February 13, 2007
| This week, we hiked on the Panther Creek Trail from the southern terminus near Yonah Dam to the Panther Creek Falls.This is about 7 miles round-trip.
HIKERS – Jeff Anderson, Melissa Anderson, John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Bob Thompson. TRAIL INFO. – We found the trail to be in treacherous condition. There were quite a few blow-downs over the trail and some very slippery slopes above dangerous cliffs. We do not recommend hiking this portion of the trail unless it has some much needed trail maintenance. Directions: Take Prather Bridge Road from Toccoa for 9.7 miles until you cross the bridge below Yonah Dam. Bear left after crossing the bridge and travel about a half mile and turn left on a dirt road. Drive several miles to the end of this road and park. You will be on the right side of Panther Creek and a metal foot-bridge crosses the creek and this begins the trail. Another great day for a hike – Cloudy and cool.Temperatures from the mid 40’s to mid 50’s F. Hiking distance approx. 7 miles WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Trout Lily BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Pileated Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Dark-eyed Junco, Turkey Vulture, American Crow, American Robin, Chickadee, Carolina wren, Phoebe, Pine warbler, and Blue Bird. |
 The parking lot at the southern terminus of the Panther Creek Trail. |
 The footbridge at the start of the trail. |
 Beautiful Panther Creek. |
 A downhill foot-bridge. |
 Beautiful whitewater! |
 Trout Lilies have started to bloom! (Erythronium americanum) |
 Some of the old support cables along this portion of trail. |
 Another view of Panther Creek. |
 A dark cave entrance. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r front) Melissa Anderson, Doug Russell, and Bruce O’Connor. (l-r back) Wayne Miller, June Bellamy, John Bellamy, Jeanne O’Connor, Jeff Anderson, Bob Thompson, and Dan Ross. |