Dundeel - May 4, 2014 8:00 pm Date Climbed: Apr 27, 2014
Hopped to the Top of Big Frog
Came in from Pace Gap on the Wolf Ridge Trail. Saw only two other hikers.
buzzdainer - Jun 30, 2011 7:08 pm Date Climbed: May 10, 2010
Low Gap
Started up this one an hour before dusk, so had to hike back down in the dark. Beautiful hike, when I could see where I was going!
sethmoski - Jun 17, 2011 11:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2011
Fun... but yikes!
I hiked up from the Low Gap parking lot using Big Frog trail #64, then down #145, and planned to take Licklog (#65) to #70 to complete a loop back to my car. Trail #64 was ok going up... nice long slope, but I noticed that as I got further from the lot, the trail became more and more overgrown. I got to Big Frog... it was a beautiful day, nice and cool, so I pushed on to complete the loop. However, as I went down Licklog... the trail became almost nearly impassable. It was so overgrown I could barely make out the way to go. I got to walk through miles of lovely raspberry bushes. The fruit was not quite ripe, but the thorns definitely were. This combined with the fact that none of these trails have any sort of tree markings, was honestly pretty scary. There are also several signs missing from the signposts... but thanks to modern technology, I was able to confirm the trails I was taking by comparing the NatGeo 781 map I got with my phone looking at GoogleMaps. When I got to #70, I got two steps down it and decided to just finish out Licklog and get down to the gravel roads and take those back to my car... and I'm glad I did.
Honestly... I feel like this trail is a bit dangerous as it is in desperate need of maintenance. It was good for me because I live in FL, and never get to go hiking like I used to in the Northeast... but I wish the trail was in better condition. If you decide to hike it, make sure you have a GPS, a map, and wear long pants... or your legs will be covered with scratches like me.
On my way out back to the highway, I was driving out around dusk and had slow down twice as bears scampered across the road. Pretty cool... but again, be careful.
WoundedKnee - Mar 29, 2010 7:50 am Date Climbed: Mar 27, 2010
Via Hemp Top Trail
Saw a surprising number of hikers out, probably enjoying the first really good weather after a relatively bad winter in the South. About 14 miles out and back from Dally Gap with a couple side trips.
KevinEldon - Mar 5, 2007 1:58 am Date Climbed: Feb 19, 2007
Big Frog via Licklog Ridge
Nice hike. Had a few inches of snow on the trail which was beautiful, but slowed the hiking. Didn't see a single driver or hiker.
royswkr - Jul 31, 2006 10:18 pm Date Climbed: May 2, 2005
Chestnut Mtn/Wolf Ridge Trails
Met no hikers and almost no drivers in this whole area
Big Frog Mountain from the old Chestnut Mountain Trail
A beautiful day to hike, we set off from Georgia and got to the trailhead at 10:00AM. While the climb itself was fortunately uneventful, the hike to our campsite 10 miles away was a little more adventurious. Several days of rain had made the three river crossings much deeper than originally planned, with the water up to our chests in some places! With the last crossing successfully completed with the last light of day, we made camp and slept peacefully. The hike out the next day was short, but the thunderstorm that greeted us with the dawn made certain we moved quickly.
Dundeel - May 4, 2014 8:00 pm Date Climbed: Apr 27, 2014
Hopped to the Top of Big FrogCame in from Pace Gap on the Wolf Ridge Trail. Saw only two other hikers.
buzzdainer - Jun 30, 2011 7:08 pm Date Climbed: May 10, 2010
Low GapStarted up this one an hour before dusk, so had to hike back down in the dark. Beautiful hike, when I could see where I was going!
sethmoski - Jun 17, 2011 11:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 13, 2011
Fun... but yikes!I hiked up from the Low Gap parking lot using Big Frog trail #64, then down #145, and planned to take Licklog (#65) to #70 to complete a loop back to my car. Trail #64 was ok going up... nice long slope, but I noticed that as I got further from the lot, the trail became more and more overgrown. I got to Big Frog... it was a beautiful day, nice and cool, so I pushed on to complete the loop. However, as I went down Licklog... the trail became almost nearly impassable. It was so overgrown I could barely make out the way to go. I got to walk through miles of lovely raspberry bushes. The fruit was not quite ripe, but the thorns definitely were. This combined with the fact that none of these trails have any sort of tree markings, was honestly pretty scary. There are also several signs missing from the signposts... but thanks to modern technology, I was able to confirm the trails I was taking by comparing the NatGeo 781 map I got with my phone looking at GoogleMaps. When I got to #70, I got two steps down it and decided to just finish out Licklog and get down to the gravel roads and take those back to my car... and I'm glad I did.
Honestly... I feel like this trail is a bit dangerous as it is in desperate need of maintenance. It was good for me because I live in FL, and never get to go hiking like I used to in the Northeast... but I wish the trail was in better condition. If you decide to hike it, make sure you have a GPS, a map, and wear long pants... or your legs will be covered with scratches like me.
On my way out back to the highway, I was driving out around dusk and had slow down twice as bears scampered across the road. Pretty cool... but again, be careful.
WoundedKnee - Mar 29, 2010 7:50 am Date Climbed: Mar 27, 2010
Via Hemp Top TrailSaw a surprising number of hikers out, probably enjoying the first really good weather after a relatively bad winter in the South. About 14 miles out and back from Dally Gap with a couple side trips.
KevinEldon - Mar 5, 2007 1:58 am Date Climbed: Feb 19, 2007
Big Frog via Licklog RidgeNice hike. Had a few inches of snow on the trail which was beautiful, but slowed the hiking. Didn't see a single driver or hiker.
royswkr - Jul 31, 2006 10:18 pm Date Climbed: May 2, 2005
Chestnut Mtn/Wolf Ridge TrailsMet no hikers and almost no drivers in this whole area
Aeldrin - Apr 6, 2006 7:34 pm Date Climbed: Apr 1, 2006
Big Frog Mountain from the old Chestnut Mountain TrailA beautiful day to hike, we set off from Georgia and got to the trailhead at 10:00AM. While the climb itself was fortunately uneventful, the hike to our campsite 10 miles away was a little more adventurious. Several days of rain had made the three river crossings much deeper than originally planned, with the water up to our chests in some places! With the last crossing successfully completed with the last light of day, we made camp and slept peacefully. The hike out the next day was short, but the thunderstorm that greeted us with the dawn made certain we moved quickly.