Murfreesboro TTA Georgia trip

Blairsville, Georgia

November 17-21, 2025

We had 11 participants on our trip to Blairsville, Georgia for camping and hiking. We had people staying in cabins at Vogel State Park and in a house outside the park. The first day we started with a hike in the park around Lake Trahlyta and a side trip to Trahlyta Falls. After that some of us hiked the Bear Hair Gap Trail inside the park.

On the second day we all met up at the Byron Reece Trailhead. They were searching for a missing hiker so there were a lot of people at the trail. We hiked up to the AT and took that up to the top of Blood Mountain to the shelter. We returned the same way. Jay brought his support chicken. That night we all joined up at the rental house for a wonderful meal prepared by Lynn and Tim Rosser. Then we had a campfire where Lynn and Tim made smores for everyone.

Day Three: A couple of options today. We all met up at Desoto Falls to hike the upper and lower falls. After that some went to Brasstown Bald and some of us hiked Raven Cliffs Falls. Sue made a wonderful dinner that night.

Day Four: Some of us met and hiked Duke Creek Falls and Helton Creek Falls; some went to the Gold Mining Museum, and that afternoon some went to Brasstown Bald, and others hiked the Coosa Trail in Vogel SP. Jay made a wonderful dinner that night. 

Participants were Jay Brain, Geoff Hull, Patty Hull, Sue Hulit, Craig McBride, Lora McBride, Sara Pollard, Lynn Rosser, Tim Rosser; and Misty Fell and Sheila Miller from the Plateau chapter.

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Pogue Creek Canyon to Pickett TTA

 

Mark Hubbard planned this great hike that is evidently very popular with this group. 22 hikers met at Arch Lake at Pickett to shuttle cars to Pogue, and a couple to Black House Mountain Rd for a shorter hike option. It was a cool start, but warmed up nicely. We broke into two groups, Mark leading half the hikers and Joan leading the other half. Pogue Creek Canyon is always beautiful no matter the season. The views into the canyon are awesome. It was about a 7 mile hike or more depending on whose GPS you belived. Hikers were from Nashville, Murfreesboro, Highland Rim, Columbia Franklin, and Memphis Chapters.

Mark Hubbard, Amy Sutton, Cheryl Smith, Zari, Lori, Deb Owens, Cindy Clark, Debbie Dodd, Gloria Dale Williams, Jay Brain, Jean Breuer, Jim Barrit, Joan Hartvigsen, Karen Jones, Kathryn Lofton, Kathy Woods, Marietta Poteet, Sara Pollard, Sarah Lovett, Scott Jordan, Todd Stanley, Wendy Fish, Lora McBride, Gorgeanne Ross. Old friends and new ones!

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Longfield Branch Trail BSF

 

Cheryl led 5 of us on a snowy hike at Big South Fork. Had a couple of creek crossings, we took our time and didn't get wet feet. One couple had family connection in the area of Rance Boyatt Farm and grave site. We found frost flowers all over the farm area, always excited to see these. Back across the creek, onward to Maude's Crack. We all made it up thanks to the rope someone has left there to help you scramble up or down. 

Hikers: Cheryl Smith, Zary Rahimi, Lori Olinger, Gayron and Marla Franklin, and Lora

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Abrams Creek Backpack

The original plan was to leave Sunday afternoon and campout at Campsite #1. Rain came in so we left Monday morning and camped at Campsite #2.

We started at Abrams Creek campground and hiked Coopers Road trail to Little Bottoms trail. We ate lunch at campsite #17. We came across a lot of bear scat along the trails. We then took Hatcher Mountain trail back to Cooper Road trail down to Cane Creek trail to campsite #2. It had been overcast the whole day, but cleared up at night so we could see the full moon and stars. We were entertained by a couple of owls that night. Even with the damp wood we had a nice campfire and kept Lora warm. 

Tuesday morning we woke up to a Screech Owl saying it was time to get up. We enjoyed breakfast at the campfire and watched the sun come up over the mountain. We hiked back to Cooper Road trail and out to the car. 

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