MST-69, “completing” segment 6

Stone Mountain State Park, westbound to National Park Service border

May 6, 2025. I had only 5.7 miles to go to complete Segment 6, but unfortunately the last two miles are still closed by the NPS following Hurricane Helene. I decided to do a four mile out-and-back to where the trail was closed, for a total of 8 miles.

We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in our Glamping Globe, since the gates at Stone Mountain SP don’t open until 7am.

The Husband-Shuttle dropped me off at the BackPack Parking Lot, then went to find warblers in the park.

We knew that cell phone coverage was problematic at Stone Mountain, so we set our rendezvous at the parking lot for noon.

I forgot to take in consideration that our leisurely breakfast (and night-time intestinal distress) gave me an 8am start, and therefore only 4 hours to complete the 8 miles out-and-back.

On roadsides, that would be more than enough time for 8 miles, but trail hiking is at a slower pace.

There are creeks to carefully cross.

And it is just so incredibly beautiful, that you want to slow down and enjoy the journey.

And then there’s that “UP” thing.
Trail Guide: “The first section is quite steep.”

After the seriously steep section, the trail continued to climb for the entire four miles, although there were some relatively flatter portions.

I expected to see a sign marking the Stone Mountain Park boundary, so I would know where to stop. Eventually my FarOut App indicated that I was past that spot and well into national park territory, which is officially closed.

I chose this tree as my turn-around point, so I could have a distinct landmark when one future day I can complete the last 1.8 miles of Segment 6 by doing an out-and-back down from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I didn’t want the Husband-Shuttle to worry if I missed that noon rendezvous (as we, indeed, had zero com-link all morning), so I never even sat down the entire 8 miles, although I did some quick stops for water.

No shoes-off break on this hike!

Ok, HERE is the boundary sign! It’s oriented for hikers going downhill INTO Stone Mountain, so I didn’t see it coming up.

Oh well. The trail was perfectly fine, as far as I went.

I definitely saw a few places where Trail Volunteers had cleared out trees from the hurricane in the Stone Mountain section.

Whew! Made it by 12:10. That was a workout! But also incredibly beautiful.

NOW I can have my shoes-off break.

Wait, what’s that on my leg?!?

No more dogs.
Hello, TICKS!