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| Lake Trahlyta at Vogel State Park |
Byron Herbert Reece Nature Trail at Vogel
More types of trees grow here than in Yellowstone National Park.
Before the white man came to Georgia, this was Cherokee
Indian territory. One legend of how Blood Mountain got its name is that there
was a fierce battle between the Creek and Cherokee nations just above present
day Vogel State Park between Blood and Slaughter mountains. The battle supposedly raged so long and fierce
that the streams at the foot of the mountain ran red with blood.
Iron stained stream at base of Blood Mountain
Red lichen growing on rocks on Blood Mountain
These may be other reasons for the name, Blood Mountain.
Wolf Creek runs through the park and campground and empties into Lake Trahlyta which was constructed in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is absolutely amazing to us just how many state parks nationwide have at least some structures, trails or lakes built by the CCC. Where would our parks be without the CCC?
After arriving at the park and setting up camp, we hiked around Lake Trahlyta and to the small falls below the lake. The reflections of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the small lake were just gorgeous. It was a good thing we stretched our legs a bit because the next day it rained hard all day long. We were thankful for the luxury of staying dry in our camp and reading all day unlike those hikers we had met out there on the AT.
After arriving at the park and setting up camp, we hiked around Lake Trahlyta and to the small falls below the lake. The reflections of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the small lake were just gorgeous. It was a good thing we stretched our legs a bit because the next day it rained hard all day long. We were thankful for the luxury of staying dry in our camp and reading all day unlike those hikers we had met out there on the AT.
Lake Trahlyta from the Bear Hair Gap Trail
The next two days were beautiful and we took full
advantage of them, hiking first the Bear Hair Gap Trail in the Blood Mountain
Wilderness and then heading up to hike on the Appalachian Trail via the Freeman
Trail to Blood Mountain. Both hikes
climbed through mostly hardwood forests that were just beginning to leaf out at
the higher elevations. And both of them
gave us a good workout – lots of up and down.
David and I are looking forward to getting our mountain legs back
someday. We thought the east would be
easier than the west because of the lower elevations and it is – on the lungs,
but not so much on the legs.
Blood Mountain Shelter built by the CCC
Many hikers use the shelters along the AT and most of them are located near water.
On our trek to Blood Mountain we met some more
Appalachian Trail hikers and “thru-hikers.”
First there was ‘Grandpa’ from Kentucky.
Lots of AT hikers give themselves trail names and that is what people
know them by on the trail. Grandpa was a
solo hiker about David’s and my age and he was hiking a portion of the AT, about 220 miles of
the trail from Amicalola to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. He had allowed himself about 22 days to do it
and he was meeting his golfing buddies (none of whom wanted to hike with him)
for their yearly golf game in Gatlinburg.
I don’t know if he will beat his buddies at golf but he should be able
to walk their socks off on the course.
Maya enjoying view from top of Blood Mountain
We had just summited Blood Mountain and were sharing
lunch and a view with Grandpa when a young couple and their two dogs came down the
trail. Maya was happy to meet some of
her own kind out hiking and we all spent a few minutes talking (and sniffing). The couple (I wish I had asked their trail
names) had started the AT a few years back and had to quit after 500 miles but
they were confident they would make it this time. The young woman was struggling a little bit
with blisters on her feet as they had walked in wet boots after that really
rainy day that David and I spent in the warm and dry RV. Other than blisters they were doing great. But Blood Mountain is just 37.8 miles from
their starting point at Amicalola Falls. They had only been on
the Appalachian Trail for 4 days.
Serviceberry blooming on Blood Mountain
Legend has it that the tree bloomed about the time when the circuit riding preachers got out to conduct the first services of the year in early spring, hence the name serviceberry.
We finished our lunch and said goodbye to Grandpa and started our descent down
Blood Mountain heading for the Walasi –Yi Inn, a hikers’ hostel, grocery store,
mail drop and backpacking shop right on the Appalachian Trail. This wonderful CCC building is privately leased
from the Forest Service and run by ardent AT supporters. And did
I mention that the trail really does go right through the building?
We caught up with the young couple and their two dogs at Walasi –Yi. They were picking up
their first food and supply shipment at the mail drop (most AT hikers have supplies sent to themselves along the trail)
and were going to hike on a little farther down the trail and cook meat over a
fire for dinner. We decided that cooking meat over a fire for
dinner did sound like an excellent idea, so we headed back to our camp to do just that.
Hiking Boot Tree at Walasi-Yi Inn on the Appalachian Trail
David's Stats:
Days Hiked 3
Total Miles Hiked 17.07
Ave. Miles per Day 5.69
Total Elevation Gain 3,383
Ave. Elevation Gain per day 1,128
One day of heavy rain where we stayed in the RV.
Days Hiked 3
Total Miles Hiked 17.07
Ave. Miles per Day 5.69
Total Elevation Gain 3,383
Ave. Elevation Gain per day 1,128
One day of heavy rain where we stayed in the RV.
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