"AT lash Day 5: Swaim Gap to Phyllis Spur with side trips to nearby peaks along the way. Took the Duncan Ridge Trail to the base of Slaughter Mountain, then bushwhacked to the summit via the northeast ridge. Spoiler alert: more brambles. This one hurt, a lot. I foolishly thought Slaughter would have some sort of a social trail, but all I found were interment game paths through dense brush. There’s lots of evidence of hogs at the summit, but nothing else. Made camp at the col of Phyllis Spur, and was treated to a night full of explosions and heavy gunfire from the nearby military base." — wacbravo • Oct 13, 2024

"Awesome vista on the southeast ridge of Steel Trap Knob above a rock face that is visible from Georgia highway 60! (See photos in FULL LOG at Steel Trap Knob under Other peaks climbed on this trip!) Terry and I hiked north bound a short distance from Woody Gap on the Appalachian Trail before turning to the right and entering a large amphitheater bowl feature with double deck rock faces. After exploring this feature, we hiked a trail up the right side and turned left onto a trail up Steel Trap Knob. Chaps were very useful as briars grew over the trail. I went off trail to find the highest point near National Forest bearing tree signs. We continued down a trail on the southeast ridge until we saw cairns to both sides of a tree on the right side of the trail. A short distance to the right of the trail was the top of the rock face above highway 60 with the most awesome view! We hiked back up the ridge trail to the peak of Steel Trap Knob, then turned right toward Jacobs Knob. After summiting Jacobs Knob, we headed down toward the AT and found an old trail to follow down. We hiked the AT up the southwest ridge of Big Cedar Mountain to Preachers Rock, another outstanding vista. Though t..." — davidensley • Mar 30, 2023

"Hiked Appalachian Trail northbound from Woody Gap to Preacher’s Rock overlook. Continued to peak of Big Cedar Mountain, but I left the AT prematurely and bushwhacked through briars to the peak. Alan stayed on the AT to the side trail to the peak, and I took it back down. Woody Gap was a chilly wind tunnel this afternoon, but the rest of the hike was pleasant." — davidensley • Feb 3, 2023