Beginners Backpacking- Mount Yonah (+Raven Cliffs Falls)

Note: While this is "Beginners Backpacking", all are welcome. The "beginner" part just means that it will not be a strenuous trip....and also that the trip leaders will be happy any answer questions before, during, and after the event about gear or general backpacking issues. The pace will be very relaxed and suitable for those who aren't used to having the extra heavy pack on their backs. 

Ok lets combine two of North GA's best trails into one fun trip.
 
We will begin by driving to Raven Cliff Falls trail for a dayhike ... heavy packs not required and can be left in the car. The trail to the "hidden" waterfall is just about 2.5 miles one way and gains about 550 feet on the way out. So 5 miles round trip and mostly downhill on the way back.  We will enjoy hiking along the creek and take a long break at Raven Cliff Falls. Some of us can try to hike up the "roots" to the top of the cliffs, but this is optional.

Then we will stop in Helen for lunch to fuel us up a bit more for the rest of the full day. From there, we will head to the Mount Yonah trailhead, just a few miles away. We will hike up the main trail, taking our time and enjoying the views on the way up. The route up is about 2.5 miles long and gains approx 1400 feet. So it is a good steady climb with a couple of moderately steep sections. But pace is everything and will be moving at a comfortable one.

We will check out "The Boulder" and then head up a side trail and around the exposed rock of the western face of the mtn. There are superb views to be had from here....Blood, Cowrock, & Tray Mtns as well as Brasstown Bald can be seen in the distance.

We'll hike up to the summit to take a break and then down just a bit to some eastern facing overlooks...you can see Rabun Bald from here and just a superb vista in general.

We will head back up to view the sunset at a rock outcropping....and then set up camp. Hopefully will be able to camp on the actual summit of Yonah (a grassy clearing surrounded by a ring of trees), but if this site is occupied there are a couple of others that we could use instead

Then we should be able to do the usual campfire thing, make dinner, and do some stargazing etc before heading to bed. Sunday morning the trip leader will get up about an hour before daylight and take any early risers over to the eastern overlook to watch the sunrise.  But we will get up and make our breakfasts and then enjoy the views a bit before breaking camp and heading down to the parking lot and then back to the carpool...we should be back by about 1pm on Sunday, if not a good bit earlier.

Please Note:
- The last 1/2 mi of the drive to the Yonah trailhead is on a gravel road.
- If rain is forecast for either day...Sat or Sun, the event will be rescheduled for a later date. It is too slippery up there on Yonah with the slick rocks, so we don't want to risk it in those conditions.