May 28, 2019
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This week’s hike was on the Yonah Mountain Trail in White County, GA. HIKERS: Jenny Bell, Mike Bell, Ray Clark, Joe Collins, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, Angela Evans, Ray Lovett, Jeanne OConnor, Terre Pratt and Addy Walters. 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. There is a significant amount of poison ivy along the trail. 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 – Approximately 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! Very sunny and somewhat muggy with little wind on the climb, but very breezy on the summit. Temperatures ranged from 74 to 86 degrees F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Spiderwort, Lance-leaved Coreopsis, Flame Azalea, Fire Pink, Coreopsis, Tall Bluet, Black Cohosh, Hairy Skullcap, Beggar’s Lice, Wild Rose, Daisy Fleabane, Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Wild Phlox. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Carolina Wren, Pileated Woodpecker, Crow, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatch, Black Vulture. Other Fauna: Rat Snake, Common Toad, Easter-Eyed Elater (Click Beetle)
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