Summer Solstice Sunset at Mount Yonah

This another in the Summit Sunset Series where we will enjoy sunsets from some of the finest scenic viewpoints in GA...all on or near mountain peaks.  If you've never had this experience, you don't know what you're missing, so time to find out...

The summer solstice this year is on Monday June 21 at 7:29 AM..so this will actually be the sunset that is closest to it, timewise...and therefore will be the farthest north that the sun sets all year...at least I think it works out this way.

We were just up on Yonah on June 11 and watched the sun drop behind the southern slopes of Blood Mtn (see pic above), so it should be interesting to see how much further North it sets on this occasion.

We often do this hike as a D4, but making it D3 this time and just going at a slower pace.   It is only 2 1/2 miles on the way up...gains about 1500 feet. but if you take it slow, it is a solid D3.

The drive to Yonah is only about 65 miles...very reasonable.  We will stop a couple of times as we get close to take some pics and maybe get a group shot in front of Chambers Lake.  Then we will hit the trail and enjoy a nice overlook about 1/3 of the way up.   We'll also check out "The Boulder" and take a side trip to the climbing wall, if the rockface isn't wet.   We will work our way up the side of the mtn, and the views become more and more expansive as we get higher and higher...

We will take a long break at a rock outcropping for anyone who would like a shot at this very photogenic spot (see pic below).  We then head to the summit, a peaceful clearing surrounded by a ring of trees.   We will take our "lunch break" on a South facing overlook with a superb view of neighboring Pink Mtn...another good photo op here.  Then we head to a western overlook to watch the sunset, which is at 8:51 PM

We will start heading down within 30 min of the sunset.   We will definitely end up in the dark, so bring a headlamp or flashlight.  It shouldn't take us more than about 45 min to get back to the cars and head home.  

Total distance should be about 4.5 miles...about 1500' of total ascent.  Remember the slower pace is what makes this a D3...however...the way up to the climbing wall involves somewhat steep terrain...there are some steel cables to grip onto if you need to.  But it's not that difficult, and if anyone doesn't feel comfortable, they could just take a break and wait there for a few min until we come back down...but usually there are no problems.