Cohutta Wilderness - Tearbritches trail maintenance & hike

Cooler temperatures in August are still possible if you're willing to start your morning at 4,000 feet. Join us this month on the high-elevation Tearbritches trail as we trim back vegetation to keep the trail open and safe. If we get enough volunteers participating, the tenative plan is to hike and maintain the 3.4-mile Tearbritches trail down to its confluence with the Conasauga river. After a riverside lunch and maybe a quick dip, we'll hike the 3 miles out to our shuttle vehicles via the Hickory Creek trail. The 6.4-mile hike, as described, is rated moderate.

What to Bring? Work gloves, sturdy footwear, lunch, 2 liters of water, personal meds, and a daypack to carry it in. Long pants are recommended.

Directions:

• From Chatsworth, GA, at the Hardee’s restaurant, continue on Hwy 411
  north about 5.9 miles to just past where the 4-lane turns to 2-lane, then
  turn right on Grassy St.
  -Go about 0.4 miles, cross the railroad tracks and you will come to a T-
  intersection. Turn right, go about 200 feet, then turn left onto Forest
  Road 630 (Mill Creek).
  -Travel on Forest Road 630 about 9 miles to the intersection with Forest
  Service Road #17.
  -Take a sharp right onto FS 17 and drive about 3.2 miles to the T-
  intersection.
  -Turn left onto FS 68 and go about 0.4 miles to the Tearbritches trailhead on the left (parking on the right).

• From Atlanta, take I-75 north to I-575.

• Take I-575 north to Ellijay. I-575 turns into Hwy 515/5.

• In Ellijay, go to the second traffic light at the Hardee's and turn left.

• Go to the stop sign and turn left onto Hwy 52 west.

• Stay on Hwy 52 West around the square and out of town.

• After about 9 miles, turn right onto Conasauga road, CR 299 (there is a
  green sign pointing to Lake Conasauga here) and drive about 1.5 miles.
  CR 299 runs into Forest Service road 18 just after the road turns from
  paved to gravel.

• Stay straight on Forest Service road 18 and go about 2.2 miles.

• Bear right onto FS 68, where the road forks, and travel to the top of the mountain.

• At the top of the mountain, at the T-intersection, turn left onto FS 68 and travel about 3.7 miles to the Tearbritches trailhead on the right (parking on the left).

Car pooling and caravan opportunities are available. (email Robert at RAEhiker@gmail.com or Larry at lrthomas68@gmail.com)