Octobber 20, 2009
| This week’s hike was on the Lake Russell Trail and Sourwood Trail near Cornelia, GA. Wayne and Leigh Ann Miller, along with Bob Thompson, joined us for the Sourwood Trail hike.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, John Brill, Karen Brown, Phil Brownrigg, Pam Euliss, Dave Hinson, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Leigh Ann Miller, Wayne Miller, Don Preece, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Joe Raguckas, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Lynne Saporito, Pom Sinnock, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker and Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. These two trails in the Lake Russell Recreation area are in mostly good condition. The Lake Russell Loop is mostly flat with very nice views of the Lake. The Sourwood Trail is a little more hilly and features a nice little waterfall (Nancytown Falls). Parking is at the Nancytown Lake Dam. The Lake Russel Trail is a 4.6 mile loop around the shorline of the lake and the Sourwood Trail is a 2.7 mile loop with a connector walk between them. Total hiking distance – 7.8 miles – Moderatly easy to average difficulty. Directions: The Lake Russell Recreation Area is off the Dicks Hill Parkway East of Cornelia, at Mt. Airy, GA near the railroad bridge, turn onto the Lake Russell Recreation Area access road. Drive about 2.5 miles to the parking lot at Nancytown Lake. Another great day for a hike! Fair and cool with temperatures ranging from the upper 30’s to mid 60’s. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: New England Aster, Blue Aster, White Woods Aster, Bushy Aster, Heart-leafed Aster, Golden Aster, Turtleheads, Tall Lobelia, White Snakeroot, Woodland Joe Pye Weed, Goldenrod, Partridge Pea, Black-eyed Susan, Thistle, Mountain Gentian , Flowering Spurge and Rabbit Tobacco. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Birds Identified: Blue Jay, Pileated Woodpecker, Towhee, Carolina Wren, Crow, Phoebe, Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Grouse, Turkey Buzzard, Kinglet, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Canada Goose. . Other Fauna: Timber/Canebreak Rattlesnake on the trail and turtles sunning on logs in the lake.
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 Our first trail today: A very nice 4.6 mile loop around the lake. |
 Early morning view along the trail. |
 The trail is on the road for a quarter mile or so. |
 There are lots of foot-bridges over creeks and gulleys. |
 The sun rising over the mountains. |
 100 acre Lake Russell is in the Chattahoochee – Oconee National Forest System. |
 Here, the trail passes through the Recreation/Swimming Area. |
 Trail sign as we head toward the dam. |
 The spillway of Lake Russell Dam. |
 Colorful reflections! |
 After finishing the Lake Russell Loop, we head over to the Sourwood Loop Trail. |
 Canada Goose on Nancytown Lake. |
 We see lots of sunbathers on Nancytown Lake! |
 A portion of Nancytown Falls. |
 Mushrooms of the week! |
 A very large Timber/Canebreak Rattler stopped us in our tracks. He was sluggish due to the cooler weather. |
 He coiled up after being disturbed. |
 Dan carefully lifts him off of the trail! |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r front) Pam Euliss, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker, Wayne Miller, Lynne Saporito, Donna Presley and Carole Wintle. (l-r back) Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Bob Thompson, Karen Brown, Dave Hinson, John Brill, June Bellamy, John Bellamy, Leigh Ann Miller, Don Preece, Joe Raguckas, Bill Hunt, Pom Sinnock, Dan Ross, Phil Brownrigg, Vic Robson, and Tony Presley. |