By HILLARY KELLEY

As the crisp air of fall slowly fades to the chilling temperatures of winter, students are taking advantage of the weather by exploring the scenic beauty of North Georgia’s mountain landscapes.  

Popular hangouts in the heart of nature include the overlooks at Bell Knob Mountain in Hiawassee, Currahee Mountain in Toccoa and Yonah Mountain in Helen. 

Each destination is close enough to campus that students can make the trek and back in one afternoon.

“These places are so relaxing,” said sophomore business major Richard Etheridge.

“I get to go up there with great people and listen to amazing music while looking out over God’s beautiful creation.”

There is a lot of history attached to these locations that surpasses the several years’ worth of graffiti marking the hundreds of people who have made the climb. 

In fact, Currahee is the setting for the popular HBO mini-series, “Band of Brothers.”  

The series follows the 101st Airborne division of the US Army as they trained at Camp Currahee during WWII. 

Likewise, Yonah Mountain was used for the mountain training of US Army rangers in past decades. 

At times, the Army rangers still use this area for training and close off the mountain face from the public.

As for Bell Knob, often shortened to Bell Mountain, the overlook provides a vast view of the Towns County area and the expanse of Lake Chatuge.

“It’s a really cool hike, and the view there is breathtaking,” said sophomore psychology major Chloe Sanders.

The trail leading to the top of Bell Mountain, towering at 3,323 feet, is mostly paved road, leaving only about one-third of the trail to require hiking by foot. 

Currahee Mountain is a three-mile hike up and three miles back down, while Yonah Mountain’s trail is either 1.5 miles or 2.7 miles depending on the starting point.