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Blood Mountain via Byron Reece, Slaughter Creek and Freeman Trails




The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: near Vogel State Park   Hike: Blood Mountain via Byron Reece, Slaughter Creek and Freeman Trails  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Mar 19 2022  8:45 am >> Sat, Mar 19 2022 1:45 pm  (Carpool Departure: 7:00 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Thu, Mar 10 2022 6:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, Mar 18 2022 5:00 pm
Event Duration:5 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D4: Moderate to Difficult
Distance:9 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Lisa
Greg Pharo
Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.
Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:10
Minimum Group Size:3
Number Registered So Far: 4 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

This fun hike adds a new twist to exploring Blood Mountain, one of Georgia's most iconic experiences. We'll go up, down and around the mountain to enjoy a variety of both well-known and lesser-seen sites.

At 4,458 feet elevation Blood Mountain is Georgia’s sixth tallest mountain and the highest point on the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail. This rugged wilderness offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains from several large rock outcroppings. Our route will also take us past spring-fed mountain creeks and through beautiful forests. 

We'll start with a short uphill climb on the Byron Reece Trail to its junction with the Appalachian Trail and Freeman Trail. Turning southbound onto the AT, we will ascend Blood Mountain, stopping to enjoy some beautiful overlooks along the way. At the summit we'll pause to admire the old rock cabin and experience epic long-range views from atop nearby boulders. Continuing along the AT, we will pass the intersection with the Duncan Ridge Trail and then turn onto Slaughter Creek Trail. This will give us good views of the creek as we descend to a small campsite area before heading back up to the AT. We'll then continue a short distance until we reach the Woods Hole spur trail, where we'll take a short detour to visit the only log shelter on the Georgia AT - and enjoy a lunch/ snack break. We'll then find our way to the AT/Freeman Trail junction and wind around Blood Mountain on Freeman until we arrive back at Byron Reece and head down to the trailhead where we started. Total distance will be about 8.8 miles, with approximately 2,300 feet elevation gain. 

This is a challenging D4 mountain trek. You'll need to have recent D4 or equivalent hiking experience and be comfortable moving at a moderate pace of 2.5 mph.


Required Items to Bring:

Hiking footwear/boots

Day pack

At least 1 liter of water

Lunch/snack

Rain jacket

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Hat

Hiking poles


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

We'll begin at the Byron Reece Memorial trailhead parking lot on US-19 just north of Mountain Crossing. Parking space is limited, so please arrive at least 10 minutes early to ensure that you have time to park. Here is a link to the location on Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Byron+Reece+trailhead+parking/

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):64Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 7:00 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $25.60 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.