| Today’s hike was on the James Edmonds Trail in GA to Lookoff Mountain overlooking Wolffork Valley at Rabun Gap, GA.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Russell Burken, Pam Euliss, Jack Jacobi, Linda Johnson, Fred Marland, Dick Metzgar, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, George Otis, Ric Porter, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Joe Raguckas, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Lynne Saporito, Faye Sisson, and Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – The James Edmonds Trail is located in Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County GA. This is a beautiful hike on a loop trail that leads out to a large rock outcropping at Lookoff Mountain. There are great mountain views into NC and views down into Wolffork Valley below. The trail is rated “most difficult” due to the large elevation changes. Some of the hills do not have switch-backs so they are more extreme. We hiked the East fork of the trail out to Lookoff Mountain and hiked back on the West fork making it a nice loop. Hiking distance – 7.2 miles. Directions: Located on Black Rock Mountain Parkway, 3 miles north of Clayton off U.S. Hwy. 441. Look for brown directional signs in Mountain City just north of Clayton, GA. As you near the top of the mountain, look for the trail parking lot on the right. Another great day for a hike! Partly cloudy, and cool with temperatures ranging from 62-68 degrees F. Hiking distance – 7.2 miles. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Grass of Parnassus, White Snakeroot, New England Aster, Heart-leafed Aster, Blue Aster, Bushy Aster, Mountain Gentian, Alumroot, Heal All, Tall Lobelia, Southern Harebells , American Euonymus (Hearts-a-Bursting) in seed. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Blue Jay, Pileated Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee, Carolina Wren and Junco. |
 Our parking lot for today’s hike. |
 Trail sign near the start |
 It is nice to see the signs of Autumn! |
 The trail has several nice foot-bridges. |
 We took the East fork going out and the West fork coming back. |
 Fungus of the week! . |
 Arriving at Lookoff Mountain, we look down into the valley at Rabun Gap, GA. |
 An awesome rock face for our lunch spot. The cables protect against disastrous falls! |
 Great mountain views! |
 The mountains in the front layer are GA and back layer are NC mountains. |
 A nice little waterfall on the West fork of the trail. |
 Always a nice treat to find Grass of Parnassus in bloom! |
 We pass by Black Rock Lake |
 The James Edmonds Trail is located in Black Rock Mountain State Park. The highest State Park in Georgia. 3,640 feet |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r front)Doug Russell, Dick Metzgar, Carole Wintle, Wanda Miller, Donna Presley, Faye Sisson, Pam Euliss and Tony Presley. (l-r back) Ric Porter, Jack Jacobi, George Otis, Wayne Miller, Joe Raguckas, Dan Ross, Fred Marland, June Bellamy, Linda Johnson, John Bellamy, Russell Burken, Vic Robson and Linda Saporito. |