March 21-22, 2006
| This week’s hike was in the Lake Russell Recreation Area near Cornelia, GA. There are three hiking trails in this system. Today’s hike was on the Lake Russell Loop Trail and the Sourwood Trail. Our numbers were down due to questionable weather and some sickness. Some of the group hiked on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.
HIKERS – (Tuesday) Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Bob Presley, and Dan Ross . (Wednesday) John Bellamy, Ray Cowan, Jack Jacobi, Wayne Miller, and Bob Thompson. TRAIL INFO. – Both the Lake Russell Trail and Sourwood Trail are nice loops. The Lake Russell Trail is 4.6 mi. and it completely circles the lake while the Sourwood Trail is 2.7 mi and includes a nice waterfall. We accessed the trails from the parking lot at Nancytown Lake whick gave a total of 8 miles hiking. Directions: On U.S. 123 East of Cornelia, near the Mt. Airy, GA railroad bridge, turn onto the Lake Russell Recreation Area access road. Drive about 2.5 miles to the parking lot at Nancytown Lake. Total hiking distance today, 8 miles. Another great day for a hike! Tuesday, Cloudy and cool with temperatures ranging from the low 40’s to the low 50’s.Wednesday, Sunny mid 40’s to upper 50’s. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Pussytoes, Rue Anemone, Bloodroot, Trout Lily, Red Bud, Lance-leafed Violet, Bird’s foot Violet, Blue Violet, Three-lobed Violet, White Violet, Green-and-Gold, Mountain Vetch, Robin’s Plaintain, Vetch, and Spice bush. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Hairy Woodpecker, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Loon, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Phoebe, Blue Jay, Cardinal, Red-eyed Vireo, and Pine Warbler. |
 Our first trail of the day. |
 Lake Russell! |
 We saw several Canada Geese and Mallards. |
 This trail gives almost constant views of the lake and mountains. |
 The Lake Russell Dam. |
 The second trail for the day. |
 Beautiful Nancytown Falls! |
 Taking a short break! |
 The early wildflowers are blooming! Rue Anemone (Anemonella thalictroides) |
 Some of today’s wildflowers! (top left – clockwise) Robin’s Plantain, Halberd-leaved Violet, Green & Gold, Trout-Lily. |
 Here, at Nancytown Dam, you can see how muddy the water is after last night’s heavy rain! |
 The OFHC gang for Tuesday’s hike. (l-r) Dan Ross, Jeanne O’Connor, Bruce O’Connor, and Bob Presley. |
 The OFHC gang for Wednesday’s hike. (l-r) Jack Jacobi, John Bellamy, Wayne Miller, Bob Thompson, and Ray Cowan. |