Page 11 - Discover Georgia Outdoors 2019

from bear encounters in
North America in the past
20 years – none of them
in Georgia. They were not
impressed. They bought
bear bells to hang on
their backpacks and a $75
canister of bear repellent. All
I bought was the bear bag to
hang our food at night. So….
off we went dingalinging down
the trail. For the first three days
the only “animals” we saw were didn’t stash the bear bell the next day but that adds 8.8 miles to reach the APPALACHIAN TRAIL
ants, spiders, lizards and a single, so that it would not ring. I reminded A.T. While we would have enjoyed
apparently deaf, chipmunk. We them that we came on the trail to the approach hike, we all had jobs we
didn’t see one possum, rabbit, see wildlife, not scare it away. After had to get back to. Our research told
racoon, squirrel, deer or even a a good night’s sleep, they bravely us we would average between 10 and
bird. And every time we saw any packed their bear bells (in a side 20 miles a day to hike the 78.2 miles
brush disturbed, they just knew a pocket for quick access). of the Georgia section. We only had
bear had been foraging. We started the hike from the seven days and six nights. So, with
The evening of our third Springer Mountain Access off Highway 50-pound packs, and matching
day, sitting around the campfire, 52 between Ellijay and straw hats, we headed off,
I took a deep breath and in Dahlonega. Many excited about the weight
my sweetest sister voice told hikers start at the we would lose.
them I was going to hang Amicalola Falls State My older sister left her
them by their toenails if they Park Visitors Center, glasses at home since she
9