December 28, 2004
| HIKERS – Phil Brownrigg, Matt Duvall, Jack Jacobi, Bob Magee, Dick Metzgar, Leigh Ann Miller, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Dan Ross, Bob Thompson, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker.
TRAIL INFO. – Today, we hiked to Blood Mountain by doing the Freeman Loop Trail around to the back side of the mountain and joined the Appalachian Trail at Bird Gap and hiked on up to the summit and back down the A.T. to the Reese connector trail to our parking spot at Byron Herbert Reese Park. – Total – 7+ miles. With an elevation of 4,461 feet, Blood Mountain is the highest point on the GA portion of the A.T. It features a stone shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s. Directions: Our hike today began at the Byron Herbert Reese parking lot about a half mile past the Walasi-Yi store on Hwy 129 / 19 North of Cleveland, GA. Another great day for a hike! Fair and cool with temps. ranging from the upper 20’s to the mid 40’s F. FAUNA IDENTIFIED: 3 White-tailed Deer |
 At the junction of the Reese Trail and the A.T., we took the Freeman Trail around the mountain to Bird Gap. |
 The Freeman Loop is very nice but also very rocky with many large boulders to negotiate. |
 After a cold week, there were many patches of ice and icicles! |
 At the Bird Gap A.T. junction, we chat with a couple of hikers that we met there. Eric Norwood and his son Christopher from Dunwoody, GA. |
 One of many panoramic views from the summit of Blood Mtn. |
 Another view! |
 As we head down from Blood, we have more awesome views! |
 The famous Blood Mountain Shelter built by the C.C.C. in the early 1930’s! |
 Many of the wet rocks were actually black ice! Here, Wanda shows caution. |
 Near the top of Blood Mountain, we met a couple of nice hikers from Dahlonega who took our group picture for the day. (l-r) Chris Hallford and David Jones. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r)front – Wanda Miller, Leigh Ann Miller, Bob Magee, Donna Presley, Geri Whitaker, Bob Presley. (l-r back) Dick Metzgar, Dan Ross, Jack Jacobi, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Wayne Miller, Phil Brownrigg, Matt Duvall and Tony Presley . |