Last weekend, Cary and I spent a few hours hiking the Benton MacKaye Trail in the north Georgia mountains, near Skeenah Gap.  We climbed Rhodes Mountain, to the point at which the BMT meets up with the Duncan Ridge Trail.  It was just under a 1000 foot elevation gain over a few miles, so nothing too strenuous (especially since we left the girls with Grandma this time ).

No pictures unfortunately, but nevertheless a great walk in the woods.

Yesterday, Cary and I hiked the summit of Blood Mountain with Mallory, Darby, and Reggie. This is the highest point of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, at 4458 feet. The weather was overcast, so the views weren't quite as good as on a bluebird day, but still worth the effort. We followed the east-to-west route from Neel's Gap up to the summit... it's about a 2.5 mile hike each way, with roughly a 1500 foot elevation gain. Fairly strenuous, and all the more so with a little girl strapped to your back!

Despite a few rough patches with the girls (they were getting pretty hungry as we neared the summit ), it was a great trip. Here's a few pictures we took at the summit.

The whole gang, including Reggie

Cary and the girls near the summit shelter, built in the 1930s by the CCC

Mallory, Daddy, and Darby

Daddy "getting some exercise"

Darby expressing her dissatisfaction with riding vs. walking