March 30, 2010
| Today’s hike was on the Appalachian Trail and the Jacks Knob Trail near Brasstown Bald, GA hiking beyond Chattahoochee Gap by about 2 miles. Total round trip of 9 miles.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, Bill Hunt, Dick Metzgar, Don Preece, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Pom Sinnock, David Whitaker and Geri Whitaker. TRAIL INFORMATION – Starting out on the Jacks Knob Trail, the hike is very strenuous as you climb a series of hills to the A.T. at Chattahoochee Gap. Continuing southward, the trail is hilly until you get to the long flat portion along an old roadbed. This is said to be the longest flat stretch on the Georgia portion of the Appalachian Trail (maybe a half mile). We rate the hike strenuous due to lots of elevation changes. Directions: Drive North from Helen, GA 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! Fog early then sunny with temperatures ranging from 36 to 58 degrees F. Hiking distance – 9 miles. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: None. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Nuthatch, Acadian Fly Catcher, Yellow Throated Vireo, Crow, Pileated Woodpecker, Red Eyed Vireo, Junco, Bluebird. |
 Trailhead for today. Intersection of Highway 180 and the entrance road to Brasstown Bald. |
 Marker near the start. |
 Much of the hike was in the Mark Trail Wilderness Area. |
 Lots of steep climbing as we head up the Jacks Knob Trail. |
 Chattahoochee Gap. A side trail leads down to the spring that is said to be the upper headwaters of the mighty Chattahoochee River. |
 Vic Straddles the Chattahoochee! |
 Taking a break at Chattahoochee Gap. |
 We meet thru-hikers on their 2,175 mile hike to Mt. Katahdin, Maine! States represented today – Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia and Edinburgh, Scotland! |
 Thru-hiker from Edinburg, Scotland! |
 We look across the distance to Brasstown Bald and Visitors Center. (Georgia’s highest peak at 4,784 feet) |
 80X Zoom photo of the visitors center. (Canon SX10 is) |
 Lunchtime on the A.T. |
 On the old roadbed portion of the trail we find several old stone culverts built by the C.C.C. in the 1930’s. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r)Tony Presley, Dick Metzgar, David Whitaker, John Bellamy, Geri Whitaker, Don Preece, Donna Presley, Pom Sinnock, Vic Robson, Bill Hunt and Dan Ross. |