Rainy Nights and Days in Georgia

Misty, foggy, windy hike on the Appalachian Trail

The Blue Ridge Mountains looking blue in the rain...

Rain falling on our RV – it is becoming an all too familiar sound.  For the last two weeks it has rained almost every night.  A few nights ago after a heavy rainfall at our campground in Unicoi State Park we were awakened in the early hours of the morning by a cracking sound and then a loud crash to the ground.  It sounded really close but we didn’t feel the RV move so we went back to sleep.  The next morning David and Maya found a fallen tree only 50 yards from us but on the other side of the road.  A medium sized Eastern White Pine had lost its grip on the sloping ground and fallen cracking a Red Maple and taking about 1/3 of the top of the maple with it.  It wasn’t even a close of a call but of all the things that can happen, we never think about a tree falling on us while we are sleeping.  And that’s probably a good thing…

Trillium blooming on the AT

Rain slick rock on the AT

 

We are still getting in some hiking but the rain has slowed us down.  Yesterday we hiked a gorgeous trail to Raven Cliff Falls that followed a winding creek lined with rhododendrons just starting to bud.  It was a fairly easy trail but the rain made the rocks slippery and in the final ascent to the falls we had to walk ever so carefully.  David had a little slip on the rocks and smashed his thumb but besides hurt pride and a throbbing thumb he was fine.  Maya is such the ‘mama’ dog that anytime either one of us makes a noise like we might be hurt she runs over and starts licking us and whining. So David got plenty of attention from Maya and that made him all better.

Raven Cliff Falls

 Concerned Maya

We also hiked on the Appalachian Trail a little more but not as much as originally planned.  The fog, rain, gusting winds and slick rocks made the going a little harder.  Again we thought of those hikers we had met and wondered how they were doing on the AT.  Hikers often have to keep on going no matter the weather because they only have so much food and have to get to the next town for more supplies.

Dwarf Crested Iris on Raven Cliff Falls Trail

Another fun hike we did in the rain was Anna Ruby Falls.  Two creeks come together at Anna Ruby Falls making two falls that tumble down to form Smith Creek.  The waterfalls are always an awesome sight but because of all the rain, the creeks were almost at flood stage causing the falls to be flowing much more than usual. 

 

Anna Ruby Falls

Smith Creek below Anna Ruby Falls

 

After 5 nights at Unicoi State Park we gave up on the rain giving up and traveled a short distance to Tallulah Gorge State Park to spend our last night in Georgia.  Tallulah Gorge is a spectacular canyon at two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep.  We hiked the rim trails to the several overlooks and enjoyed the views into the very rugged and beautiful gorge.  Usually permits are available to hike down into the gorge floor, but because of the weather no permits were being issued.  There is a suspension bridge 80 feet above the rocky bottom and almost 900 feet down into the canyon.  We didn’t make the climb down but heard from a fellow camper that it was well worth the trip. Maybe on our way back this fall...

Tempesta Falls, South Rim Tallulah Gorge

David's Stats:

Days Hiked      4     
Total Miles Hiked     19.14      
Ave. Miles per Day     4.54     
Total Elevation Gain      3,632     
Ave. Elevation Gain per day     871  
Rain outs (no hiking days)      2