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Northeast Georgia HikingNew & Old Friends Who Like to Hike

March 18, 2014

Appalachian Trail - Chattahoochee Gap - Jack's Knob Trail - GA

Today's hike was on the Appalachian Trail and the Jacks Knob Trail near Brasstown Bald, GA hiking beyond Chattahoochee Gap by about 2.4 miles. Total round trip of 9.3 miles

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. 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

Conditions

Temperatures ranging from 36 to 55 degrees F.

Hikers (11)

  • Phil Brownrigg
  • Pam Euliss
  • Stephen Gales
  • David Hinson
  • Dick Metzgar
  • Dave Norton
  • Mary Lu Norton
  • Don Preece
  • Tony Presley
  • Vic Robson
  • Carole Wintle

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

Photos (16)

  • The Jack's Knob trailhead is located at the intersection of hwy. 180 and the Brasstown Bald turn-off.
  • Getting ready to tackle the Jack's Knob Trail up to the A.T.
  • Don attended a St. Patrick's Day party last night!
  • Headed up the steep Jack's Knob Trail.
  • Beautiful photo captured near the start by Dave Hinson!
  • Trail sign near the start.
  • The sky is blue and giving great mountain views!
  • Then the fog rolled in!
  • We join the Appalachian Trail at Chattahoochee Gap.
  • Headed southward for a little over 2 miles, we meet 29 thru-hikers headed north. They all seemed very happy as they are about 46 miles into their 2,000+ mile hike!
  • More smiles!
  • Happy, Happy, Happy!
  • In all, We met hikers from Austria, Switzerland, Germany and the states of FL, NC, TN, Washington, DC. NJ, OH, CT, RI, MA and NH.
  • Three more young ladies from the Boston area stopped by for a chat at our lunch spot.
  • After the sun came out, we found this nice Ratsnake basking.
  • The OFHC gang for today's hike. Vic Robson, "Angus" the trail dog, Stephen Gales, Mary Lu Norton, Dave Norton, Dave Hinson, Carole Wintle, Don Preece, Dick Metzgar, Pam Euliss, Phil Brownrigg and Tony Presley.