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Blood Mountain

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Topo map
  
USGS Neel Gap

Elevation
  
1,359 m

Mountain range
  
Blue Ridge Mountains

First ascent
  
unknown

Prominence
  
451 m

Parent range
  
Blue Ridge Mountains

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Easiest route
  
Appalachian Trail, other trails

Similar
  
Springer Mountain, Brasstown Bald, Tray Mountain, Yonah Mountain, Slaughter Mountain

Blood mountain hike on the appalachian trail in north georgia


Blood Mountain is the highest peak on the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail and the sixth-tallest mountain in Georgia, with an elevation of 4,458 feet (1,359 m). It is located on the border of Lumpkin County with Union County and is within the boundaries of the Chattahoochee National Forest and the Blood Mountain Wilderness. There are several waterfalls, hiking trails and other recreational areas in the vicinity.

Contents

Map of Blood Mountain, Georgia 30512, USA

Blood Mountain is the high point of the Apalachicola River watershed via the Chattahoochee River, making the mountain the highest point of any land draining ultimately to the state of Florida.

Blood mountain drone video


HistoryEdit

There are various theories on the origin of the mountain's name. Some believe that the name of the mountain comes from a bloody battle between the Cherokee and Creek Indians. Some people believe that it got its name from the reddish color of the lichen and Catawba growing near the summit.

The mountain drew media attention in January 2008 when 24-year-old hiker Meredith Emerson went missing from a nearby trail. Her body was later recovered some distance away. Authorities arrested Gary Hilton on charges of murdering Emerson. On January 31 Hilton pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.

Hiking and recreationEdit

This peak has scenic views from the large rock formations that top the mountain. There is a hiker's shelter at the top of the mountain maintained by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, and at the bottom of the eastern side of the mountain is a hostel and store (at Neel Gap, where the Appalachian Trail intersects U.S. Highway 19/129) at the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center. The summit shelter is a two-room stone cabin which was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1934 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in January 2013. The Walasi-Yi Center started out as log cabin constructed in the early 20th century by a logging company. It was renovated and expanded by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933-38 into a larger stone building. The Center now houses a store; its breezeway is the only place the Appalachian Trail passes through a man-made structure.

There is a short (2 mile) but steep (1,800 foot elevation gain) approach trail to the top of the mountain from a parking area to the immediate north of the Walasi-Yi Center. This hike affords spectacular views as one approaches the summit but the final 1.5 miles (2.4 km), past the Flatrock Gap intersection with the Byron Reece Trail, is fraught with switchbacks. It is perhaps the most hiked segment of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. Another approach is from the other side at Lake Winfield Scott via the Slaughter Creek Trail. This approach, which is easier to hike, has excellent campsites and abundant sources of treatable water.

Adjacent to the mountain are several boulder fields and stands of northern hardwoods and large buckeyes. Portions of the area were previously logged and now sport fast-growing tulip poplar.

Near Blood Mountain are DeSoto Falls Scenic Recreation Area and campground, Vogel State Park and Sosebee Cove Scenic Area. All are accessible from Blood Mountain by trail and road.

References

Blood Mountain Wikipedia