Читать книгу Afoot & Afield: Atlanta. 108 Spectacular Outings in North-Central Georgia онлайн

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A window to distant mountains on the Hemp Top Trail

Continuing your ascent, you climb above 3,400 feet of elevation at 3.7 miles. At 3.9 miles, a side trail to the right extends 400 feet to the summit of Hemp Top at about 3,540 feet (Waypoint 3). On top you’ll find a patch of bare ground in the shade of a tree. I paused here and found it to be a peaceful spot with high grasses all around bending in calm wind. As you look down the ridge to the northeast, there is no longer any sign of a fire tower that once stood on this perch.

When you’re ready to continue, walk back down to the Hemp Top Trail and turn right to take a moderate descent. The trail crosses a series of hills and saddles, dropping to Double Spring Gap at 5.4 miles (Waypoint 4). The gap lies on the state line and also the Tennessee Valley Divide. The spring to the west eventually joins the river system that drains into the Gulf of Mexico, while waters from the eastern spring eventually flow to the Tennessee River. From the state border, the Hemp Top Trail continues north, up Big Frog Mountain, but for this trip, Double Spring Gap is the turnaround point.