January 25, 2011
| Today, we hiked to the summit of Currahee Mountain on the historic Robert Sink Memorial Trail. This is the site of historic Camp Toccoa Military Training base for paratroopers in World War II, “Band of Brothers” fame. The slogan “3 miles up, 3 miles down” was well known to all trainees at Camp Toccoa. To this day, paratroopers still shout “Currahee” as they jump out of planes!
HIKERS: John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Bill Hunt, David Hinson, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson and Dan Ross. TRAIL INFO. – This hike to the summit of Currahee Mt. is on a dirt/gravel road which is the exact road that the paratroopers trained on to become qualified to serve in the U.S. Army’s newest division “The Airborne” in the early 1940’s. Check out these historical photos at: Directions: From the north headed toward Toccoa on Highway 17 (4-lane), you will be coming down a mountain and at the bottom, turn right at the 1st traffic light (Jeanette Jameson Intersection) travel 2.3 miles to Robert Sink Rd. on the left (the gravel road just before the entrance rd. to Patterson Pump, inc. If you are coming from Toccoa, take Highway 123 (Currahee St) West about 4 miles and continue straight at the Jeanette Jameson intersection (Shell station) Drive 2.3 miles to Robert Sink Rd. on the left just before Patterson Pump, Inc. Another great day for a hike! Cloudy with some light drizzle at times. Temperatures ranged from 33 to 36 degrees F. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: none BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown Thrasher, American Crow. |
 The trail-head |
 Historical marker at the start |
 Getting ready on a cloudy, cool morning |
 Near the start we pass by the only remaining building from Camp Toccoa. |
 The Forest Ranger house – now abandoned. |
 The incline gradually gets steeper. |
 The view as we near the summit of Currahee. |
 Passing by the graffiti covered boulders near the summit. |
 The foggy view from the top. |
 One of the towers on Currahee’s summit. |
 Back to the start we see this momument to Camp Toccoa. (about a hundred yards north of the starting point) |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Tony Presley, Bill Hunt, Dan Ross, Vic Robson, David Hinson, Bruce O’Connor, John Bellamy, Jeanne O’Connor, Phil Brownrigg, Donna Presley and June Bellamy. |