Autumn Vacation Part 3: Benton MacKaye Trail to Deadennen Mountain Summit
Our 3.4 mile there-and-back hike begins from Wilscot Gap, where the Benton MacKaye Trail crosses Highway 60 near Morganton, Georgia (Fannin County). The Benton MacKaye Trail , which travels more than 300 miles through the forest, was named after the forester who first developed the idea of creating the Appalachian Trail. Getting our first taste of thet BMT on the way to Deadennen Mountain left us craving more. Though the trail is pretty well manicured, there weren't many other signs of humans ever having walked it. Barbara and Lily and I had the ENTIRE trail to ourselves, which to us, is perfect. When we hike, the therapy lies partially in distancing ourselves from the loud, obnoxious distractions* of everyday life, so solitude is key. (*Note: One cannot distance themselves from the sound of gunshots echoing through the woods, no matter how "alone" one feels in the wilderness... especially during deer season). . The first leg of the tr