5/13/08 Sosebee Cove and Coosa Backcountry, GA

HIKERS – Phil Brownrigg, Greta Driggers, Dick Metzgar, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Lynne Saporito, Faye Sisson and Carole Wintle.

TRAIL INFO. – Sosebee Cove is a favorite destination for wildflower enthusiasts. It has a nice nature trail through a very rich old-growth forest with lots of wildflower species. The Coosa Backcountry Trail is a short distance down the highway from Sosebee Cove. It is a nice trail through the forest

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 trail crosses Hwy 180 here. Difficulty is moderate with some hills.

Another great day for a hike! Fair, with temperatures ranging from the upper 50’s to the mid 70’s F.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Pink Ladyslipper, Erect White Trillium, Catesby’s Trillium, Purple Trillium, Large-flowered Trillium,May Apple, Sweet Cicely, Blue Cohosh, Foam Flower, Golden Alexander, Maple-leafed Viburnum, Hooked Buttercup, Wild Geranium, Squawroot, Robin’s Plaintain, Pussy Toes, Rattlesnake Weed, Meadow Rue, Black Locust, Oil Nut, Flame Azalea, Yellow Stargrass, Jack-in-the-Pulpit,Tall Bluet,Cinquefoil and Dwarf Iris.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Barred Owl, Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, Robin, Red-eyed Vireo, White-Breasted Nuthatch and Turkey Vulture.