time we decide to try somewhere new, Lisa and I will go weeks in advance to try it out (we get all different skill levels, so we want to let everyone know what to expect). What they should expect from Amicalola Falls is beautiful vistas and great scenery that is trying to kill you by causing you to have respiratory failure on the way up the mountain (at least you will die somewhere pretty).
We started the climb on the Appalachian Trail Approach Trail. It starts off as a tight rocky and rooty trail with a steep ascent which leads to a much steeper gravel road. This gravel road is a gut buster and has no shade. The only good thing that can be said about this section of trail is that when you stop to catch your breath and get a drink of water it has some nice views (I took pictures of the views so I could enjoy them when my heart wasn't threatening to boycott my life). Once at the top you will come to a parking lot and the top of the falls out look. There are restrooms (pack your own TP), Coke machines, water for the dogs and a fitness trail (I am wondering what SADO-masochist would design a fitness trail at the top of a steep hike).
The way down is along the falls and down some steps (600+ steps). You may be thinking this isn't so bad, and you would be right, if it was just me and Lisa and not me and Lisa and 4 dogs. You see these steps are not regular steps; they are made out of metal grating. Many dogs don't like to go down steps anyway, but add to that the fact that the pads of there feet keep slipping through the grates, makes for a long descent for them. By the time we got to the bottom my knees were killing me (I am using that as my excuse for not jogging Monday). From the bottom of the steps the trail continues down on a paved walkway that leads back to the parking lot.
We started the climb on the Appalachian Trail Approach Trail. It starts off as a tight rocky and rooty trail with a steep ascent which leads to a much steeper gravel road. This gravel road is a gut buster and has no shade. The only good thing that can be said about this section of trail is that when you stop to catch your breath and get a drink of water it has some nice views (I took pictures of the views so I could enjoy them when my heart wasn't threatening to boycott my life). Once at the top you will come to a parking lot and the top of the falls out look. There are restrooms (pack your own TP), Coke machines, water for the dogs and a fitness trail (I am wondering what SADO-masochist would design a fitness trail at the top of a steep hike).
The way down is along the falls and down some steps (600+ steps). You may be thinking this isn't so bad, and you would be right, if it was just me and Lisa and not me and Lisa and 4 dogs. You see these steps are not regular steps; they are made out of metal grating. Many dogs don't like to go down steps anyway, but add to that the fact that the pads of there feet keep slipping through the grates, makes for a long descent for them. By the time we got to the bottom my knees were killing me (I am using that as my excuse for not jogging Monday). From the bottom of the steps the trail continues down on a paved walkway that leads back to the parking lot.
All in all, the hike was between 2.5 miles and 3 miles and took about 2 1/2 hours to complete. This is a great hike if you are into photography or nature. It is not a great hike if you are out of shape, have bad knees, want to go hiking with your dog (no place to swim and grated stairs), are afraid of heights (grated stairs make you look down), or want to do a group hike (mostly single file, especially on the stairs).
1 comment:
Beautiful pictures!
Post a Comment