Georgia Wilderness Society
North Georgia Mountains #1
November 7-10, 2024
The next day we traveled south to the Springer Mountain trailhead located six miles up Forest Service Road 42. Though the peak of color had passed, we were still able to enjoy some color in the trees, lots of earth tones…yellow, gold, brown, copper and tan with a little red here and there. We split into two groups. One group hiked to the Springer summit, then looped around on the Benton MacKaye Trail back to the parking area. The other group hiked toward Maine (!), i.e., north, for a few miles to Stover Creek, then back to the parking area.
The Springer group stopped for lunch with a beautiful view at the Owen Vista, named for George Owen, who oversaw the layout and construction of the Benton MacKaye Trail in Georgia and served as president of the BMT Association in its early years. Mr. Owen was also very involved with the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. Well, it just so happened that our Springer group was in luck! THE George Owen, now in his 80’s, was there at the overlook leading a group of hikers. What an inspiration he is! The rest of our group was able to meet Mr. Owen as everyone ended up in the parking area at the same time. Pizza and beer were enjoyed afterward at Burra Burra on the River back in McCaysville. Some of us couldn’t resist visiting Happy Bear Ice Cream & Treats.
On Saturday, we traveled into Tennessee to the Tanasi Trail system at the Ocoee River. This was the site of the 1996 Olympic Whitewater Rafting competition. After hiking the Bear Paw and the Rhododendron trails, where Gary hiked so hard that his boot came apart, we headed farther north to Buck Bald Mountain.
Jane hosted a delicious breakfast spread for everyone at her cabin on Sunday morning. We all headed home as the rain began.
Perfect Fall weather greeted us as we gathered in North Georgia on Thursday, November 7, for the Blue Ridge hiking trip. Some of us stayed at Jane Giddens's cabin outside of McCaysville. Others stayed at Morganton Point Campground on Lake Blue Ridge. We started off with a cookout hosted by Connie and David Crumbley at their campsite. David is a master griller and campfire expert.
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Bonnie going for the
shot. . .
. . . and the result!
We drove to the top of Buck Bald where we had lunch and took in the 360° view of the surrounding mountains of Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Shopping in “downtown” McCaysville was next and a stop at the Copperhill Brewery for some relaxation. Supper was three miles away at Rod’s Rockin’ Rolls in Ducktown, TN.
Jason Clemmons, previously of Viewfinders (GPB), and owner of Sunrise Grocery, south of Blairsville on US129.
Bonnie and a friend at Farm 441 at Thomas Orchards, Bishop GA, south of Athens.
Rebeca, TN or GA?
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Participants were Connie & David Crumbley, Bonnie Gehling, Gary Harwell, Rebeca Quintana, Shirley Williams, trip leaders Jane Giddens & Margaret Clay, and Bella, the dog.
