MOUNTAIN CROSSINGS’ THRU HIKER KICK OFF PARTY!
Our day started off with a bit of a surprise. Snow, and a lot more than we anticipated. Georgia had received a winter storm a few days before and 60 miles south of Blood Mountain there were hardly any remnants. Pulling in to the parking lot of the Byron Reese Trail I quickly realized that my decision to wear my trail shoes instead of boots was the wrong one. 6 inches of snow lay on the trail and as the sun broke from behind the clouds it turned to mush.
We left our packs in the car and headed to the top of Blood Mountain to enjoy the views of the valleys below. Our hike allowed us to cross paths with NOBO thru hikers who had recently started there trek to Mount Katahdin Maine from Springer Mountain Georgia. Passing the trekkers made me wonder if they will make it all the way, it also had me questioning whether I could do such a hike. It is a bucket list item for my wife and I.
After our hike up and back on Blood Mountain, we decided to join the Mountain Crossings Thru Hiker Kick Off Party . March 1 is the traditional start date for most thru hikers and Mountain Crossings lie on the path to Neel Gap. Hikers can stop in to refuel and refresh as they have a fantastic store full of gear and food as well as a hostel for hikers to take a break and wash up. The party was joined by vendors from various outdoor companies and live music provide by Raven and Red.
We hiked a little way up the trail, set up camp and came down to join the party. There we were greeted by many of the locals and joined some of the thru hikers in conversation. We were invited to join the bonfire that night and enjoyed stories and laughing while everyone had a great time around the fire. Some of the seasoned hikers passed along some wisdom and trail etiquette that I will pay forward and adhere to on my treks. 2 of the more important pieces of information I received were in regards to the Leave No Trace initiative and to pay respects to the old timers on the trail.
If you haven't had an opportunity to join one of these events, I suggest putting it on you calendar. You can follow them on Facebook for updates on other events and specials. And read up on Leave No Trace . As important as it is to inspire others to get out on the trail it is just as important to educate the new breed to respect and treat these trails with care as the are the life blood for so many and meaningful to even more.
