July 11, 2006
| This week’s hike was on the Raven Cliffs Trail and the Dukes Creek Trail on the Richard Russell Scenic Highway near Helen, GA.
HIKERS – Jeffrey Anderson, Melissa Anderson, John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Jack Jacobi, Bob Magee, Dick Metzgar, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Dave Standard, Bill Taylor, Kurt Volker, Sharon Volker, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker and Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – The Raven Cliffs Trail is a 5 mile out and back hike in the Raven Cliffs Wilderness Area. This beautiful trail along Dodd Creek leads to the giant rock cliffs and Raven Cliffs Falls. After finishing this hike, our group went up the road a mile or so to Dukes Creek Falls Trail. This is a 2.2 mile out and back hike to the falls. Total hiking distance today – 7.2 mi. Directions: Take GA 75 north from Helen for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto GA 356(75 Alternate) and travel 2.3 miles to the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway. Turn right and travel 2.8 miles to the trailhead and parking area. Another great day for a hike! Mostly sunny, temperatures ranging from the upper 60’s to upper 80’s F. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Black Cohosh, Flowering Spurge, Whorled Coreopsis, Mountain Mint, Rosebay Rhododendrun, Mountain Hydrangea, Tall Bluets, Pippsissawa, Woodland Joe Pye, Daisy Fleabane, Lobelia, Spikenard, Elderberry And Tall Goldenrod. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Crow, Red Eyed Vireo, Red Shouldered Hawk, Acadian Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Hooded Warbler |
 We cross this foot-bridge early into the hike to Raven Cliffs. |
 Simple beauty in this lush hardwood forest. |
 We arrive at the cliffs and make the final climb up to the falls. |
 The massive rock cliffs! |
 Raven Cliffs Falls! |
 Jeffrey and Bo look for some trout.. |
 Bruce O’Connor points out the biotite gneiss locally injected with whitish veins of granite…What is he…. a geologist or something? ……….yes. |
 After finishing the Raven Cliffs hike, we drive back up the road a mile or two to Dukes Creek Falls. |
 After hiking 1.1 miles, we arrive at the viewing platforms for the falls. |
 David and Geri enjoy their anniversary! Congratulations! |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (front l-r) Kurt Volker, Sharon Volker, Bill Taylor, “Bo” (lying down belly up) Melissa Anderson, Jeffrey Anderson and Bruce O’Connor. (standing l-r) Jack Jacobi, Doug Russell, Dan Ross, Carole Wintle, June Bellamy, John Bellamy, Dave Standard, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Dick Metzgar, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker and Bob Magee. |