March 31, 2015
Appalachian Trail Gooch Gap - Cooper Gap, GA
Today, we hiked the Appalachian Trail southward from Gooch Gap to the rock cliff overlooking Cooper Gap and back. We met 51 thru-hikers on their way to Maine. 27 states and three foreign countries were represented - Michigan, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Missouri, Colorado, Oregon, Texas, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Australia, Germany, and Canada
Trail information
This portion of the Appalachian Trail is in excellent shape and offers very nice mountain views along the way. The terrain is mountainous and includes a couple of nice mountain streams. Over-all difficulty rating is moderately strenuous. Total round trip hiking distance today - 9+ miles
Directions
Take Hwy. 129 N from Cleveland, GA for about 15 mi. then turn left at Turner's Corner and travel several miles to Hwy 60 (rock pile) turn right and drive past the top of the mountain and the A.T. crossing continuiing to the bottom. Turn left onto Cooper Gap Road which becomes a gravel Forest Service Rd. 42 and continue 2.7 miles to Gooch Gap. Another great day for a hike! WILD
Conditions
Fair with temperatures ranging from 58 to 68 degrees F.
Hikers (15)
- Suzanne Belflower
- John Bellamy
- June Bellamy
- Karen Brown
- Joe Collins
- Pam Euliss
- Tim Hale
- Bill Hunt
- Bob Magee
- Dick Metzgar
- Trushna Nadig
- Jeanne O'Connor
- Tony Presley
- Jack Wintle
- Carole Wintle
Flowers in bloom
Cut-leaf Toothwort, Round-leaved Yellow Violet, Halberd-Leaved Violet, Purple Violet and Bloodroot
Birds identified
Chestnut-sided Warbler, Goldfinch, Towhee, Cardinal, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Chickadee, Junco, Tufted Titmouse
Photos (14)
Parking at Gooch Gap on Cooper Gap Rd. Our destination today. Early on, we start to meet thru-hikers on their way to Maine. 51 today from 27 states and three foreign countries! Nature continues to amaze us! Early springtime wildflowers are blooming! Bloodroot Another great day for a hike! Cut-leaf Toothwort Beautiful views just above Cooper Gap! Lunchtime at the rock ledges above Cooper Gap. Another great view! Round-leaved Yellow Violets . Another beautful hike on the Appalachian Trail! The OFHC gang for today's hike. (l-r) Tony Presley, Pam Euliss, Joe Collins,Karen Brown, Tim Hale, Trushna Nadig, Dick Metzgar, John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Jeanne O'Connor, Suzanne Belflower Bob Magee, Bill Hunt, Jack Wintle and Carole Wintle.