Hiking Amicalola Falls State Park

Sunday was a great day for a winter hike in the North Georgia Mountains. Amicalola Falls was our destination. The weather was cloudy, high mid-20's to mid-30's, and only a small chance of snow. We - Susan, Naomi, Tracy, Louie, Scout (the bow-wow who thinks she is a person) and Newt -piled into Louie's toaster (silver Scion Xb) and reached our destination in about one hour. We layered up, packed our water and sandwiches (pp&J, ham, and pimento cheese), compliments of Susan, and treked up Len Foote Hike Inn Trail. Our first leg, about 5 miles, was a moderate climb to a remote Inn. We encountered a few icy areas but generally the trail was in great shape. Scout led the way - well most of the time. Once she gave chase to a squirrel, but soon got the idea that she was to stay with us. Every once and a while Scout would run to the back of the line to make sure no one was straggling. When confident all were present and accounted for she returned to the lead.

The Len Foote Inn is only accessible for visitors by hiking in. For those who wish to stay a night or longer it offers breakfast, dinner, hot showers and small 2-person rooms. For dayhikers, like us, it makes a nice rest stop. We found the four-table cafeteria and to our surprise we were offered a choice of hot beverages and freshly made peach cobbler - just drop a donation in the box. Now this is roughing it. Soon we were on our way.

Susan knew that we didn't have to hike an "in-and-out", but could make a loop. The next leg was a short one-mile hike to the Appalachian Approach Trail (the AT has its southern terminus at Springer Mountain - 8.5 miles north of Amicalola Falls). This proved to be our most challanging trek since it was on the north slope and covered with ice from the previous day's snowfall. Soon we encountered the AT Approach Trail and dodged a few snowflakes as we hiked 4.5 miles back to the car. By then we were all ready to head home so we gave the scenic Falls only a cursory look.

Once back in Suwanee we quickly polished off all of Susan's leftover Barley-Tomato Soup and her Spicy Shrimp & Rice Soup. Yum! Here is a photo of the young ones - Louie, Tracy and Naomi. For more photos on this hike and a different narrative check out the Blog "Scout's in Charge" (see link at bottom right).