Bear Country Backpacking: Conquering Cedar Springs Mountain on the AT
- Kahleag Terry
- Feb 18
- 3 min read
The Appalachian Trail (AT) always promises an adventure, and this one was no exception! So last year I completed a grueling 12.5-mile hike from Dockery Lake to the summit of Cedar Springs Mountain with some friends —right through Black Bear Country. We covered a formidable 3,000 feet of elevation gain. It was AMAZING!
A Detour and a Black Bear Army Rumor
My original plan involved a different 12-mile route, but at the time trail chatter reported a sighting of a herd of 23 bears! While that sounds unbelievable, I wasn't about to test my single can of bear spray against a small army. So, we wisely opted for the beautiful, safer approach via Dockery Lake. The trail itself was a photographer's dream, offering countless beautiful plants and creeks to capture along the way. With fisherman casting for Mountain Rainbow Trout along the lake.
With essentially our entire house packed on our backs, we navigated several creek crossings, determined to keep our inner soles dry. Then finally after about four hours of hiking, we reached a stunning campsite near the peak, boasting the softest grass for pitching our tent.
Summit Views and Beef Stew
After setting up camp, we ditched our main packs. Shedding that 30 pounds felt so relieving as we headed out with just our cooking kit to finish the final push to the peak (about a quarter of a mile).
The summit views were our reward. We unpacked a delicious dehydrated Mountain House Beef Stew and savored every bite overlooking the vast Georgia landscape. We even had a bit of cell service, allowing me to phone home and show off the incredible views to my family—a major bonus when you’re out in the backcountry!
The Ultimate Fire Challenge
Back at camp, the real adventure began: making fire during a light rainstorm. The entire forest was damp, and we hadn’t practiced any fire-starting skills whatsoever. "It'll be easy, right? Just throw some sticks and a match, and it’ll light!" Wrong!
After chewing through almost all of our "waterproof" matchsticks, we had nothing but damp kindling and frustration. It was time to focus up and lock in.
We collected large logs left by previous campers, split them with the axe, and carefully carved the dry interiors with our knife to create delicate, usable kindling. We sacrificed a bit of tissue and used our final match to light the tiny, dry pile. Success! We had a small, flickering flame.
The work wasn’t over; we needed to keep it going. We used the log cabin method to stack and dry our other firewood over the small flame, creating a steady, roaring fire that lasted the rest of the night. In bear country, this was critical. Whether or not a fire truly deters animals, having that warmth and light is the ultimate signal of human presence—and it definitely made me feel better!
The Descent and The Best Views in Georgia
After a beautiful, if stormy, night under the mountain sky, we woke up to pack. Our breakfast of oatmeal had sadly been soaked inside the bear box (a lesson learned!), so we settled for Cliff Bars atop the mountain before starting our final descent.
The 6.25-mile hike back to the car flew by, significantly faster than the climb up. This trail offered the best views in Georgia I’ve seen so far—a truly spectacular welcome back to the southeastern-most portion of the Appalachian Trail.
Any fellow Backpackers here? What’s your favorite piece of gear you rely on when the weather turns bad on the trail? Share your essentials in the comments below!
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