March 7, 2006
| This week’s hike was on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia starting at Gooch Gap and hiking to Cooper Gap and back.
HIKERS – Melissa Anderson, John Bellamy, Thomas Bowers , Phil Brownrigg, Ray Cowan, Tim DePetro, Terry Doyle, Jack Jacobi, John King, Barbara Lambert, Bryan Lambert, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Karen Pietrowicz, Jim Pickens, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Dave Standard, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, and Geri Whitaker . TRAIL INFO. – The Georgia portion of the A.T. is very well-maintained and is a very nice hike in the mountains of North Georgia. There are excellent mountain views along the way through beautiful hardwood forests. Today, we met 20+ thru-hikers on their way to Maine! There is lots of elevation change as would be expected and we graded it moderately strenous. We parked on F.S. Road 42 at Gooch Gap and did an out-and-back hike to Cooper Gap. Directions: Take Hwy. 129 N from Cleveland, GA for about 15 mi. then turn left at Turner’s Corner and travel several miles to Hwy 60 (rock pile) turn right and drive to the top of the mountain past the A.T. crossing at Woody Gap and continue on down the other side of the mountain and near the bottom, you will see a lake on the right. Look for Tritt’s Store on the left and turn left onto this road which becomes F.S. Road 42. Drive to the A.T. crossing at Gooch Gap to park. Total hiking distance today, 9.6 miles. Another great day for a hike! Sunny with temperatures ranging from the low 40’s to the upper 50’s F. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Titmouse, Crow, Pileated Woodpecker, Red Belly Woodpecker, Phoebe, Hairy Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Carolina Chickadee, Junco, Catbird. For the quicktime movies below, you may need a high-speed connection. |
 Unloading at Gooch Gap. |
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 Our destination! |
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 Typical creek in the N.GA mountains. (Near Gooch Mountain) |
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 Hiker tent near the trail. |
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 Here, we head up Justus Mountain. |
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 John King (right) brought two of his friends from Camp Merril to join us on the hike. Tim DePetro (left) and Thomas Bowers. |
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 Another great day for a hike! |
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 Rock- man! |
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 We met two nice college students from Toledo, Ohio at Cooper Gap. Megan Lutz and Kerri Gibson were backpacking a portion of the A.T. during Spring break. |
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 Lunchtime at Cooper Gap!  Nice mountain view near Cooper Gap. |
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 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (front l-r front) Jim Pickens, Barbara Lambert, Dick Metzgar, Bryan Lambert, Terry Doyle, Bob Presley, Karen Pietrowicz, and Donna Presley. (back l-r) Tony Presley, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker, Bob Thompson, Doug Russell, Jack Jacobi, Phil Brownrigg, Dan Ross, Jeanne O’Connor, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, John Bellamy, Ray Cowan, Melissa Anderson, and Dave Standard. |
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