My past so many weekends reprieved from Summer heat have been busy with cabin maintenance. Today, at 4:30 AM, I awoke with a vision of me and my new bride Debe hiking to the BMT trail's hidden wonder of a swinging bridge over the Toccoa River in North Georgia. Built in 1977 by a cooperative effort between the National Forest Service and the Appalachian Trail Club, the bridge is the longest suspension footbridge east of the Rocky Mountains.

These pictures show a long view (and short) from about a half-mile distance or so (maybe more) from the Route 60 Duncan Ridge Trail and Benton Mackaye Trail access point between Blue Ridge and Suches, GA. This view looks North toward the Toccoa River Valley from what I believe to be the "Duncan Ridge". The large picture is not quite at the high resolution of the original, but is bigger than the typical thumbnails posted.

It is probably not a bad idea to have a personal navigation system with you on even a day hike into unfamiliar territory.

Our faithful companion Black and Tan hound, taking time away from her naps, and with us on this hike. She is probably as good or better than a GPS.

The first mile or more was a steEP uPWard climb to the ridge. Southern Appalachian Fall vistas prevailed from the ridge views.

The diamond shaped white blaze marks the BMT. The bridge is in view through the Mountain Laurel grove.

Two hours from our start, we reached the bridge! There is a large clearing below the bridge access with a camp site fire ring that has seen some recent use. We hope to return in the Spring to use it ourselves.

To get high resolution digital versions of these (thumbnail, lo-res versions shown), suitable for framing, email askaguide.

Pictures on this trip were taken with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black).

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