Coosa Backcountry Trail

On Saturday morning we got up EARLY in order to drive up to Vogel State Park, just south of Blairsville, GA. Before we left the house I picked up both backpacks to put them in the car. I thought Steph's pack felt heavy, but didn't really think twice about it. We were loaded up with water, food and rain gear, so things were heavier than normal.

The drive to the park is beautiful once you get past Dahlonega. Winding mountain roads, hairpin turns, a really nice drive. Except for Steph, who gets car sick. We arrived early enough for Steph to compose herself for the long day ahead.

The trail is long, 12.5 miles, and it is recommended that hikers take two days to complete the loop. There are some very steep sections on Coosa Bald and Slaughter Mountain as you can see in the profile map below.



We started hiking in two groups, one went on the shorter Bear Hair Trail, we joined the group on the Coosa Backcountry Trail. Within the first mile Steph fell to the back of the pack, I slowed down to hike with her. As we approached 3 miles we caught up with the pack. They took off, Steph took a leak and we never saw them again.

We slogged our way uphill slowly on a wet, muddy, slippery trail. In some places it would have been nearly impossible to get around without hiking poles! Somewhere in here Steph was having real trouble keeping a pace, so we stopped and tried our Powerbar Gel. This stuff tastes like BUTT! However, it did give us both a good bit of energy to keep heading up the hill.

We maintained a slow, steady pace until we reached the top of Coosa Bald, just after 7 miles. The entire way up Steph asked, "when is it going to stop going up?", to which I replied "when it starts going down!" We were both glad to see a downhill stretch. However, before heading downhill we decided it was a good chance for me to change socks and we could both eat a quick lunch. Near the top of Coosa Bald we found a fallen tree to sit down on for a short break.

Downhill, woohoo! It didn't last long before we were headed back up again, followed by a long, steep downhill grade. Somewhere along the way I lost my footing, slipped and landed on my rear. Ouch. By this time we could hear traffic and knew we were nearing the road which the trail crosses twice.

By this time we had been on the trail for about 6 hours, our coach asked us to use this as the "bail out spot" if it took us more than 4.5 hours to get there. We had only covered 8.6 miles, it was disappointing. We walked down the road about 1.5 miles and then picked up the trail again and followed it 1 mile back to where we left the car earlier in the day. Total for the day is ~11.5 miles in 7 hours. We were tired so we packed up and headed home.

We got home, unpacked the car and I hopped in the shower. We were both dirty from the trail. Steph started unpacking the bags when suddenly she said something to the effect of "I know why I was so slow today" as she held up two, 3 pound hand weights that she had just pulled out of her bag! Steph was using them when training during the week and forgot to remove them from her pack! Instead of carrying ~17 pounds, she had ~23 pounds in her bag! She got a better workout than I did!

Now we have to go back to Vogel State Park and complete the trail, all 12.5 miles of it in one day. Hopefully one dry day! Without the extra 6 pounds of dead-weight in Steph's bag, to boot!

Kennesaw Mountain in the Springtime

Well, back to Kennesaw! It is such a different place to hike now that the trees are in full bloom...at least there is something that makes it a bit more interesting after the MANY times we've hiked this mountain!

We did the same hike that Dean did a few weeks ago when I wasn't up to it... We hiked to Burnt Hickory and back (5.6 miles round trip) and then back up to the top of Big Kennesaw (an additional 2.2 miles). Dean was in the front pack on the way to Burnt Hickory and I was in the second pack probably 5-10 minutes after. I was so proud of my ANIMAL husband and proud of myself for pushing on! Dean waited for me at Burnt Hickory and then we started out together on the backtrack. We separated again, but we met back up at the base of Big Kennesaw for the last hike back up. It was HOT and slow, but we made it (with MANY stops on the way)! You cannot imagine how salty our skin was...it's truly amazing.

We feel so accomplished and are anxiously looking forward to next Saturday at Coosa Backcountry in Blairsville, GA. According to greatgeorgiaproperties.com, "12.5-mile loop. This strenuous trail is marked with yellow blazes and signs and for the most part is easy to follow. It fords streams on its lower part and traverses the high Duncan Ridge, including Coosa Bald at over 4,000 feet. It is recommended that hikers take more than one day to hike the entire route, although it can be done in one long day, particularly during the longer daylight hours of spring and summer." Well, we're doing it in one LONG day! Coach Sandy says that if you can do this, you can do anything! Indeed!

The Silver Comet Trail & Stone Mountain

Saturday morning we were supposed to go hike Stone Mountain, but it was a horribly stormy night and rainy morning, so we opted out. Good choice, since the training hike was rescheduled for Sunday!

Instead, we went to the Silver Comet Trail where we walked about 5.5 miles as the skies began to clear. It was a beautiful day on the trail followed by a trip to Home Depot to get some container plants for the deck.

This morning we got up early and headed to Stone Mountain. Originally we were planning to hike up the mountain, down, around the based and then up and down again. Reality is that we decided to go to the Dogwood Festival today, so instead we hiked up and down twice in just over two hours. It was a nice hike and the weather was great! Check out our team nearly flying off the mountain in the wind this morning! (Click on the link for the full size images.)

We then ran off to the Dogwood Festival to eat a picnic lunch, listen to the music and let the dogs have some play time in the park. Yay us! ;-)

oops!

In all the business of last weekend I forgot to post about our training hike.

Saturday morning had Steph feeling unwell, so she didn't go for the hike. I met the group at Kennesaw again for the hike to Burnt Hickory and back — across the tops of Kennesaw and Little Kennesaw both ways. The goal for the day was to make the hike, which I have now discovered to be 2.8 miles each way or 5.6 miles round trip, in under 2 hours and 45 minutes. If we made it back in under 2:45 we had to go back to the top of Kennesaw and add an additional 2.2 miles to the hike. Off we go!

Today is the first time I've used my new trekking poles and I was making great strides in keeping up with the fast-pack, including the coach, for most of the hike out to Burnt Hickory. We made it there in just about 1 hour! I was on a tear...

And then I tried to go back to the starting point. Wait, where's my energy? C'mon Gatorade and Lara Bar, help me out here, I have NO ENERGY! It was a long, slow hike back to the starting point. I went all out the first hour and had nothing left to give. The rest of the hikers were leaving me behind in their wake. It took me a little more than 90 minutes, but I made it back to the parking lot at Kennesaw under the 2:45 time limit set by our coach. Woohoo!

Wait a second. That joy is now tempered by the realization that I have to hike my butt back up that mountain! I was one of the few that chose to go back up, but I pushed myself to do it and I'm happy I did. This was one hell of a hard hike for me, I've never been as hot, sweaty and miserable hiking as I was that morning. Yet I felt great for having accomplished my goal for the day.

The following day Steph and I headed back to Kennesaw. I was really sore and Steph was still not in great shape, so we did about 3 miles round trip across the top of Kennesaw mountain to the mountaintop road and back. No more Kennesaw, please!!!

Tomorrow we're off to hike Stone Mountain. The weather is going to be horrible, so we may not actually get to climb the mountain since it becomes treacherous in wet weather. We'll let everyone know what happens soon...