October 28, 2003
Freeman Trail-Blood Mtn. - GA
Trail information
Our hike today began at the Byron Herbert Reese parking lot just past Neel's Gap on Hwy 129 / 19 North of Cleveland, GA. We hiked a loop from Byron Reese to the Freeman Trail to Bird Gap on up to Slaughter Gap and Blood Mountain and back down to Herbert Reese. Distance about 8 mi. Another beautiful hiking day! Partly to mostly cloudy 45-62 degrees F. Great views from the highest peak on the GA portion of the Appalachian Trail (Blood Mtn.)! Wildflowers viewed - Closed Gentian, White Snakeroot, Wood Asters, Phlox, Heal-All, Yellow Cone-Flower. Fauna identified - Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Winter Wren, Raven, Black Shinned Salamander
Hikers (12)
- John Bellamy
- Jack Jacobi
- Steve Jordan
- Wayne Miller
- Bob Presley
- Tony Presley
- Dan Ross
- Gerald Shedd
- Bob Slack
- Jack Slaton
- Bob Thompson
- David Whitaker
Photos (9)
The view from the trail junction of the Freeman Trail and The Appalachian Trail. The Freeman Loop Trail to Bird Gap. The clouds were settled into the valleys for some awesome views! The Blood Mtn. Shelter (built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps). Every direction gave magnificent views (even on a cloudy day). Another nice view! We met a nice group of 5th graders from Woodward Academy (51 hiked to the summit of Blood Mtn.!) This portion of the A.T. features very large boulders all along the trail. The OFHC gang at the top of Blood Mtn. (front kneeling) David Whitaker, and Gerald Shedd. (back l-r) Bob Slack, Jack Slaton, John Bellamy, Bob Thompson, Dan Ross, Steve Jordan, Wayne Miller, Bob Presley, Jack Jacobi, and Tony Presley.