These are pictures from our spring 2005 trip to the Southeast. Following is a brief trip summary - (click to skip and go to pics)

We spent the first week camping (mostly in state parks) and touring National Park sites - mostly historic sites. We saw three Civil War sites - Chickamauga and Chattanooga Battlefield (in Georgia and Tennesee); Andersonville (site of an infamous civil war prison), and Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield, located near Atlanta. Kennesaw Mountain rises about 1000 feet above the surrounding area and made for a great hike - it was a warm sunny day and there were lots of people around! We also saw two sites of an archeological nature - Russell Cave in northern Alabama (the site of native american settlements going back thousands of years); and Ocmulgee National Monument near Macon GA (where people build large temple mounds around 1000-1500 AD. The rest of the sites were varying in character: Horseshoe Bend National Military park commemorates a battle between American forces and native Creeks in 1814 (the resulting victory for Andrew Jackson's American's sealed the fate of the natives, ultimately leading to their "removal" to Oklahoma); Jimmy Carter NHS commemorates the school, home, and town where the president grew up and still lives; Tuskegee Institute NHS consists of a museum interpreting one of the first institutions of higher learning for blacks in the south, headed by Booker T Washington (GW Carver was a professor there also); Tuskegee Airmen is a new site nearby that will interpret the first flight school for blacks, during WWII (currently the site consists of a small visitor center in a trailer); Little River Canyon in Alabama preserves a 30+ mile canyon with a scenic drive and hiking; and Chattahoochee National Rec. Area had some nice hiking opportunities near Atlanta.

We enjoyed camping in the state parks, especially in Alabama where were stayed in three different parks. Each had a "primitive camping area", which were walk-in sites that had no treated water or facilities. However, in each case it was fairly simple to use the "modern" facilities in the regular campground. Our site in DeSoto State Park, near Little River Canyon, was very isolated and had a view of a wooded valley. In Cheaha State Park, located within Talledaga National Forest, we camped at the highest point in Alabama. At Red Mountain State Park near Atlanta, we had a beautiful site in a "regular" campgound - hopefully our pictures will do it justice.

Before heading onto the trail for week two, we had dinner with some of Tatiana's family - Andrea and Elliot, Alyssa and Renee, and Regina - who live in the area.

We hiked about 75 miles on the Appalachian Trail. We arranged for a shuttle from Amicalola Falls State Park to a point where the trail crosses US Rt 76, about 8 miles south of the North Carolina line. We hiked from there back to our car. We had three days of beautiful sunny weather, interspersed with three days of rain/cold/storms. One night we listened to a thunderstorm in our certain, afraid that meager shelter might not survive the wind. In the following days, numerous large branches across the trail attested to the strength of the storm. Another night we ended up in a hostel that was right next to the trail, because it was a preferable alternative to high winds, sub-zero wind chill, and rain! We met lots of hopeful through-hikers, and it was very intersting to talk with them.

When we left the trail the rain was coming down in sheets, so we decided to treat ourselves to a cheap motel. We found one in the town of Helen, which is a "tourist trap" designed to look like a village in Bavaria. Very strange, but interesting. We also visited the highest points in Georgia and South Carolina, which were nearby.

Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia. This creek was the sole water source for thousands of prisoners at this notorious civil war prison camp.	Boyhood home of Jimmy Carter.
Highest point in Alabama - Cheaha State Park in the Talledega National Forest. We camped near the summit	We had a great "primitive" campsite in DeSoto State Park in Alabama
waterfall in Little River Canyon National Recreation Area - northern Alabama	Tatiana poses near a rare purple trail blaze :)
Providence Canyon in Georgia was formed in the past 150 years, with rapid erosion triggered by intentive agriculture.	More of Providence Canyon.
Ocmulgee National Monument in Georgia is an archeological site. Mound-building peoples constructed the grassy hill in the picture.	Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield, north of Atlanta
Posing at the start of a 6-day backpacking trip	We started at Dick's Creek Gap, US Rt 76, in northern Georgia
National Forest Wilderness area	Misty morning at Trey Mountain shelter
Many great views from the trail, particulary with the lack of leaves in March	Neels Gap is about 31 miles from the southern terminus of the trail. Many novice backpackers stop at the outfitter here to get more appropriate gear. We stayed the the hostel (on the left) because the cold, severe wind, and rain made for unpleasant tenting conditions.
Shelter on Blood Mountain, highest point on the trail in Georgia	on Blood Mountain
"Trail Magic" - locals provided food at one of the road crossings	Beautiful waterfall near Springer Mountain
Stover Creek	Famed plaque marks the southern terminus of the trail
	At Springer Mountain!!!!!!!!!

Sunset of our trip . . .