Climbing in the Cohuttas

We spent the long weekend celebrating the 4th of July by hanging out with friends at Mulberry Gap, watching people and fireworks (but mostly people) in downtown Ellijay, and of course climbing almost every hill we could find in the Cohutta Wilderness.

I can't figure out how to embed video on this blog, but here's the link to a short one Eddie took--it was at the top of about 15 miles of climbing--that's more than I've done in the past month combined!! I did see a bear while descending Windy Gap but didn't stop for a photo op. Sorry. He was running downhill through the woods to my left..luckily I was going faster than him. It was amazing to see how these guys can run that fast and not get hung up on trees and stuff. He was huge!

Eddie did all his rides with his Topeak gear that he is testing for the Trans North Georgia (TNGA) race this fall. I'm sure he will have a lot to say about gear, course recon, etc..so check his blog for that.

I have much respect for anyone that is going to do the TNGA..Georgia has some climbing. I'm sure the Colorado folk are thinking..yeah, right. But the climbs are deceiving..relatively short, even though we do have some 12 mile climbs, but they can get steep. With the heat, humidity, gravel, and dust they can wear on you. Then, there's all the research and testing that needs to happen with all the gear...I'm interested to see what Eddie comes up with.

It was fun to meet some new people at Mulberry Gap and see others that we hadn't seen in awhile. As always, the food was amazing and there was plenty of it!! Thanks to Ginni, Diane, Andrew, and the rest of the crew for hosting us. I can't wait to go back!