The DeLaGrange Family Newsletter
Appalachian Trail Hiking Trip
September 2003
  Our trip started on May 1st at Woody Gap on the Appalachian Trail.  We headed North for a 8.4 mile hike up to the top of Blood Mtn carrying everything we need on our backs.  We stopped at Slaughter Gap to filter water from a stream since no water sources are available at the Blood Mtn shelter.  It was a 1 mile hike 600 feet up carrying our packs and all the water we would need for the night and the next morning.  We made it in plenty of time to take in the view, drink a few hurricanes, and enjoy dinner.  Hurricanes you say? Thats right, easy mix packages with Rum and water!
  During the night, just as we were settling in to sleep, we noticed a light coming into the shelter.  Here was a guy who was running from Woody Gap (where we started) all the way to Neels Gap, and then back to Woody Gap. which is over 21 miles total!  It was 10pm at night and all this guy had was his flash light and water.  He lives outside of Atlanta and does this a few times a week.  He seemed to have done this before.
  The next day we awoke to a beautiful site!  Most of the valleys were under cloud cover and only the mountain peaks could be seen.  It was like being on top of the world!
Tony on a cool "outcropping"
Early Morning on top of Blood Mtn
  We continued on our hike from Blood Mtn for 9.6 miles through Neels Gap, Cowrock Mtn, Tesnatee Gap, to the Whitley Gap Shelter which is 1.1 miles off the AT.  We stopped at the Walasi-Yi Center at Neels Gap for some breakfast and make a few calls.  We weighed our packs and discovered that mine was a mere 45lbs while Jim's was about 65lbs!  A few pack adjustments and we were on our way.
  The .7 mile 500' hike up from Tesnatee Gap to the Whitley Gap Trail head was very strenous since we had already hiked almost 8 miles!  It was a good decision to hike the extra 1.1 miles to the Whitley Gap Shelter since it poured that evening.  We had a great fire and plenty of water for the hurricanes and food.
  The next day we headed back to the AT trail and enjoyed the scenic views of Cowrock Mtn (where we had been the day before) from atop the Wildcat Mtns.  It was a long day since we hiked just under 14 miles to the Blue Mtn shelter.  Our original plan was to tent camp at Chattahoochee Gap, but we were unable to find  a good location to pitch the tent, so we hiked on.  The toughest terrain was at Spaniards Knob where the path was mostly rocks.  Usually that would be easy, but a bit more difficult with a 50+ lbs pack on your back.  It was busy at the Blue Mtn shelter so we decided to tent camp.  We enjoyed a nice camp fire and a spectacular star lit sky.
  The last day was an easy 1.5 mile hike (except for the blisters) back to the my Pathfinder waiting for us at Unicoi Gap.  We found a great place to clean up and headed back home where we treated ourselves to some thick juicy steaks at Outback!  It was a great trip and we brought home some wonderful memories as well as pictures.