| Blood Mountain | |
|---|---|
Blood Mountain, as seen from Vogel State Park |
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| Elevation | 4,458 ft (1,359 m) |
| Location | |
| Location | Lumpkin / Union counties, Georgia, USA |
| Range | Blue Ridge Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Neel Gap |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | unknown |
| Easiest route | Appalachian Trail, other trails |
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).[1][2] 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.
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Two Indian tribes resided in North Georgia in the 16th century. By the late 17th century the Cherokee and Creek began to compete for resources and fought a battle on the mountain near Slaughter Gap. The Creek lost, ceding Blood Mountain to the Cherokee, who considered it a holy place. Archaeological evidence has been discovered that tends to back the story of the battle, but the date of the battle and its participants are still hotly disputed.
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. Others believe that the name is based on the color of the lichen and Catawba rhododendron growing near the rocky summit.[2]
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.[3] Authorities arrested Gary Hilton on charges of murdering Emerson.[4] On January 31 Hilton pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.[5]
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 is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, but is not currently on it. 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.[6] The Center now houses a store; its breezeway is the only place the Appalachian Trail passes through a man-made structure.[6]
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.[7] 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 boulderfields 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.