3/18/2014 Appalachian Trail – Chattahoochee Gap – Jack’s Knob Trail – GA

HIKERS – Phil Brownrigg, Pam Euliss, Stephen Gales, David Hinson, Dick Metzgar, Dave Norton, Mary Lu Norton, Don Preece, Tony Presley, Vic Robson and Carole Wintle.

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.

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! Sun early then fog and clouds and windy with light icy rain then sunny. Temperatures ranging from 36 to 55 degrees F. Hiking distance – 9.3 miles.
Hiking in March, we always see lots of Thru-hikers on their way to Maine. For our 2+ miles on the A.T. today, we saw 29 thru-hikers! We met hikers from Austria, Switzerland, Germany and the states of FL, NC, TN, Washington, DC. NJ, OH, CT, RI, MA and NH.

FLOWERS IN BLOOM: None.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren and American Crow.

Others: Our first snake of 2014! A Black Ratsnake trying to warm up as the sun finally broke through the fog.