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6/21/2018 4:30 PM
Announcements
• Only motorized vehicles that are licensed and legal for use on public highways in the state of Georgia may be operated on Forest Service roads. Motorized vehicles are NOT allowed on trails or closed roads unless posted.
• Some trails are restricted for a certain type of use. Motorcycles, bicycles, equestrians and others should be sure they remain on designated trails marked specifically for their use. All trails are open to hikers. Trail users should be aware of increased pedestrian use and exercise proper trail etiquette in sharing trails.
• The Jake and Bull Mountain Trail System remains open to public use. These trails are NOT open to motorcycles or other motorized vehicles.
• Alternative Forest Service recreation areas are the Aska Trail System in Fannin County (hiking and mountain biking); the Frady Branch Trail System in Stephens County (horse, bike, and hiking); and the Lake Russell Recreation Area in Habersham County (hiking and mountain biking).
• During the temporary closure of FSR77, Springer Mountain trailhead can be accessed using the Appalachian Trail Approach Trail beginning at Amicalola Falls State Park, or by Doublehead Gap Road onto FSR42.
• Visitors wanting to access Long Creek Falls should take Forest Service Road 58 to the Three Forks trail head for the duration of the time Forest Service Road 77 is closed.
• Don’t move the rocks! It is illegal to move rocks in Georgia streams. Rocks in Southern Appalachian streams and rivers provide homes for hellbenders, a rare species of giant salamander. Once a nest rock is moved, hellbenders will never use that site again. Help us protect this awesome species! bit.ly/SaveTheHellbenders
• The Rainbow Family of Living Light has chosen a site on the Chattahoochee National Forest for its 2018 national gathering. The gathering will coincide with the Fourth of July holiday, and participants have been steadily arriving since Tuesday June 12. The forest will experience the highest concentration of visitors during the first week of July. They selected an area near Bull Mountain, just outside the community of Nimblewill, for their gathering.
FAQs
What resource impacts may occur?
Possible resource impacts include: compacted soil, water quality degradation, sanitation issues, disturbance to sensitive archaeological sites, disruptions to threatened and endangered plant and animal species, and fire danger.
When does the National Gathering begin?
There will be a continual build-up of Rainbow Family members reaching 2,000-10,000 people by July 4.
When does the gathering end?
The gathering peaks on July 4. After that, there is a drastic reduction in attendance. However, there is a group of gathering attendees that stay to clean up and rehabilitate the site. There may be other people as well that remain for a couple weeks.
How does a large group, potentially 2,000 to 10,000 people, live in the woods?
As soon as Rainbow Family members select a site, they set up a welcome area, camping and social areas, parking and shuttle areas, health care areas, and several outdoor kitchens. They develop water sources and dig trench latrines. There is no fee for attendance, but they collect donations for food and other necessary items for distribution. They designate special areas for group gatherings, families with children, men, women, and partygoers, to name a few. Attendees are advised to bring their own camping gear. Family members use campfires exclusively to cook on.
Safety Tip for Visitors
Ticks are out in the forest waiting for a chance to attach to a host (you and your pets) and feed on your blood. Ticks can carry a variety of diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, disease cases from ticks have doubled since 2004. Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness and Lyme disease are two of the known diseases spread by ticks. Some diseases, such as Lyme disease, also affect pets.
Avoid tall grass and brush. Stay on trails where the chance of picking up ticks is less likely. Routinely check your hair and body for ticks. To remove at tick, follow the advice at https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html.
#KnowBeforeYouGo what to look for and how to respond. Learn more about Outdoor Safety including how to identify and stay safe around ticks bit.ly/ChattahoocheeOutdoorSafety
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