This virtual cache is located on the 2,175 mile long Appalachian Trail in the only place that the AT crosses through a man-made structure!
To log this cache you must take a photo on the Appalachian Trail near the stone breezeway. The White Trail Blazes and stone breezeway must be in the photo to get credit for this cache. Either side of the breezeway is fine for the photo. The Appalachian Trail is located in between the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center and the hiker hostel. *Your face or your groups faces do not need to be in the photo for it to qualify and you can use your GPS or a trackable in the photo or just a thumbs up that you enjoyed this area. :)
While you are here there is a nice short loop trail around the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center and part of the loop is the Appalachian Trail. To the right of the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center are a few beautiful overlooks and also a few picnic tables. Another interesting “icon” here is the shoe tree, located to the front left of the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center (look up!). The Appalachian Trail section that you are on is Neels Gap and the trail either heads north towards Blood Mountain or south towards Amicalola Falls State Park.
Inside the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center there are lots of old backpacks along the walls as well as boots hanging from the ceiling. You do not need to go inside to complete this cache. Outside of the center see if you can locate bigfoot or find the big AT sign that lots of hikers and visitors have taken a photo with. Originally this building was a log structure built by a logging company, the building took its present form during the 1930s when it was rebuilt by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). It served as a restaurant and inn until 1965, when it was abandoned. By the mid-1970s the building was slated for demolition, but a group of conservation-minded locals lobbied successfully for its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It is currently the first mail-drop available to northbound thru-hikers that does not require one to leave the trail. There is a hostel located here along with an outfitter. In the spring you may see lots of USPS packages inside waiting to resupply backpackers as they head north to Maine!
Please do not park at Mountain Crossings/Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center if you are going to hike up to Blood Mountain. There is parking located down the road for Blood Mountain Trail access.
I hope you enjoy my Virtual Reward Cache, I was very excited to have earned this! I love being outside and hiking and would love to complete the Appalachian Trail someday. I hope you enjoy the beautiful mountains of North Georgia as much as I do!
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.