Location: We will meet at the Flint River Outpost (706-647-2633), west of Thomaston on Highway 36 at 8 am.  Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the outpost.  There is a shuttle fee. NOTE: Please  make your own reservations for the morning shuttle.   Hotels are nearby in Thomaston and camping is available at the Outpost and the Wildlife Management Area.

Facilities:  Restrooms are located at the Outpost and at SpruillBluffState Park.  The Outpost has a store.

Difficulty:  Easy paddling suitable for beginners, but persons must have basic canoeing or kayaking skills.

Bring: Pack a lunch and we will picnic along the river.  Sunscreen, a hat, rain jacket, and water should be brought along.  Your camera, binoculars, and maybe a hand lens are all recommended.  Bring a day pack or other bag to secure items inside your boat.

Contact:  Jerry Hightower; ph 770-206-0338, cell; 678-538-1245, office; jerry_hightower@nps.gov  or jerryhightower@hotmail.com. Reservations are required jerryhightower@hotmail.com

“Nothing in vegetable nature was more pleasing than the odoriferous, Pancratium fluitans, which alone possesses the little rocky islets just above the water.”  William Bartum, Savannah River Shoals near Augusta, ca. 1773.  We have given the Shoals Spider Lily a new Latin name, Hymenocallis coronaria, since Bartum’s travels; but this species of the fast water of fall line shoals is no less pleasingly odoriferous.

Trip Leaders: James Holland (Former Altamaha Riverkeeper), Bobby Hattaway, Linda Chafin

We will explore an area of sand hills that was under intensive silviculture management of the non-native sand pine for approximately 40 years.  This property was purchased by the state of Georgia several years ago and so far about 500 acres of sand pine have been clearcut and are being restored to longleaf pine-wire grass habitat. Amazingly, after the removal of the sand pines, native sandhill species started coming back the very first spring. There are a number of rare plant species on site such as Scurf Hoary-pea (Tephrosia chrysophylla), Trailing Milkvine (Matelea pubiflora), and Pondspice (Litsea aestivalis), along with many other species of sandhill communities, such as Maroon Sandhills Spurge (Euphorbia exserta), Dollarleaf Snout Bean (Rhynchosia reniformis), Sandhill Lupine (Lupinus villosus), Sundial Lupine (Lupinus perennis), Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum), Queen’s Delight (Stillingia sylvatica), Small-flowered Pawpaw (Asimina parviflora), and many more. For those that have never visited a sand hills site this should be a very exciting adventure.

Directions:  We will meet in Darien at the Darien Outlet Mall located at the intersection of I-95 and GA Highway 251 (Exit 49), in the parking lot of the Ruby Tuesday’s Restaurant in the outlet mall at 9:00 A.M.  From there we will consolidate into a caravan to travel to the site about 20-25 minutes away. This trip is expected to last about three hours total.

Facilities: There are no bathroom facilities on site other than the wilds.

Walking:  Should be relatively easy; the site consists of rolling hills.

Bring:  water, snacks, note books, cameras, binoculars (optional), and insect repellent. Wear some kind of head gear and dress for a warm south Georgia climate.

Contact:  Linda Chafin, LCHAFIN@UGA.EDU (706-542-6448)

Description: High altitude mountain environment. Optional short, but steep off-trail from Grassy Mountain tower to observe the state endangered starflower (Trientalis borealis) and other cove species (We will visit a week later than when we last came here, so starflower may be past.).

Directions: Allow about 1 hour from Chatsworth or Ellijay to reach Grassy Mountain.

From Chatsworth: US 411 north to Eton. Turn right at light onto CCC Camp Road (Holly Creek Rd) to FS Rd 68 toward Conasauga Lake, then left on FS Rd 49. Park at end of road.
From Ellijay: GA 52 west approximately 5 miles to Gates Chapel Rd. Turn right and follow FS Rd 90 to FS Rd 68 at Holly Creek gap, then same as above.

Walking: Moderate to strenuous (Strenuous part is the optional off-trail bit at the top.), 2 miles plus.

Facilities: Only what nature provides.

Bring: Lunch, water, bug spray. Boots and long pants recommended for optional off-trail walking.

Trip Leader:  Rich Reaves,  rich.reaves@att.net

Photos by Rich & Anita Reaves

Description: We will drive along the Forest Service roads stopping to look at flowers along the way.  There will be several short excursions form the cars, always along the road. We can expect to find several trilliums, 4-leaved milkweed (Asclepias quadrifolia), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum), lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majuscula), wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis), fire pink (Silene virginica), and much more. The last couple of years the Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) has been very nice.

Directions: Take I-575/ GA 515 north to East Ellijay to turn left on GA 52. At ~5 mi west of the square on GA 52, turn right on Gates Chapel Rd. When pavement ends, take Wilderness Trail/ FR 90 (dirt road to the right – almost straight ahead). At ~0.9 mi do not turn left at WMA sign for Pinhoti Trail. Continue 0.1 mi to Pinhoti Trail Parking on right on FS90.Carpooling is encouraged to minimize our parking footprint on the narrow unpaved roads.

Walking: Easy, probably all within 500 feet of cars. 

Facilities Only what nature provides.

Bring: Lunch, water, bug spray.

Trip Leader:  Rich Reaves,  rich.reaves@att.net

Photos by Rich & Anita Reaves

Description: This will be an exploratory walk high in the Cohutta Wilderness along the flanks and near the crest of Cowpen Mountain (4,151 feet).  We should see sweet azalea (Rhododenron arboreum) and flame azalea (R. calendulaceum) in flower.  We will walk, approximately, to the intersection with the Panther Creek Trail and back, exploring anything interesting that we come across.

Directions:  From Ellijay: GA 52 west approximately 5 miles to Gates Chapel Rd. Turn right and follow FS Rd 90 to FS Rd 68 at Holly Creek Gap.  Turn right onto FS 68 and continue ‘up’ until you come to the 3-way intersection at Potato Patch Mountain.  Turn right onto FS 64 and proceed 5 miles to the East Cowpen Trailhead.

Walking: Moderate to strenuous, but at a slow pace.  Distance will be about 4 miles round-trip.

Facilities: Strategically placed boulders, trees, and shrubs.

Bring: Lunch, water, hand lens, tick mediation, curiosity.  This is a great place to see and hear a variety of warblers and vireos, so a pair of binoculars might come in handy.

Trip Leader: Hal Massie, massiefarm@aol.com 478-957-6095 (cell phone reception at East Cowpens is almost negligible)

Field Trip Leader:  Eddi Minche

Description:   This outing ambles along the Kimsey Creek Trail which is a wonderfully varied path that follows  creeks, crosses a meadow and  has a variety of wildflowers, even in June.   The path is mostly shady and with the exception of one steep climb at the beginning, quite a moderate walk.    The path ends at the Appalachian Trail just below Standing Indian.  The distance is 3.7 to that point but we may decide to turn around for the return before that point.

Location and Directions:  Standing  Indian Campground, west of Franklin, NC

Go north on Hwy 441 to Franklin, NC.  Go west on Hwy 64 for apx 12 miles.  Turn left on Old Hwy 64 (sign for Standing Indian at intersection).  Go apx 3 miles, turn right on FS 67 (sign for Standing Indian Campground).  Take left fork at sign – Backcountry Information Center.  Meet at bulletin board.

Bring:  rain gear, water, lunch, personal items.  Boots recommended, depending on weather,  trail probably muddy, wet feet a strong possibility.  Walking is moderate overall, but  we are, after all, in the mountains.

Contact:  Eddi Minche, eddmin@gmail.com   Phone:  678-313-2582.  Cell phone coverage day of outing iffy.

Meet: 10:00 at the parking area for the AT at Hogpen Gap on the Richard Russell Scenic Highway.

Description:  We will first hike up to the crest of Wildcat Ridge and examine rock outcrop communities and a dwarf oak – purple rhododendron woodland, taking in spectacular views of the Southern Blue Ridge. We will then use the AT to climb to the summit of Cowrock Mountain and look at a basic cedar woodland and additional outcrops. The purple rhododendron may still be in bloom. We also should see fameflower (Talinum teretifolium – now treated as Phemeranthus), crag-jangle (Heuchera villosa), wafer-ash (Ptelea trifoliata), mountain dwarf-dandelion (Krigia montana), and creeping aster (Eurybia surculosa). We will also pass through a rich mesic oak – hickory forest and see some nutrient-demanding herbaceous species.

Directions:  From Helen: take Hwy 75-A south to its junction with the Richard Russell Scenic Highway (GA 348) and go north to the highest point (about 6.5 miles) where the AT crosses and there is a large parking area and kiosk. From Blairsville: go south on US Hwy 19-129 about 7.5 miles to its junction with GA 180, and turn left, then go about 0.9 mile east to the northern end of Richard Russell Scenic Hwy (GA Hwy 348), then turn right and follow Hwy 348 to Hog Pen Gap, the highest point on the highway and look for parking area and kiosk on left (about 6.8 miles). You can also reach the Richard Russell Hwy from Cleveland or Dahlonega.

Bathroom Facilities: none

Walking Difficulty: This hike is moderately strenuous and will involve a walk of about 4 miles, and climbs of about 800 feet in elevation twice.

Bring: Lunch, snacks, and water. Remember to dress for the weather and wear comfortable hiking shoes. You may wish to bring hiking poles, binoculars, hand lens, notebook, and camera.

Contact: Tom Govus (H) 706-276

Meet: 10:00 AM 

Field Trip Leader:  Bobby Hattaway

Description: The Big Hammock Natural Area, acquired by the state in 1972, includes an ancient sand dune system adjacent to the Altamaha River floodplain. Our trip will follow a 1.3 mile trail through several different plant communities that are controlled by available water and fire. Among other interesting plants, we will see Georgia plume (Elliottia racemosa), possibly in flower, and myrtle oak (Quercus myrtifolia), a disjunct population of a Florida species. More info is at:  http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/2658

Location and Directions:  Big Hammock Natural Area is located 12 miles SW of Glennville. From Glennville, take GA Hwy 144 for about 6 miles to an intersection known as five points. At the stop sign, veer to the left and continue (still on GA 144) for about another 3.5 miles to Mack Phillips Rd. Take a left onto that road and travel 1.8 miles to the parking area on the right. This is the location of the trail head.

Meet At:  At Big Hammock Natural Area trailhead off Mack Phillips Road.

Bathroom Facilities: None at the natural area. You may want to stop in Glennville.

 Walking Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Bring:  Lunch, snacks, and water. Insect repellent and tick spray are also advisable. Good walking shoes, long pants, and a hat would also be appropriate. We should be in the shade most of the time.

Contact:  Bobby Hattaway at 912-653-2228 (home) or 912-481-3011 (cell) on the day of trip (but no guarantee of coverage in the boonies). Email <botanikman@g-net.net>

Trip Leader:  Tom Patrick

Description: On this trip to Oaky Woods,  we will look at the butterflies and midsummer wildflowers on our largest examples of blackland prairies or Georgia Eocene chalk prairies, as they are sometimes called.  We will have a butterfly expert and will spend the morning on as many prairies as possible.  After lunch at our vehicles, we will take a 2-mile easy walk to the Grand Prairie to continue our butterfly and wildlfower hunt.  Depending on summer rains, the prairies may be full of yellow prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) and have assorted milkweeds, legumes and composites.  Be prepared to see some neat plant-insect interactions. 

Directions: Meet in Bonaire northeast corner gas station/Taco Bell at the intersection of GA Hwy. 96 and US Hwy. 129. Take Exit 142 east from I-75, or travel south 5 miles from Warner Robins on US Hwy. 129.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate, on roadsides and following trails.

Facilities: Meeting place has ample facilities. None on site.

Bring: Lunch or snacks, tick repellent, easy walking shoes or hiking boots, with two pair of socks.  Bring hand lens and butterfly binoculars.

Contact: Tom Patrick,  tom.patrick@dnr.state.ga.us   (706) 476-4541 (cell)