May 15, 2012
| HIKERS – Phil Brownrigg, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, Pam Euliss, Dave Hinson, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Lynne Saporito and Pom Sinnock.
TRAIL INFO: A very nice loop hike beginning at Lake Winfield Scott on the Slaughter Creek Trail up to the Appalachian Trail and continuing up to the summit of Blood Mt. and back down to Jarrard Gap and returning to the lake on the Jarrard Gap Trail. 8.1 miles total hike. Today’s hike – rated moderate difficulty due to elevation changes. Execellent trail conditions. DIRECTIONS: From Cleveland, GA, travel North on Highway 129 for 21.3 miles and turn left just past Vogel State Park onto Highway 180. Continue on Highway 180 (Wolf Pen Gap Rd) for 6.7 miles and turn left at Lake Winfield Scott Rd to the parking lot. ($5 per car parking fee – seniors $2.50) Another great day for a hike! Mostly to partly cloudy with a rain shower for the last half-mile or so. Temperatures ranged from 60 to 72 F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Lyre-leaf Sage, Blackberry, Sweetshrub, Yellow Wood Sorrel, Hop Clover, Mountain Hydrangea, Foamflower Wild Geranium, Tall Bluet, Bluet, Tall Buttercup, Fly Poison, Jack-in-Pulpit, Meadow Rue, Indian Cucumberroot, Mountain Laurel, Flame Azalea, Catawba Rhododrendrum, Catesby’s Trillium, Tulip Poplar, Galax, Golden Alexander, Goat’s Beard, Maple-leaf Viburnum, Solomon’s Seal, Solomon’s Plume, Twisted Stalk, Lily-of-Valley, Wood Betony, Cinquefoil, Star Chickweed, Cow Wheat, Rattlesnake Weed, Sweet Azalea, Michaux’s Saxifrage, Spiderwort, Four-leaf Milkweed, Canada Violet and Indian Physic. OTHER FAUNA: Ribbon Snake. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Pine Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Dark-eyed Junco, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Broad-winged Hawk and Wild Turkey. . |
 The starting point for today’s hike. Beautiful Lake Winfield Scott! |
 Starting out on the Slaughter Creek Trail. |
 Crossing the foot-bridge at Slaughter Creek. |
 We went out on Slaughter Creek and came back on the Jarrard Gap Trail. |
 We enter the Blood Mountain Wilderness Area. |
 Here, we arrive at the Appalachian Trail and continue up to Blood Mt. |
 We saw lots of Flame Azaleas. These are deeper red than most. |
 Hundreds of Catawba Rhododendrons were in peak bloom! |
 The historic Blood Mountain Shelter built in the 1930’s by the C.C.C. |
 Beautiful views from the summit of Blood Mt. |
 Lunchtime at Blood Mt.! |
 Bears are active! |
 We finished the hike in a brief shower. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike! (l-r) Pom Sinnock, Bill Hunt, Lynne Saporito & Angus, Pam Euliss, Jack Jacobi, Dave Hinson, Donna Presley, Jeanne O’Connor, Phil Brownrigg, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, Dan Ross, Vic Robson and Tony Presley. |