Stone Mountain Day Hike Trip 2

Just like after Thanksgiving dinner, a great way burn off Christmas dinner was to return to stone mountain for a day hike. The planned hike was to complete the majority of the trail in this park by hiking Wolf Rock Trail, Black Jack Ridge Trail, and Cedar Rock Trail with an out and back to Lower and Middle Falls if time allowed. Although a great time as always conditions made this trip hairy. The temperature at the beginning of the hike was 36 degrees, the snow from December 18th that was a fond memory in the low lying lands was still present, and due to stops to take photos of picturesque skies and wildlife plus the moving of clouds it got dark well before the forecast predicted. This hike was not for beginners due to the combination of low temps., snow and ice, and hiking the last 1.25 miles in the dark; but as always we were prepared and everyone arrived to the trailhead safely. Highlights for the trip included seeing deer, a variety of animal prints preserved in the snow, and my personal favorite a lone tree growing out of the rock reminding me of a bonsai which I have had a love of for many years.

Stone Mountain Day Hike

In order to burn off the turkey, today I escorted one customer up to Stone Mountain State Park for a day hike. Although a little chilly it was a beautiful day so the Wife and Holly joined us. Completed the Stone Mountain Loop from the upper parking lot via the .3 mile mile extension to the loop, the 4.5 mile loop starting with the trail to the summit, down to Hutchinson farm, to the Stone Mountain Falls, and then back to the parking lot. As we exited the trail there were four deer in the field grazing, great way to end the hike. The temp was 53f going in and 47f when we got out and we completed the trail in 2 hours 45 minuted. We traveled most of the loop at decent pace but made many photo stops. Steady pace with no long stops until we hit the stairs at the waterfall this slowed us all down. An additional highlight as we left the park were the additional 14 deer grazing in a field on the side of the road who one by one crossed the road and jumped the wooden fence.Looking forward to returning soon to take a day hike to Wolf Rock and the other side trails off of Stone Mountain Loop. May even throw in some rappelling!!