Georgia Loop with Old Duncan Ridge Trail (DRT)
On December 12, 2022, I set out to run the Georgia Loop counterclockwise from Woody Gap. I used the route established by Ben Mercer for his supported FKT. I planned to start at 4 am from Woody Gap. I would go unsupported. I hoped to finish in less than 14 hours. I carried all my calories and planned to filter water along the way. My calories consisted mostly of Ensure drinks, Payday bars, Stinger waffles, and dried mangoes.
I started exactly at 4 am. Upon start, visibility was not good. The fog was extremely thick due to low temps and high humidity. The visibility slowed my pace considerably for the first 13 miles. Once I summited Coosa the fog started to clear because of the sun rising.
The first section of the Appalachian Trail went smoothly other than poor viability. I made my first water stop at Slaughter Creek around mile 7. This time of the year it is a reliable water source. However, in late summer and early Fall, it tends to be dried up.
My next stop would be at Mulky Gap around mile 18. Here is stopped and consumed an Ensure drink and a Stinger waffle. Together they provided about 500 calories.
I continued. Starting after Mulky I would start to use the old route of Duncan Ridge. The old route is steeper and offers more gain than the regular route.
Around mile 22 I missed a turn. I briefly followed the reroute of the DRT. However, I noticed it quickly and doubled back. Then I proceeded up to Payne Knob. The old DRT is much more challenging than the newer reroute. Finally, at around mile 25 I knew I was passed the difficult parts of the DRT. It is here I linked up the Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT). I started to descend to the lowest part of the route.
Around mile 30 I once again stopped to consume some calories. I had an Ensure drink and a Payday bar. This totaled close to 600 calories. I also took the time to drink some water. I drank at least a liter. Little Skeenah Creek is a reliable water source.
I continued for the next 10 miles or so on the BMT. This section of trail is rather boring but it is beautiful.
Around mile 41 I stopped again. I consumed more calories. This time I had an Ensure drink, Payday, and a Stinger waffle. I also filtered another liter of water and consumed a salt tablet.
It was at this point I linked back up with the AT. I would spend 15 miles on it. This section is rather familiar to me. I run it often.
My next water stop was at Justus Creek around mile 50. I once again filtered a liter. I also consumed a Stinger waffle and are some mango.
The next 6 miles went well. I started to slow down a bit. This is probably because I knew I would finish in under 14 hours.
A little after 5 pm I finished with a time of 13:21.