July 3, 2018
|
This week’s hike was on the Yonah Mountain Trail in White County, GA. HIKERS: Mike Bell, Joe Collins, Renee Corbett, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, Bob Magee, Trushna Nadig, Terre Pratt and Vic Robson. TRAIL INFO. – The Yonah Mountain Trail is a short but strenuous hike due to the mostly continuous climb from the base to the summit of this beautiful rock-faced mountain. The trail shows its heavily use with significant washout and rocky path in many sections. 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 rappelling hooks anchored in the rocks with hundreds of feet of sheer drop below. The views are breath-taking! Distance hiked – Approx. 5 miles strenuous. Directions: To reach the trailhead, out of Clarkesville, take Hwy 17/115 toward Cleveland and turn right on 17 toward Helen and turn left (south) on Hwy 75 at the Indian Mound just south of Helen. Continue around 3 miles and turn Left on Tom Bell Rd at the Mountain Education Charter High School. Then take the next left on Chambers Rd. looking for the second gravel road on your left that has a sign for Mount Yonah. You will see the parking lot with kiosk and restrooms at the end of this road. A bit more challenging day for a hike! Mostly cloudy, but quite muggy with very high humidity, no wind, even on the summit, and temperatures ranging from 76 to 86 degrees F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Spiderwort, Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Fire Pink, Coreopsis, Tall Bluet, Black Cohosh, Beggar’s Lice, Daisy Fleabane and Wild Phlox. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Carolina Wren, Pileated Woodpecker, Crow, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatch, Black Vulture.
|
