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

73 страница из 110

Penitentiary Branch is an interior trail in the wilderness that you can reach via the Hemp Top Trail, as detailed below, or the Jacks River Trail. To reach the Penitentiary Trail from the Hemp Top Trail, begin at the Dally Gap parking area on the eastern side of the Cohutta Wilderness. This is the location of trailheads for the Hemp Top and Jacks River trails. Hemp Top is the trail to the right (Waypoint 1). Pass the metal gate and ascend gradually, traveling north through hemlocks, pines, and hardwoods.

Travel on the Hemp Top Trail for 2.2 miles to a Y intersection (Waypoint 2). Bear left to descend on the Penitentiary Branch Trail. At first, you may feel hemmed in as Virginia pines and hemlock trees form green walls on each side of the path. But the 3-mile mark brings slight views of Hickory Ridge to the west. You may detect the pungent odor of galax, a heart-shaped evergreen plant that thrives in shaded forest.

At 3.6 miles, a small opening used as a campsite lies to the right, just before the trail drops briefly and crosses a drainage. The views to the west come and go as you move deeper into the ravine, and at 5 miles you’ll hear the first whispers of Jacks River. After another 0.3 mile, the forest opens as high-rise hemlocks dominate the land to your right.