May 28, 2013
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Today, we hiked the Yonah Mountain Trail in White County near Cleveland, GA. The trail features massive rock cliffs that are popular with rock climbers and rapellers. HIKERS: Phil Brownrigg, Greta Driggers, Pam Euliss, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson and Geri Whitaker. TRAIL INFO. – The Yonah Mountain Trail is a short but strenuous hike from the base to the summit of this beautiful rock-faced mountain. The rock cliffs are amazing and are frequently used for training by the U.S. Army Rangers. The side trails take you out to the edge of these cliffs where you find numerous rapelling hooks anchored in the rocks with hundreds of feet of sheer drop below. The views are breath-taking! Distance hiked – around 5 miles. Directions: To reach the trailhead, take Hwy 75 north from Cleveland, GA towards Helen. Turn right on Tom Bell Rd at the Western Sizzlin Steakhouse. Then take an immediate left on Chambers Rd. looking for the second gravel road on your left. You will see the parking lot with kiosk and restrooms. Another great day for a hike! Mostly sunny with temperatures ranging from 68 to 76 degrees F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Flame Azalea, Daisy Fleabane, Maple Leaf Viburnum, Mountain Hydrangea, Tall Bluet, Spiderwort, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Flowering Spurge, Hairy Skullcap, Fire Pink, Whorled Loosestrife, Yellow Wood Sorrell, Flowering Spurge, Wild Rose, Ragwort, Mountain Laurel, Blueberry, Blackberry and Rattlesnake Weed. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Oven Bird, Carolina Wren, Chestnut Sided Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Pileated Woodpecker, Black & White Warbler, Blue Jay, Pine Warbler, Red Eyed Vireo, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatch, Phoebe, Towhee, Black Throated Green Warbler. OTHER FAUNA: Squirrels, Chipmunk. |
 Yonah Mt. Trail near Cleveland, GA. |
 At the start of the trail. |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 There are lots of boulders along the trail and here is a tricky spot. |
 About halfway up the mountain there is a nice lookoff. |
 Poison Ivy is very abundant! |
 Sign near the Army camp area. |
 Beautiful wildflower – Fire Pink (Silene virginica). |
 Large grassy field at the summit of Yonah Mt. |
 Walking down to the rim of the rock face, we get breathtaking views! |
 The rock cliffs are massive. |
 This one reminds us of a similar outcrop at Pickens Nose, NC. |
 This cable is attached to one of the cliffs used by the Army Rangers in training. |
 This sign is located at the Army training campsite. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike – (l-r) Tony Presley, Donna Presley, Geri Whitaker, Greta Driggers, Jeanne O’Connor, Vic Robson, Phil Brownrigg and Pam Euliss. |