| Cabin Photos | Hiking Photos | Rafting Photos | Contact Me |

Date: May 1st - May 22nd, 2008.
Location: Northern Georgia
Cabin: Ellijay, Georgia on the Ellijay River
Hiking : Cohutta Wilderness, Appalachian Trail, Benton Mackaye Trail
Rafting: Ocoee River, Tennessee

Ellijay Cabin

Mary and I drove to Ellijay and checked into our cabin in the afternoon. The cabin was several miles back on a gravel road and backed up to the Ellijay River.

Fishing

I fished Cooper Creek on one of our many day hikes, caught a few small stocked Rainbow Trout. Mary caught a spotted (aka Kentucky) Bass on Carter's Lake, we also missed a few big Stripers on that lake. On a day trip to the lower Jack's river (on the Tennessee border) we caught several Red Eye Bass, most were small since we were using trout flies but I did land one keeper as well as this tiny one.

Hiking

We did several day hikes into the Cohuttas and along parts of the AT and BMT trails.

Overnight backpacking

We did 2 overnight backpack trips into the Cohutta wilderness. The first was a loop on the upper Jack's river. From the eastern trailhead on the upper Jack's we hiked 7 miles down river to the intersection of the Penitentiary Branch Trail. We forded the Jack's river 19 times along the way, the dogs waded/swam when it was shallow enough but often the water was fast and hip deep so we carried them across. We camped alongside the river and hiked 3.5 miles up Penitentiary branch to Hemp Top Trail and took Hemp Top 2.5 miles east back to the trailhead on the second day.

The second trip we parked on a ridge at the Chestnut Lead trailhead and walked 2 miles along the ridge on the forest service road to Tearbritches trailhead. Tearbritches was a challenging 3.5 miles, the first ½ mile of which was uphill with about a 25-30 degree upgrade. I thought I would welcome the downhill section when we crossed over the ridge but I was wrong. The downhill side was the steepest trail I have ever hiked, I would guess near 40 degree downgrade in most places.

When we reached the Conasauga valley at Bray Field we hiked a short way up the Conasauga river and camped for the night. Timing was perfect as the skies opened shortly after I got the tent up. Day 2 was dry and sunny and we hiked 4 miles up the Conasauga to Chestnut lead trail fording the river 18 times in a 2.5 mile stretch. Chestnut Lead was 2 miles uphill about 20-30 degree grade. The hike in and out of the Conasauga valley was quite challenging, I have never been so happy to see my Jeep.

Jacks River and Conasauga River Loop maps. Click here for full Cohutta Wilderness map.

Trail Dogs

The dogs were in heaven on the trail. They loved every minute, except maybe being carried across the river, they seemed to consider it a serious indignity.

They quickly learned to hide from the rain under the tent fly. They also never pass up a chance for a quick nap when the humans stop. Between hikes they spent a lot of time on the couch.

White Water Rafting

We spent a day rafting on the Ocoee river in Tennessee, the site of the 1996 Olympic kayaking events. The upper section of the river passed by the Olympic Village and had quite a gathering of spectators watching the rafts and kayaks shoot the aptly named class 4 "Humongous" rapid.

We had to carry the raft down past the dam and re-launch below.

(CLICK FOR ANIMATION 2)

Summary

We celebrated our 10th anniversary at a nice Cajun restaurant in Ellijay and drove home the next day. This was the best trip we have ever done inside the US.

Back to CaryW.com

Back to DiveKeyLargo.net