(Gainesville)- Predictions for very cold wind chill temperatures in far north Georgia has prompted the U.S. Forest Service to warn would-be weekend hikers to stay out of mountain forests this weekend.
The agency is advising hikers unprepared for severe winter to stay off the Appalachian Trail and other high elevation trails for personal safety reasons. In addition, USFS is concerned that local emergency responders might not be able to respond to trail emergencies because of unsafe and/or inaccessible conditions.
In addition to the bitter cold Saturday and Sunday, rain and freezing rain are forecast Sunday night across north Georgia. The Forest Service also suggested would-be hikers to educate themselves about the dangers.
