April 4, 2006
| This week’s hike was on two shorter trails. First, we hiked on the Tennessee Rock Trail at Black Rock Mountain State Park near Clayton, GA. Next, we traveled down to Tallulah Gorge State Park to hike on the High Bluff Trail. The Tennessee Rock Trail is a nice 2.2 mile loop trail that features nice mountain views and lush wildflower environment. The High Bluff Trail is a 1.5 mile trail off of the Stoneplace Trail at Tallulah Gorge State Park. It is a nice easy walk on an old converted logging road.
HIKERS – Melissa Anderson, John Bellamy, Jack Jacobi, John King, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Jim Pickens, Bob Presley, Dan Ross, Dave Standard, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker and Geri Whitaker. TRAIL INFO. – Both trails are nicely maintained and easy to hike. Total hiking distance today, approx. 7 miles. Directions: The Tennessee Rock Trail is located in Black Rock Mountain State Park on Black Rock Mountain Parkway, 3 miles north of Clayton, GA off U.S. Hwy. 441. Look for brown directional signs in Mountain City. The High Bluff Trail is located in Tallulah Gorge State Park at Tallulah Falls, GA. Turn onto the Jane Hurt Yarn Rd. and drive to the visitor’s center. Hiking permits and directions are available in the center. Another great day for a hike! Fair with temperatures ranging from the low 40’s to the upper 60’s F. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Tennessee Rock Trail; Round-leafed Yellow Violet, Bloodroot,Star Chickweed,Purple Toadshade Trillium, and Yellow Toadshade Trillium. High Bluff Trail; Bird’sfoot Violet, Halberd-leafed Violet, Dwarf Iris, Pussytoes, Trailing Arbutus, Purple Violet,Robin’s Plaintain, Cinquefoil, Huckleberry, Serviceberry, and Dogwood. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Towhee, titmouse, kingfisher, pileated wookpecker, red eye vireo, Carolina wren, white breasted nuthatch,chickadee, tufted titmouse, brown thrasher, black throated green warbler, crow, vulture, and pine warbler. |
 The trail-head sign. |
 14 OFHC hikers today. |
 Beautiful Mountain views looking toward NC! |
 View 2 |
 The newest OFHC hiker “Bo” Anderson. |
 Eastern Continental Divide. |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 Overlooking Clayton, GA from Black Rock Mountain. |
 Lunchtime on the High Bluff Trail. |
 Tallulah Gorge State Park. |
 A couple of today’s wildflowers: (l-r) Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens) and Dwarf Iris (Iris verna) |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r kneeling) Melissa and “Bo” Anderson, Bruce O’Connor. (l-r back) Bob Presley, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, Jeanne O’Connor, Dan Ross, Bob Thompson, Wayne Miller, Dave Standard, John Bellamy, Jim Pickens, Jack Jacobi, and John King. |