June 26, 2007
| Today’s hike was in two segments. We hiked the short trails at Sosebee Cove followed by a longer hike on the nearby Coosa Backcountry Trail. Total hike approx. 6 miles.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Sandra Green, Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Lynne Porter-Whitmire, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Joe Raguckas, Dan Ross,Doug Russell, Dave Standard, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – The Sosebee Cove Trail is a short loop that passes through one of the richest plant habitats in Georgia. It consists of an old-growth forest with huge trees and very lush understory. It is a beautiful walk any time of year but especially nice during the spring wildflower season. The Coosa Backcountry Trail is a 12.5 mile loop that passes near Sosebee Cove. We did a portion of the trail as an out-and-back hike today. Directions: Take highway 129 N. out of Cleveland, GA and continue past Neels Gap and Vogel State Park . About a quarter mile past Vogel, turn left (west) on GA Hwy. 180 and travel 3-4 miles. Look for the Sosebee Cove sign on the right and continue until you see a small parking area on the side of the road. Next, we accessed the Coosa Backcountry trail back down the road about a half-mile toward Vogel State Park. The tral crosses Hwy 180 here. Another great day for a hike! Mostly to partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from 70 to 84 . Hiking distance – approximately 6 miles. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Ragged Soldiers, Foamflower, Heart-leafed Skullcap, Mountain Hydrangea, Leatherflower, Whorled Loosestrife, Tall Meadow Rue, Stinging Nettle, Poke Milkweed, Yellow Woodsorrel, Black-eyed Susan, Rosebay Rhododendrun, Whorled Coreopsis, Yellow Stargrass, Tall Bluet, Flowering Spurge, and Stachys. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Wood Thrush, Towhee, Oven Bird, Red Eyed Vireo, Veery, White Breasted Nuthatch, Crow, Blue Jay, Scarlet Tananger, Carolina Wren, Black Throated Blue Warbler. |
 Our first stop today. |
 Parking is limited on the side of the road! |
 This awesome Yellow Buckeye Tree is said to be one of the largest in the state. |
 Information signs on the Sosebee Cove Trail. . |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 Leather Flower (Clematis viorna) |
 Trail markers for our second trail today. |
 Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) |
 Lunchtime on the Coosa Backcountry Trail. |
 Headed back to the car along with “Merlin” the trail dog! |
The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r kneeling) Tony Presley, Dick Metzgar, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, Donna Presley, “Merlin” the trail dog, Lynne Porter-Whitmire, Wanda Miller, June Bellamy. (l-r standing) Carole Wintle, Sandra Green, Dave Standard, Doug Russell, Jack Jacobi, Dan Ross, Joe Raguckas, Wayne Miller, Phil Brownrigg, Bob Presley, John Bellamy . |