February 23, 2010
| Today’s hike was on the Appalachian Trail starting at Gooch Gap hiking almost to Cooper Gap and back. 9+ miles total.
HIKERS – Thomas Bowers, Phil Brownrigg, Pam Euliss, Dave Hinson, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Pom Sinnock, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker and Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFORMATION – A very nice hike on the A.T. with nice mountain views along the way through this beautiful North Georgia hardwood forest. Pretty mountain creeks along with Gooch Mountain and Justus Mountain providing elevation changes to help keep your heart rate up. Directions: Take Hwy. 129 N from Cleveland, GA for about 15 mi. then turn left at Turner’s Corner and travel several miles to Hwy 60 (rock pile) turn right and drive to the top of the mountain and continue past the A.T. crossing at Woody Gap. Going down the mountain to Suches (you will see the lake on your right) turn left onto Cooper Gap Road which becomes a gravel Forest Service Rd. 42 and continue 2.7 miles to Gooch Gap. Another great day for a hike! Cloudy with some fog with temperatures ranging from the low to mid 40’s degrees F. Hiking distance – 9+ miles. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: none BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Pileated Woodpecker, Crow, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Dark Eyed Junco, Nuthatch, Robin, Blue Jay, Starling. |
 Today’s trailhead parking at Gooch Gap on Forest Service Rd. 42. |
 Trail marker at Gooch Gap. |
 It turns out to be a foggy morning. |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 Our trail dog today is “Ty” Wintle. |
 We had two nice mountain creeks along the way. Justus Creek and Blackwell Creek |
 Recent trail maintenance work cleared this tree from the trail. |
 Crossing Blackwell Creek |
 We met several thru-hikers today. States represented : New York, New Jersey, Washington State, Massachusetts and South Carolina. |
 Fungus of the week! |
 Lunchtime on the rocks overlooking Cooper Gap. |
 The clouds obscured the normal great mountain views. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike (l-r). David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, Jack Jacobi, Donna Presley, Dave Hinson, Pom Sinnock, Jeanne O’Connor, Carole Wintle, “Ty” the trail dog, Joe Raguckas, Bruce O’Connor, Phil Brownrigg, Pam Euliss, Dan Ross, Vic Robson, Thomas Bowers, Bill Hunt, Dick Metzgar and Tony Presley. |