October 12, 2004
| HIKERS – Phil Brownrigg, Jack Jacobi, Wayne Miller, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Jack Slaton, David Whitaker and Geri Whitaker .
TRAIL INFO. – Today’s hike was on the Appalachian Trail starting at Tesnatee Gap and hiking south past Cow Rock toward Neels Gap. Total hike today 7 miles. Directions: Take GA 75 north from Helen, GA for 1.5 miles; turn left on GA 356 (75 Alternate); go 2.3 miles to the Richard Russell Scenic Highway; turn right and continue on past the Appalachian Trail access at HogPen Gap. Less than a mile beyond HogPen you will come to parking lot at Tesnatee Gap on the left. Another great day for a hike! Cloudy, misty and very foggy with Temps in the low 60’s to upper 60’s F. FLORA IN BLOOM: White Wood Aster, White Snakeroot, 3 Kinds of Asters, Hawk Weed, Coreopsis, Alum Root, Mountain Gentian, Heal All, Phlox, Dewberries, Black-eyed Susans, 2 Types of Goldenrod, and Witch Hazel FAUNA: Salamanders. Birds Identified- Junco, Towhee, Ruffed Grouse, and White-breasted Nuthatch . A Great Blue Herron was spotted along the highway a few miles before we arrived at the trail. |
 We parked at Tesnatee Gap in a dense fog! |
 The trail signs near the parking area. |
 We seemed to be walking in a cloud for much of the way. |
 The large boulder at the summit of Cow Rock Mountain. |
 Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) was still blooming. |
 Cow Rock Mountain features massive rock cliffs. |
 Mountain Gentian (Gentiana decora) |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Tony Presley, Phil Brownrigg, Doug Russell, Jack Slaton, Wayne Miller, Donna Presley, Dan Ross, Bob Presley, David and Geri Whitaker, Jack Jacobi. |