Y'know, after all this time you think I could get it right. Some corrections...
Section 1 - Blood Mtn Trailhead to Wolfpen Gap (GA-180 intersetion). 2.5 miles. The trail is easy to follow and well marked. From Blood it follows the old route of the AT to near Slaughter Gap, then cuts north, joins the Coosa Backcountry Trail and regains the ridge. It follows the ridge to
Wolfpen Gap. WATER - About 1 mile past the Blood Mtn trailhead is a small creek the trail crosses with stepping stones. At Wolfpen Gap water is south on the road, right at a bend in the road. CAMPSITES - At Wolfpen Gap, down a
closed road immediately south of the Trail, east side of road: Flat campsites are on another overgrown logging road above a stream.
Section 2 - Wolfpen Gap to
Mulky Gap, about 8 miles.
Extensive trail relo around Wildcat Mtn, the trail sidehills around Wildcat, climbs Coosa Bald then after Whiteoak Stomp the trail is mostly sidehill along the ridge until it turns north at Bryant Gap. WATER - Whiteoak Stomp,
Mulky Gap. CAMPSITES on east side of Coosa (dry), just west of Coosa summit (dry), several campsites at various gaps between Whiteoak Stomp and Bryant Gaps (dry) and Mulky Gap.
Heads up! Once the trail separates from the Coosa the trail will often follow old logging roads then cut away from them and rejoin another old road. The cutoffs are blazed but your attention is required. The Trail is not worn and becomes a soft forest path. This may be the least-used portion of the trail. I can't emphasize this enough: Stay alert! Old logging roads and even game trails resemble the DRT along this section. Watch for blazes and check your map often.
Water location at Whiteoak is marked. It's across the road and downhill 150 yards. Water at Mulky is down a gated road, a tree at the gate is marked with a blue "W" sign. Water and campsites at Mulky are about 250 yards down the road, west side of road. Trees in the area have been bulldozed down, so lots of firewood (!!!). Nice campsite between spring and road on old logging road.
Mulky Gap to GA-60 - about 11 miles. WATER - Mulky (described above),
Sarvis Gap,
Licklog Gap. CAMPSITES - Fish Gap (dry), Sarvis Gap, Rhodes Mtn summit (dry), Licklog Gap, Wallalah Gap (dry), just before GA-60 (creek not recommended as water source).
Easy trail to follow, difficult footpath to walk. Lots of ups and downs, the trail mostly stays on the ridgeline and hits most of the peaks along this section, with one nice break as it avoids Fish Knob and skirts around a pretty hardwood cove leading into Fish Gap. Trail connects with
Benton MacKay downhill from Rhodes Summit. Springs at Sarvis and Licklog Gaps are marked.
Creek immediately before GA-60 is downstream from livestock. Small store about 1/4 mile east on GA-60 has resupply items, drinks, and prepared food but no beer. :-(
GA-60 to Long Creek Falls - about 11.5 miles. WATER - stream south side of
Taccoa footbridge, Byson Gap, stream 1/4 mile south of large wildlife clearing near mile 9. CAMPSITES - Taccoa footbridge, Bryson Gap, several along stream mentioned above, large campsites near Long Creek Falls.
Easy to follow footpath, the only major climbs are from GA-60 to the ridge (very gradual) from the river back to the ridge and a few short climbs along ridge leading Long Creek.
But remember: Beware of the most dangerous part of the DRT:
THE SIGN EATING TREES!