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6/20/2018 7:12 PM
Announcements
• Correction: contrary to previous Daily Updates, Chestatee Regional Hospital in Dahlonega, Ga. is not closing on June 30, 2018. The Forest Service regrets the error and confusion.
• 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.
• The Jake and Bull Mountain Trail System remains open to public use. Trail users should be aware of increased pedestrian use and exercise proper trail etiquette in sharing these multiple use trails.
• Alternative Forest Service recreation areas are provided at the Aska Trail System in Fannin County (hiking and mountain biking); at the Frady Branch Trail System in Stephens County (horse, bike, and hiking); and at the Lake Russell Recreation Area in Habersham County (hiking).
• During the temporary closure of FS77, Springer Mountain trailhead can be accessed using the Appalachian Trail Approach Trail beginning at Amicalola Falls State Park, or by Doublehead Gap Road onto FS42.
• 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?
Within one week of the spring council about 1,000-2,000 attendees arrive on site. There will be a continual build-up of Rainbow Family members reaching 2,000-10,000 people by July 4. Once the site is determined, the Rainbow Family will utilize the internet and other communication methods to let Rainbow Family members know the location and directions to the site.
When does the gathering end?
The event 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
Snakes
Am I safe on the trail? Are there snakes in the forest? Exercise the same caution you would anywhere else. On some isolated trails, help may be far away.
The state of Georgia has among the highest biodiversity of snakes in the United States with 46 species. Lumpkin County has two venomous varieties: the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake.
Copperheads are medium-sized snakes which reach a maximum length of about 4.5 feet, but most are under 3 feet and can be found in most forested habitats, but are particularly common on rocky wooded hillsides and in leaf litter near mountain streams. Timber rattlesnakes are large and heavy-bodied, reaching a maximum length of about 5 feet in the mountains, but most range from 3-5 feet in length. Timber rattlesnakes are most commonly found near suitable denning sites, including root and stump holes, mammal burrows, old home sites and debris piles, and rock crevices.
#KnowBeforeYouGo what to look for and how to respond. Learn more about Outdoor Safety on the U.S. Forest Service - Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests including how to identify and stay safe around snakes and other wild animals. Get more snake information and tips:
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