SOTA Guide - Big Fodderstack, W4T/SU-028

CAUTION: The last 200 yards of this hike are in dense rhododendron. I had to crawl on hands and knees, and I lost some equipment. I will never attempt this trip again without saw, pruning shears, or other trail-clearing equipment! Do not attempt this trip unless you can handle an extremely difficult bushwhack after a 3.8 mile hike, climbing 2400 feet.
Please: Just take another trip. This one isn’t worth the pain. I was still recovering a week later.

Duration: 3:25 (158 miles)
Google Maps URL from Ashford Dunwoody Rd and I-285 at 33.917, -84.3378: http://goo.gl/maps/LrnRT
Seasonal/Limited Access: Unknown
Directions:
- I-285 W
- I-75 N
- I-575 / GA-5 N and go 72 miles
- L on GA-5 N in Blue Ridge, GA and go 10.2
- L on GA-60 / TN-68 and go 36.4
- Careful: TN-68 forks left in about 13 miles. I missed this fork in March of 2014.
- R on Cherohala Skyway (TN-165) and go 14.3
- L on Indian Boundary Rd (USFS-345)(paved turn) and go 1.2
- R on Indian Boundary Rd (turns to dirt) and go 3.9
- Sign: “Citico Creek”. USFS-35-1.
- Drive @25 MPH when wet, all the way to trailhead.
- Gate at start of this road. It was open on March 30, 2014.
- Cross stream and R on Doublecamp Creek Rd (following creek) (USFS-2659) and go 2.6
  - Pit toilets and Doublecamp Creek Recreation area at turn.
  - Note: Continue past false trailhead for trail 100 at 2.4 with plenty parking.
- Trailhead is on R, just after crossing the 2nd bridge near the end of the route.
  - Park in wide spot in the road. Room for 2 small cars.
Food
- Last McDonalds: Blue Ridge, GA, on the corner where GA-5 turns L
- Penultimate McDonalds: Ellijay, GA, on L
- Dinner

Note: Timings were made on a snowy hike outbound and moving fast with no break inbound (due to risk of being out after dark).
Duration Outbound: 5:00 (3.8 trail miles + 200 yard bushwhack, climbing 2400 feet)
- 2:40 (2.6 miles) Trailhead to Big Stack Gap
- 0:55 (0.8 miles) Big Stack Gap to Jct 95, 2, 99 (end of Pine Ridge Trail)
- 0:35 (0.4 miles) Jct 95, 2, 99 to begin bushwhack
- 0:50 (0.1 miles) Bushwhack 200 yards
Duration Inbound: 3:10
Navigation
- Trail FS-96, on R (south), just after crossing Mill Branch
  - Summary: Follow Mill Branch to Big Stack Gap @2.5, R to Pine Ridge Trl, L up peak.
- @1.0 - The big creek crossing. (There are lesser crossings at 0.7 and 0.8
  - Barely crossable with dry feet if you have good, over the ankle boots.
- @2.6 - Trail intersection at Big Stack Gap. Turn RIGHT.
- @3.2 - Pine Ridge trail goes to right. You go LEFT.
  - Fodderstack is in front of you, after your left.
- @3.8 - Last chance to bushwhack to summit. Somewhat past summit, but gentler ridge slope.
Trailhead altitude: 1876 at Mill Branch trailhead
Summit altitude: 4346 (SOTA) or 4334 (Garmin) or 4946 (USGS topo)
GPS tracks/waypoints:
- Trailhead: 35.43138,-84.05898 (at Mill Branch)
- Cross Mill Branch: 35.42447,-84.04602
- Big Stack Gap: 35.41943, 84.02504 (Turn R)
- Pine Ridge Trail Jct: 35.41408, -84.02987 (Turn L)
- Summit: 35.4123, -84.0274

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