Amicalola Falls State Park

We made our way to Amicalola Falls State Park today to find the AT Trailhead and to figure out my camping situation in the ADA campsite. The trailhead was easy to find, the arch for it was right behind the Visitors Center. I asked about the ADA campsite...I was worried about an handicapped RV Site for just me and my hammock tent. The lady at the visitors cent told me it's ok. The only difference between the regular site and the handicapped site was the handicapped sites have 50amp service. From the looks of it (though I don't exactly know which site I get, so this could be a shot in the dark), there will be a wooden fence/rail around the site. If so, I'll string my hammock up between two sides of the fence and sleep there. I also asked about bears in the park, because I don't have a bear container nor a vehicle to lock food in. The nice lady told me that they have one bear in the park and they haven't seen her yet, so I should be ok. I'm good with that. All of that out of the way, I'll talk about the park.

 

Amicalola Falls is beautiful! It is 729 feet high, and cascades down a beautiful rock slope. The top of the falls is a mostly sheer drop down, cascading over rocks. As the water goes further down the slope becomes more pronounced as the water flows down the slope.

This is a view from about half-way up the falls, looking up at the top. There was a walk up a steep slope, followed by 176 steps up a ladder that went up the side. This was taken from a bridge at the top of the ladder that traversed the falls.

This is a view of the bridge that traversed the falls (and from which the previous picture was taken).

This is from the top of the falls. You can see the water before it goes over the falls. You can also see that you are looking from the top of the mountain across the valley.

This is me at the arch at the beginning of the approach trail to the AT. I'm not starting the trail today, but my campsite is further up the approach trail, so I wanted to get a picture of the approach trail head.

This placard is at the visitors center.

 

Today's expedition was a good expedition. I got to see the park and I got to see the approach trail to the AT. It gives me a warmer fuzzy as I get ready to start the hike. Tomorrow, Jeff proposed that we get some stuff for lunch and take it to the park. Kim and Jeff can help me get my camp set up then we can eat lunch. Then, they'll leave and I'll stay the night and get ready to start the approach trail when I get up Monday morning.

 

I'm definitely looking forward to his adventure. I hope I can at least share some of it with everyone through my pictures and writing here.

 

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