4/3/20
(Gainesville)- More outdoor facilities in North Georgia have been put on off-limits. The US Forest Service announced Thursday it is temporarily shutting down all dispersed camping corridors, day-use areas, trailhead facilities and other recreation sites on the Blue Ridge Ranger District to protect public health and safety.
The move affects sites within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.
Edward Hunter Forest Supervisor with the Forest Service in Gainesville said, “We continually consult with local leaders in our communities, in order to be in alignment with local decisions that protect human health and safety, the health and safety of our employees and the public remain our top priority.”
Here is a list of the forest service areas closed:
- Aska Trail System
- Shady Falls Trailhead
- Long Branch Loop Trail
- Green Mtn. Connector Trail
- Deep Gap Trailhead
- Green Mtn. Trail
- Stanley Gap Trailhead
- Stanley Gap Trail
- Fruitkoff Trail Access
- Deep Hole Day Use Area
- Sandy Bottoms Day Use Area
- Old Dial Rd. and Padena Dispersed Camping
- Rock Creek Rd. Dispersed Camping
- Noontootla Dispersed Camping (FS 58)
- Sea Creek Falls Trail
- Helton Creek Falls Trail
- Dicks Creek Dispersed Camping Corridor
- Forest Service Road 42 Dispersed Camping Corridor (runs through Gilmer, Fannin, Lumpkin)
- Nimblewill Dispersed Camping Corridor
- Jake and Bull Dispersed Campsites (trail use allowed)
- High Shoals Falls Trail
Previously announced shutdowns include:
- Appalachian Trail trailheads including Dicks Creek Gap, Hogpen Gap, Neels Gap, Springer Mountain, Tesnatee Gap, Unicoi Gap and Woody Gap.
- Trails and associated trailheads including Andrews Cove Trail, segments of the Benton MacKaye Trail (from Fall Branch Falls to Springer Mountain), Byron Herbert Reece Memorial Trail, Dukes Creek Falls Trails, Duncan Ridge Trail, Dockery Lake Trail, Freeman Trail, Jacks Knob Trail, Jarrard Gap Trail, Logan Turnpike Trail, Long Creek Falls Trail, Panther Creek Falls Trail, Slaughter Creek Trail, Springer Mountain Trail, Raven Cliffs Falls Trail and Yonah Mountain Trail.
- All national forest developed campgrounds, group recreation sites, picnic pavilions and all restrooms.
Guidelines for health and safety, recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are available at: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/
The latest information about recreation sites is available at www.fs.usda.gov/conf, also on Facebook and Twitter at @ChattOconeeNF.
This is such BS. A flu-like bug has completely shut down the whole world. This is about control. This “virus” disproportianately affects the old and immune-compromised, AKA the weak, yet our “leaders” are handling it as if we all are at extreme risk. Instead of isolating and trying to protect the weak, we must all isolate and comply to whatever insanity they dream up. Instead of celebrating and promoting amazingly successful treatments — hydroxychloroquine protocol for example –, our betters tell us the only real solution is a vaccine FOR ALL. It’s interesting that the medical spokesperson for the administration, Fauchi, is the same guy who was in charge of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that was going to kill us all. What happened to that?
The end game is to force vaccinations and implants to enforce compliance. If you value your freedom, you will resist. Research while you can because YouTube, Twitter, and whatever social media are steadily removing content and censuring any information contrary to the worldview narrative.
BTW, if you have been dutifully getting a flu shot every year, your chances of serious consequences from COVID-19 are significantly increased.
If you read the constitution which seems like you are throwing out there with your whole freedom argument then you will see that it says LIFE, LIBERTY and THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. In that order. If their was no life then what is the use of liberty. I hope and pray you do not get this virus. Yeah, it affects the old and immuno-compromised, but I do not want my 70 year old father to catch it and have to watch him struggle to breathe, or my almost 8 year old child with a half of a heart to get it and watch him turn blue and die, or my 18 year old with asthma get it and watch her struggle to breathe.
The whole state, country and world shutting down isn’t about keeping the healthy safe, it’s about keeping the ones who cannot fight this virus safe. But then again, attitudes such as yours is the reason it’s spreading like wildfire.
AGAIN. IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU! I’d bet if there was a virus going around taking out younger folks instead of older, then our parents and grandparents would do ANYTHING to keep the younger population safe.
OMG!! I really hope that you don’t get this virus. Because common sense doesn’t seem to be your strong point.
Closing the woods down should keep everyone safe. Feel free to go to Lowes or Ingles. If you feel like protesting for black lives matter feel free to do that wherever you choose but the one thing we as a country can’t risk or allow is for someone to exercise of to get sunlight or fresh air. Let’s all get together and shut this country down. There is only a 99.5 percent survival rate and people want to treat this like the common flu…shame on you. Let’s get rid of this crazy constitution and the bill of rights and get us some communism in this country. Don’t get me started on going to church either. I just can’t get over these people who think this is a free country and that they should be able to exercise their God given rights. Shame on you.