August 9, 2005
| HIKERS – John Bellamy, Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Wayne Miller, Bob Presley, Tony Presley, Dan Ross, Bob Thompson.
TRAIL INFO. – Today’s hike was in Black Rock Mountain State Park near Clayton, GA. We hiked on the James Edmonds loop Trail out to Lookoff Mountain and back. Directions: Follow Highway 441 North from Clayton, Georgia. Once you reach Mountain City just a few miles north of Clayton look for Black Rock Mountain Road. The road should be located on your left and is easily spotted due to a sign marking the road. Black Rock Mountain Road will take you to the state park located near the crest of Black Rock Mountain. Trail is considered difficult due to lots of elevation change. Our hiking distance today – 6 miles. Another great day for a hike! Partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from the low 70’s to the low 80’s. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Carolina Lily, Cranefly Orchid, St. Andrew’s Cross, Yellow Stargrass, Woodland Sunflower, Rosin Weed, Starry Campion, Mountain Hydrangea, Mountain Mint, Pinesap, Rattlesnake Orchid, Rosebay Rhododendrun, Alumroot,Tall Bluet, Southern Harebell, Spiderwort, Whorled Coreopsis, Phlox, Daisy Fleabane, Flowering Spurge, Black-eyed Susan, Joe Pye Weed, Asian Dayflower.
BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Pileated Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Chimney Swift, Broad-winged Hawk, Blue Jay. |
 The Edmonds Trail is very well marked as we start out on the East fork of the trail. |
 In the moist woods, we see lots of colorful fungi. |
 Here, our group starts up one of the many hills on the trail. |
 For the second week in a row, we find a Carolina Lily! |
 We stop for our lunch break at the Lookoff Mountain over-look. |
 View to the east. |
 View to the west. |
 View to the north. |
 The trail is very well maintained and it features foot-bridges across all of the creeks. |
 A refreshing waterfall on the west fork of the trail. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Bob Thompson, John Bellamy, Wayne Miller, Dick Metzgar, Jack Jacobi, Bob Presley , Tony Presley, Dan Ross. |