A Change In Season: The Differences Between Summer & Winter On The AT

The idea for this blog comes from my just complete hike I did last Friday and how the area from Tesnatee Gap to Wolf Laurel Top and Hog Pen Gap was so different than my first trip here back in early June of 2013. So this blog will be a compare and contrast between a winter/early spring hike versus one in early summer. The summer photo will be first (or on the left) and the winter/early spring second (or on the right). Also I just want to put up so of my trail pictures from last June which are some of my favorites.

Tensatee Gap: June, 2013 & March 2014

Tesnatee Gap sign June, 2013.

Same sign March, 2014.

AT headed up from Tesnatee Gap.

Same spot in early spring.

Tesnatee Gap & Neel Gap sign in summer...

...winter/early spring.

AT Headed Up Cowrock Mountain: June, 2013 & March 2014

AT with foliage.

And without.

AT with my shadow.

AT, fog & no shadow..

No vines or fog.

Vines on the white blaze & fog.

Hard to believe this is the same spot...

...as this.

Summer.

Winter/early spring.

Cowrock Mountain: June, 2013 & March 2014

Head up to Cowrock Mtn. in the fog.

Trip up on a clear day.

Early in the day fogged in...

...In March, 2014 totally different.

Later in the day in June still plenty of clouds...

...Visibility is much better in March.

Can't see Yonah Mtn. in June, 2013....

...Then in March, 2014 it is there.

Wildcat Mtn. in summer...

...Same mountain winter/early spring.

June, 2013.

March, 2014.

Looking north on AT...

...Same view 9 months later.

AT To & From Wolf Laurel Top & Back To Tesnatee Gap: June, 2013 & March 2014

Cool tree & green trail...

...In March the tree is more viable.

The AT is so lush in summer...

...Not so in winter/early spring.

Wolf Laurel Top in June...

...view was much better in March.

Summer trail & a log to the side covered....

Early winter/spring log is viable.

Green AT...

...Brown AT.

That tree was leaning in June...

...and still is in March.

Tell it is the same spot...

...by the split tree.

That pine is hidden in June...

...but, stands out in March.

How Deb doesn't like the AT...

...she likes it much better.

Green AT...

...the brown AT.

That old log...

...is still there.

The only thing recognizable...

...is that tree.

Logan Turnpike Trail: June, 2013 & March 2014

Green in summer...

...not much vegetation in winter/spring.

AT And Wildcat Mountain

Tesnatee Gap & Hog Pen Gap sign in summer...

...and winter/spring.

Towns Creek Gorge in summer.

Towns Creek Gorge in winter/early spring.

Cool tree in June...

...and in March.

Wildcat Mountain: June, 2013 & March 2014

The blue blaze Whitley Gap Shelter Trail...

...9 months later.

Summer trail headed toward Wildcat Mtn...

...same spot in winter/spring.

Summer vista at Wildcat Mtn...

...& a winter/spring

Cowrock Mtn. from 2nd outcrop in June...

...then in March.

 

Evil Dead tree in summer...

...but it looks more evil in winter/spring.

Difference here in not as stack as others...

...but March is not as green.

Whitley Gap Shelter sign June...

...and March notice someone has changed the miles.

Hog Pen Gap: June, 2013 & March 2014

Headed back down to Hog Pen in summer.

...same spot in March.

No sign...

...sign.

June AT at Hog Pen...

...now March.

AT crosses GA 348 lot more green...

...than March.

Hog Pen Gap little harder to spot in summer...

...not so much in winter.

Headed to the parking area in June...

...& March.

Hog Pen rock peppered with green...

...barren here.

Not the AT, but the overlook #1 on GA 138...

...the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway.

Here are some of my favorite AT trail photos from my trip June, 2013

AT near Cowrock Mtn.

AT headed up Cowrock.

AT near Wolf Laurel Top.

AT near Wolf Laurel Top.

Another shot near Wolf Laurel Top.

AT headed back to Cowrock Mtn.

Trail beauty.

Straight section of trail.

Headed down Cowrock Mtn.

AT on Wildcat Mtn.

Whitley Gap Trail.

Another from the blue blazed trail.