Sign Up Now!This weekend Georgia ForestWatch presents three opportunities to take in the magnificent transformation of the season. See below for our easy, moderate, and strenuous outings-all will offer plenty of wildflowers so bring your camera!
Date of Outing: Saturday, April 17th
We will start off on
the Old Harper farm which has been in the same family since 1840. After the first
mile up a gravel road we will enter the forest and encounter
what the early settlers experienced when this area was first settled in the
1800's. The steep hike up to the top of the White Cliffs will be followed by lunch, with a great view back down on the Mountains. On the way up we
will see how Harper Creek cascades over the boulders making up the White Cliffs and on the return trip we will circle around to catch two more water falls. We will also see an old homestead and what is
left of this early 1800's farm.
Meeting Time, Place, and Directions:
We will meet at the
Georgia ForestWatch office parking lot at 9:30 AM and caravan up to our trailhead. Take Hwy 52, 1 mile west of the Ellijay round-about, toward Fort
Mountain State Park. Turn right onto Tower Rd. and then immediately left into
our parking lot.
Leaders:
Dave Cherry, Georgia ForestWatch Volunteer, and
Wayne Jenkins, Georgia ForestWatch Executive Director
Outing
Location:
North central Gilmer County up to the Fannin
County line, USGS Quadrangle:
We will start off on the Dwyer Gap map
and move on to the Cashes Valley Map.
Distance and Difficulty:
This is a strenuous five-mile loop hike, and all of the
hiking is bush-wacking.
Limit: 10
Chattooga River with Gourmet Lunch
Date of Outing: Saturday, April 17th
This will be a slow and easy
hike from Sandy Ford Road past Dick's Creek Falls to a sunny beach on the
Chattooga where we will share a leisurely pot luck lunch, bask in the sun, and
relax (feel free to bring a book)! We will visit
the magnificent falls at Dick's Creek either going out or coming back.
Meeting Time, Place, and Directions:
10:00am at
Warwoman Dell. 3 miles from intersection of Warwoman Road and Hwy 441 in
Clayton. Detailed directions will be sent on Thursday before the
hike.
With directions on Thursday will come
suggestions of yummy gourmet treats to share, or you can surprise us! You don't have to bring a
candleabra!
Leaders:
Maureen Keating and Brenda Smith, Georgia ForestWatch Volunteers
Outing
Location:
NE Georgia, Rabun County, Chattooga River Wilderness area, Chattahoochee
National Forest
Distance and Difficulty:
This is an easy hike, 3-4 miles
total out and back
Limit: 15
Bartram Trail Section 2, Warwoman Dell to Sandy Ford Road
Date of Outing: Saturday, April 17th
This is a ridge and
gap hike along Blakeley and Rainey mountains, then on down to the Chattooga River
corridor, with good views of the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina and the
beautiful rounded foothills of South Carolina. The spring wildflowers should be abundant! We
will hike the other two Georgia sections of the Bartram Trail in
2010 on later dates.
Meeting Time, Place, and Directions:
9:30am at
Warwoman Dell. 3 miles from intersection of Warwoman Road and Hwy 441 in
Clayton. Detailed directions will be sent on Thursday before the
hike.
Leaders:
Brooks Franklin, Georgia ForestWatch Volunteer
Outing
Location:
NE Georgia, Rabun County, Chattahoochee National Forest, USGS Quadrangle:
Rainey
Mountain; Rabun Bald
Distance and Difficulty:
This hike is 9.4 miles round trip. The difficulty is moderate and we will take a 2 1/2 mile per hour pace.
Limit: 15
See below for important outing information!
