Yesterday I drove to Dockery Lake to hike the long way to Preachers Rock. 11.5 miles to the top and back by my GPS, though I’m starting to wonder if it’s miscalibrated. It’s strange to me that this has a Cleveland address as I feel like it should be Dahlonega or Suches instead. But I don’t make the rules. It was mostly pleasant but for all the spiderwebs. I told myself the ascent would be worse because I was the first one out there. But those bastards (the spiders) rebuild quickly and I got just as many webs in the face in the last 3 miles as I did the first.
The part on the Appalachian Trail had no webs to distract me, so that was a relief.
Preachers Rock is so named because a local minister by the name of Joe “Bear” Lunsford used to hike up there and practice his sermons. I wonder if anyone ever called him “Brother Bear”? I would’ve. Seems a cool sobriquet if you ask me.
At any rate, there were no preachers present so we got to exist without condemnation and just enjoy the view. This is my current favorite trail when I want this kind of distance and, for now, the only place where I actually get on the Appalachian Trail. I’m usually far too filthy to do anything after the hike except hop in the car and drive home. But nearby Dahlonega has great spots to visit if you feel you’re inoffensive enough to do so. The Picnic Cafe & Dessertery is one of my favorite spots.
