Wed, Oct 21 2020 - Pine Mountain and Coopers Furnace (New Longer Route including Secret Trail) (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Holt Ward Participants: Holt Ward, Jennifer W, Paul Black, Shirley N, Linda H, Dan C, Janet G, Mary Reed, Neil, Marlene

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A spectatular day for our hike at Pine Mountain and Coopers Furnace.  We started up from the West Loop trailhead, climbing to the summit of Pine Mountain and the David Archer overlook.  We took a brief break and took in the fantastic views before descending down a little use trail that descends all the way from the summit down to the Etowah River.  Before reaching the river, we passed through Hurricane Hollow area where mining operations occured back in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  

Next we proceeded to Coopers Furnace before heading up to the Laurel Ridge trail.  We took a brief lunch break along the trail before descending the Coopers Furnace trail.  We took a relatively new connector trail to reach the East Loop and began our climb to the summit of Pine Mountain for a second time.  Then back down the west loop, reaching our cars and the end of our hike.  We logged in almost 10 miles and about 2000 feet of elevation gain on our hike. ~ Holt