July 17, 2006
| This week’s hike was on the Pickens Nose Trail and the Appalachian Trail (Albert Mountain) near Otto, NC.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Ann Magee, Bob Magee, Dick Metzgar, Bruce O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Doug Russell, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, and Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – The Pickens Nose Trail is a short 1.4 mile round trip to provide some of the most awesome views anywhere! There are lots of Rhododendron thickets along the way and at times it looks as though you are walking through a tunnel. The rock cliffs there are popular with rock climbers and rappellers. Next, we connected with the Appalachian Trail and hiked up to the Albert Mountain Fire Tower for more spectacular views. Total hiking distance today – 4.5 mi. Directions: Take highway 441 north from Clayton, GA to the community of Otto, NC. Turn left onto Coweeta Lab Road . Drive several miles up this road and you will see the Coweeta Hydrologic Lab on your right. Continue on past the lab and the road becomes a gravel Forest Service road. Continue up this road for several miles and you will come to a sign for Pickens Nose. There is a parking area here. For Albert Mountain, continue on past this area and there is a sign pointing to the right to Albert Mountain. Continue to the end of the road where there is a parking area. Geological report: The geology here is very complex. At Albert Mtn. the rocks are mostly dark biotite gneiss and schist with some thin layers of off-white granite – all of which were complexly folded and then injected with veins of white quartz. Another great day for a hike! Mostly sunny, temperatures ranging from the mid 60’s to low 80’s F. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Bee Balm (red), Bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Tall Bluet, Whorled Coreopsis, Oxeye Daisy, Joe Pie Weed, Hawkweed, Heal All, Indian Pipes, Bush Honeysuckle, Mountain Hydrangea, Mountain Mint, Indian Pink/Fire Pink, Carolina Phlox, Indian Pink (&Fire Pink?), Daisy Fleabane, Evening Primrose, Rosebay Rhododendron, Skullcap, Spiderwort, Squaw Root, St. John’s Wort, Turks Cap Lily, Sourwood, and Crown Vetch. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Red Eyed Vireo, Chipping Sparrow, Crow, Blue Jay, Junco, Broad Wing Hawk, Towhee, Veery |
 Headed up to Pickens Nose, the trail goes through dark tunnels of Rhododendron. |
 The first viewpoint! |
 View two! |
 Here is a photo opp. (see next photo for our picture) |
 This nut is standing out on a rock cliff! Bruce O. |
 Another Pickens Nose view. |
 Here, we arrive at the Albert Mountain Fire Tower. |
 Awesome views from the tower. |
 Great views in every direction! |
 “Nugget” explores Albert Mountain. |
 Lunchtime at Albert Mountain. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (seated l-r) Doug Russell, Bruce O’Connor, David Whitaker, and “Nugget”. (standing l-r) Tony Presley, Donna Presley, Dick Metzgar, Geri Whitaker, Carole Wintle, Bob Thompson, Ann Magee, John Bellamy, Bob Magee, and June Bellamy. |