Monday, November 11, 2024

The Wander Stones, Deneb, 23rd Day of Hagwinter, 524 M.E.


I hiked the Three Forks Loop Trail in the Chattahoochee National Forest today with my daughter and son-in-law.

The trail is a 4.4-mile loop starting on the Appalachian Trail from Three Forks, where Stover Creek, Long Creek, and Chester Creek all come together. The AT follows Stover Creek for a mile or so and then begins an ascent up Rich Mountain (3,297 feet), really more of a long ridge than a mountain. After about 2.5 miles, the AT reaches the summit of Rich Mountain, where it crosses the Benton MacKaye Trail. The loop follows the BMT along the Rich Mountain ridgetop and then back down to Three Forks.

Trail guides list the loop as 4.4 miles, but my iPhone insists I walked 5 miles. My daughter's odometer recorded 5.5 miles. 

It was generally an overcast day, but the sun managed to break through from time to time.  Foliage was supposed to be at a peak right now, but for the most part the leaves had already fallen and the trees were bare. It was still a beautiful day and a beautiful hike, though. And any opportunity to converse with nature is preferable to sitting home watching the news and getting agitated over social media.

Pics or it didn't happen:    



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