6/17/08 Jack’s Knob Trail, Brasstown Bald, GA

HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Thomas Bowers, Russell Burken, Greta Driggers, Pam Euliss, Jack Jacobi, Deena Johns, Dick Metzgar, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Peter Muir, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Lynne Saporito, Pom Sinnock, Faye Sisson, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, Carole Wintle.

TRAIL INFO. – This portion of the Jack’s Knob Trail is a steep climb from the intersection of Highway 180 and Alt. 180 up to the parking lot of Brasstown Bald. From the parking lot there is a .6 mile asphalt trail up to the summit to the Brasstown Bald Visitors Center which has a nice interpretive center with great observation deck for the awesome 360 degree views.

Directions: Drive North from Helen 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! Mostly fair and mild! Temperatures ranged from 67 to 82 F.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: New Jersey Tea, Mountain Hydrangea, Tall Bluets, Ox-eye Daisy, Heal All, Yellow Star Grass, Lizards Tail, Galax, Mountain Laurel, Flame Azalea, Rosebay Rhododendrun, Cow Wheat, Pipsissawa, Indian Physic, Sundrop,Spiderwort, Hop Clover Yellow Wood Sorrel, Meadow Rue, Hawkweed, Rattlesnake Weed, Common Ragwort and Squawroot.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Oven Bird, Summer Tananger, Red Eyed Vireo, Nuthatch, Hooded Warbler, Crow, Titmouse, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Blue Jay, Pine Warbler, Scarlet Tananger, Chipping Sparrow, Red Start, Veery, Wood Thrush, Catbird, Chickadee, Black Vulture, Junco, Chimney Swift, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Wild Turkey.