6/8/2010 Appalachian Trail – Blood Mt., GA

HIKERS – John Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, Jack Jacobi, Don Preece, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, David Whitaker and Geri Whitaker.

TRAIL INFO. This is a nice loop including the Freeman Trail along with the most popular portion of the A.T. in Georgia. The terrain is somewhat challenging with lots of very rocky areas and lots of elevation change.

Total hiking distance today – 6+ miles

Directions: Take US 19 and 129, north from Cleveland, GA and drive approximately 18 miles to the Byron Herbert Reese Park just a half mile past Neels Gap and the Mountain Crossings Store / Walasi-Yi Center.

Another great day for a hike! Partly Cloudy and mild with temperatures ranging from 65 to 74 degrees F.

FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Mountain Laurel, Flame Azalea, Sweet Azalea, Swamp Azalea, Catawba Rhododendrun, Virginia Rose, Carolina Rose, Sun Drop, Grey Beardtongue, Fire Pink, Leatherflower, Bindweed, Spiderwort, Common Milkweed, Carrionflower, Hog Nut, Dewberry, Blackberry, Foamflower, Tall Bluet, Bluet, Indian Pipe, Whorled Loosestrife, Cow Wheat, Tall Meadow Rue, Ragwort, Micheaux’s Saxifrage, Flowering Spurge, Rattlesnake weed, Cinquefoil, Black-eyed Susan, Hawkweed, Wild Quinine, Golden Alexander, Indian Physic, St. John’s Wort, Wood Betony, Tassel Rue, Yellow Wood Sorrell and Galax.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Phoebe, Red Eyed Vireo, Towhee, Ovenbird, Black & White Warbler, Crow, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, PeeWee, Titmouse, Nuthatch, Acadian Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, Carolina Wren, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Junco, Veery, Scarlet Tananger, Raven, Turkey Vulture, Broad Wing Hawk.