Sun, Oct 11 2009 - Summit GA's Highest Peaks: #10 - Eagle Mountain (4240') (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Tony C, Scott Looper Participants: Tony C, Scott Looper, patricia, Diem, Marshall, John Weatherman, Scott Campbell, Ray R, Sunnie

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Write Up:
We got lucky with the weather today and that allowed us to get in a superb start to the Highest Peak series.   We began with a "warmup" hike up Bell Knob and everyone was impressed with the views (see pics)...a few remarked what a great sunset spot it would be, and we plan to do that next time.

We really took our time up on Bell and just climbed all over the rocks and soaked in the views.  It was tough to leave, but we headed to Eagle Mtn where we found a tree blocking the forest service road to the trailhead. However we were only about 1/4 mile away, so we just started from there instead after we squeezed our vehicles onto the edge of the gravel/dirt road.

It was a 2 hr tough hike up Eagle...2000 feet of ascent packed in there and just a long steady climb.  But it was worth it to reach the top of one of GA's highest mtns and also one of the more obscure (undeservedly so).   We really enjoyed the sweet views from a rock outcropping just off the summit.  We took a long lunch break there and then headed down.

Our wildlife sightings today in included a box turtle, some wild turkeys, and some colorful butterflies.  We had a fun group with everyone being enthusiastic and just happy to be out on such a pretty day....we really needed this with the next few days of rain coming in, and it felt so good. 

Pics:   http://tinyurl.com/yjys5oq
Sunnie's pics:  http://picasaweb.google.com/sunnie0308/20091011BellKnobEagleMtn#

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