12/4/07 Jacks Knob and Appalachian Trail, GA

HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Joe Raguckas, Dan Ross, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker.

TRAIL INFO. – Starting at the parking lot on Hwy. 180 at the intersection for the access road (alt 180)to the Brasstown Bald Visitors Center, the Jack’s Knob trail heading southward leads 2.4 miles to the Appalachain Trail at Chattahoochee Gap. This portion of the trail is very hilly. From Chattahoochee Gap southward, the trail has one moderate climb over one mountain and down to a very long flat potion of the A.T. This is probably the longest flat stretch on the Georgia portion of the trail. It follows an old roadbed and you pass a series of culverts made with stacked stone that we think were built in the 1930’s by the C.C.C.

Directions: Drive North from Helen, GA on Hwy 75 past Unicoi Gap and continue down the other side of the mountain and continue to the intersection of Hwy 180. Turn left on Hwy. 180 and drive to the Hwy. “alt 180” intersection on the right (stop here). There is a parking lot at this intersection for access to the Jack’s Knob Trail.

Another great day for a hike! Partly cloudy, windy, and very cold. Temperatures ranged from the upper 20’s to the low 40’s with winds 20-30 mph!

Hiking distance – 8 miles

Difficulty – Difficult early then moderately easy.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: none!

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Carolina Chickadee, Junco.