the journey begins
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Appalachian Trail HikeFontana Dam, NC to Springer Mt, GA - 171 miles
June 11-30th 2009Tracy Carney
Day 1 - June 11
Dianne McCormick, ,
Reilly (the golden ),
and I(Tracy Carney)
stayed in Standing
Bear Hostel, in the
Smokey Mountains,
our first night.
Day 2 – June 12
We were shuttled to
Fontana Dam, NC for
a 6 day, 5 night hike.
We got on the trail at
noon and hiked 6.9
miles our first day. The
goal for this first part
of the journey was to
hike 56 miles to our
car waiting at Winding
Gap, NC.
Day 3 – June
13th
Our trio hiked 11.6
miles in NC, from
Yellow Creek Gap
(2,980’) through
Stecoah Gap, (3,165’)
and camped at Locust
Cove Gap. I met two
of my new friends
here: Bayer Back and
Body and Band-aids!
Day 4 - June 14
Sunday morning we
worshipped on top of
Cheoah Bald (5,062’),
my highest climb so
far. What an awesome
place to praise God!
The AT went over the
Nantahala River,
there was an Outdoor
Center with rafting
and a restaurant.
Yum! We hiked 11.3
miles .
Day 5- June 15
We climbed 2
mountains from
(1723’) to the Wesser
Bald observation deck
(4,627’);then from
Tellico Gap (3,850’) to
Copper Ridge Bald
(5,080’). We camped
on top of a mountain,
used our cell phones
to call home and took
a bath in a freezing
stream. Awesome!
Day 6 &7
June 16 - 17
We hiked 5 miles on the
6th to the Wayah Shelter.
We relaxed and visited
with a grandfather and
grandson hiking team. On
the 17th we hiked to a
stone fire tower at Wayah
Bald (5,342’). After hiking
11 miles to Winding Gap ,
our car awaited us. Our
first 56 miles was
completed!
Day 8 & 9
June 18 -19
The second part of our trip
involved shuttling to Dick’s
Creek, GA and hiking
north to Winding Gap, NC
(40.2 miles). On the 18th
we hiked 11.8 miles and
crossed from GA into NC .
My favorite place was the
summit of Standing Indian
Mt, NC (5,498’), we
arrived there during our
12.5 mile hike on the 19th.
Day 10 & 11
June 20 -21
We started the day by
climbing Albert Mt (5,250’),
to a fire tower. We hiked 12.1
miles. Later in the day we
had a slight accident when
we tried to hang the bear
bag; just a bruised foot . The
only soaking rain we
experienced was the
morning of the 21st ; but, we
only had 3.8 miles to reach
the car. The 2nd part of our
journey… finished!
We drove to Dick’s Creek,
GA and began hiking south
to Neel Gap, GA, 36.8 miles
away. No, we did not see the
governor of SC but heard he
was hiking the AT. We hiked
11 miles and stayed at Tray
Mt Shelter (4,430”). The
23rd we hiked 10 miles and
Dianne got up-close and
personal with our first
snake!
Day 12 & 13
June 22 - 23
Day 14 & 15
June 24 -25
Chattahoochee Gap , GA was
where we started on the 24th.
The trail was good; but, the ticks
were horrible! We were picking
them off the dog and each other.
We decided to do a “Reilly
Charge” meaning we would push
ourselves and hike the 15.8 miles
to Neel Gap. Dianne pulled 87
ticks off Reilly. We took a zero
day on the 25th and got some
R&R and more tick protection for
Reilly. 3rd Section Finished!!
Day 16 & 17
June 26-27
June 26th we climbed Blood
Mt the highest peak in GA.
(4,461’). It was breathtaking!
We hiked 9.6 miles and
camped on Big Cedar Mt.. The
27th seemed like a day of
endless climbs. I didn’t know
my eyelids could sweat! We
hiked 13.3 miles. The
weather was hot but the
views from the mountain
summits made it worth it all!
Day 18 & 19
June 28-29
We started the 28th with
anticipation ,we were going
to summit Springer Mt ,GA -
the start of the AT. The
climb there was beautiful,
waterfalls, pine trees and
rhododendrons. We camped
at Black Gap Shelter and
hiked the 8.8 miles of the
approach trail to Amicalola
Falls State Park on the 29th.
Our 171 mile journey was
complete.
Day 20 -June 30
As we drove home on the
30th God gave us a rainbow
to view from our car
window. It was a reminder
to me of His faithfulness and
protection. I want to thank
Dianne McCormick, my
hiking mentor, my friend and
sister in Christ, without her I
would never have had this
opportunity. To Reilly (the
golden), you’re my trail
buddy and my protector.
I would also like to thank my husband ,
Tom and my family for their ongoing love and
support. To my friends and church family,
thank you for your prayers. To Irelyn and her
sisters, you are my source of great joy! To all
who donated or will donate to the “Onward
with Irelyn” fund I pray you might be blessed
for having a heart to give. There is a saying,
“to the world you may be one person, but to
one person you may be the world.” Thank
you for being a part of Irelyn’s world.
Love, Tracy Carney
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