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

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The stream crossings continue and spots along the trail can be pretty muddy, so consider wearing waterproof footwear and maybe gaiters. The path is also used by horseback riders, but the trail is not as chewed up as you might expect.

The trail enters Rich Cove, and at 2.2 miles the Benton MacKaye Trail and South Fork Trail split at a marked junction (Waypoint 4). Bear right and ascend to the northeast, following white diamond blazes on an old logging road. The trip continues with an easy walk through hardwoods and hemlocks and then a wide path out of the creek basin. The trail becomes steep as you move through another area that has been logged, and you can see Cohutta Mountain to the west. Though you’ll encounter areas of clear-cut forest that are none too attractive, at 3.3 miles the path turns to the northeast and things shift dramatically as you enter a stand of majestic poplars.

At 3.6 miles, the trail crosses a ridge, and at 3.8 miles (Waypoint 5) bear left to leave the wide treadway and descend a narrow path, walking beneath the low boughs of hemlocks. (The path to the right at Waypoint 5 continues 300 feet to FSR 64.) The trail drops through a pleasant forest of hardwoods and then climbs to the crest of Blue Ridge. A gradual climb carries you to an elevation of 2,960 feet where you’ll stand atop an unnamed knob at 4.2 miles with slight views to the east. From this high point, the trail takes a hard left turn and moves downward quickly through fern beds shaded beneath oaks and hemlocks.