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Hiking


The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: Rescheduled! Lake Winfield Scott to Blood Mountain
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Jan 14 2005  9:00 am >> N/A
Registration Opens: Mon, Jan 1 2007 12:00 am
Registration Cut Off: Wed, Jan 12 2005 11:59 pm
Event Duration:per itinerary
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult
Trip Leader(s):
Bo Slaughter
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 1 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
Moderate to Strenuous 7.5 Mile Hike

We will hike the 1 mile Jarrard Gap Trail from the lake to where it intersects with the Appalachian Trail. We will then take the Appalachian Trail east 3 miles to the summit of Blood Mountain. After eating lunch and enjoying the view, we will hike back down the Appalachian Trail until we reach the Slaughter Gap Trail which will take us 2 ½ miles back to Lake Winfield Scott. Total mileage just about 6.6 miles.

Details
Stuff yourself a little TOO much for Thanksgiving? Need to hike off a few calories??

We will begin our hike at Lake Winfield Scott, named after a famous US Army General who served as the Army chief for over 40 years and ran for President in 1852. He was known for being a stickler to the rules and for wearing extremely gaudy uniforms and was therefore nicknamed “Old Fuss and Feathers”.

We will be hiking around 3 miles of the Appalachian Trail. The AT is the grandpappy of all long distance hiking trails. Completed in 1937 it runs 2,175 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. For those who have never hiked it before you can proudly tell your friends afterwards that youve completed 0.0014% of it!

On the hike to Blood Mountain we will cross over Gaddis Mountain (3520) and Turkey Stamp (3780) before nearing Slaughter Gap.

Long before Europeans arrived in Georgia the mountains were fought over between the Cherokee and Creek Indians. Slaughter Gap is the site of one of the most ferocious battles between these foes. This battle gave this area its cool but terrible sounding names.

Blood Mountain itself was considered to be sacred by both the Cherokee and the Creeks. It was believed to be the home of the Nunnehi, a spirit people that assisted hunters and hikers in distress. Hopefully we wont need them.

Blood Mountain at 4,461 feet is the 6th highest mountain in Georgia and the highest on the Appalachian Trail. The views are spectacular. On a clear day you can see the Atlanta skyscrapers over 70 miles away!

At the summit sits an historic stone shelter which was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) during the Great Depression for AT hikers. Next to it is “Picnic Rock”, a giant boulder perfect for sitting on and eating lunch!

After lunch we head back down the AT but instead of retracing our path completely, well turn off onto the Slaughter Creek Trail which will take us a slightly different way back to the parking lot.

This event should occur rain or shine unless the weather gets particularly nasty. We can eat in the shelter if it is raining.

Required Items to Bring:
Hiking Shoes
Appropriate clothing for the weather
Water
Lunch
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:Chattahoochee National Forest 9:30am, Lake Winfield Scott Take Ga400 / US19 north until Ga400 ends and US19 turns left. Follow US19 for approximately 15 miles, passing through Dahlonega, until you reach Stonepile Gap where you will turn left onto Hwy60 towards Suches. Travel appoximately 7 ½ miles and turn right onto Wolfpen Gap Rd. Lake Winfield Scott is approximately 5 miles on the right. Look for signs. Once youve paid the fee there is a parking lot just as you enter.

Notes:

Are Dogs Permitted? No.

Will this event occur rain or shine? Yes, unless extreme conditions are forecast.

NOTE: Please be considerate of others. If you sign-up and cannot attend, please e-mail the trip leader, so others that may be on a waiting list may attend.

E-mail the trip leader to be put on a waiting list if the trip is at the max number of attendees.
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:Split the cost of gasoline for the drivers.

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