Coosa Bald, March 15, 2008

Summit Elevation 4,280' - 11th highest in Georgia
Wolfpen Gap Elevation 3,140'
Elevation Gain 1,140'
Time to Summit - 55 minutes

There are a few different approaches to reach this summit. On this day, I chose the Coosa Backcountry Trail at Wolfpen Gap on Ga Hwy 180. Traveling north from this point, you head towards the summit of Coosa Bald. Traveling south you make your way up the steep and rocky trail towards Slaughter Mountain. If you are particularly ambitious, from Wolfpen Gap you can summit Coosa Bald, Slaughter and Blood Mountains all in the same day. The trail at this point is actually a combined trail including the Coosa Backcountry Trail and the Duncan Ridge Trail.

From Wolfpen Gap, the trail rises slightly then turns away from what was obviously the old path, as you could see the blue and yellow blazes continuing straight up the slope. Once in a while, the forest service decides that the old trail is becoming too eroded, thus a new pathway to give the old ground a chance to heal itself. To make sure that no one mistook the old trail for the new, piles of brush or dirt are placed to discourage hikers from following the path. However, at this point, the trees on the newer trail had yet to be adorned with their blazes of blue and yellow to tell me I was on the right path.

After 32 minutes of cutting back and forth (the new path utilizes the natural contour more than the old which appeared to travel straight up and over Wildcat Knob), the new trail re-connected with the old trail on the back side of Wildcat Knob, where the blazes came back into view. Just below this point, the trail intersects with a Forest Road before continuing up the hill to the steepest part of the climb. The trail at this point leaves behind the soft earth which is replaced by loose cobbles. A steady climb of about 17 minutes placed me at the intersection of the Coosa Backcountry Trail with the Duncan Ridge Trail. If you take this right turn, you will wind your way back down off of the slope and end up at W. Wolf Creek Road, heading in a direction toward Sunrise Grocery and GA Hwy 129.

My aim is to reach the summit, so I continue straigh ahead on the Duncan Ridge Trail. From this intersection it only took me 6 minutes to reach the summit, where there is a very small area of granite that provides a view to the west. Most noticeable about Coosa, like the other Balds, is that they aren't really bald. I assume that many years ago, when the names were assigned, the timber was stripped off the mountaintops thus giving them their names.

Currently there are many hardwoods atop Coosa which surely contributes to the lack of a vista in the summer. But, I am here without foliage and enjoy the views that can be seen through the trees. From the granite slab, the view is in the direction of Suches, GA, and to the left I can make out Slaughter and Blood Mountains, with the top of the latter obscured by clouds.

The wind picked up as I sat down on the rock to take a break. I notice a mountainous wave of clouds approaching from the west, covering far off peaks one by one. I knew before I began this hike that a storm front was approaching. I just thought that they would arrive later in the day.  In a matter of minutes, my hike in partly cloudy conditions becomes a near white out.

After quickly eating a banana, taking a couple of pictures, and situating my day pack, I re-trace my steps back down the mountain. Almost simultaneously, it began to lightly rain. A few yards later, I am shaken by a loud thunderclap. Great. I pick up the pace, figuring my car to be a much safer place than a ridge top. Three or four more thunderclaps and the rain intensifies, as my pace does accordingly. In all of natures wrath, I hear the distinct gobble of a Tom Turkey. I guess even a storm doesn't interfere with the task of impressing a hen.

I finally made it to my car, happy to be sheltered from the bad weather. The night before, a tornado interrupted the mens SEC Basketball Tournament by trying to rip the roof off the Georgia Dome. This day was a continuation of that weather pattern which ended up as the most tornado filled day in North Georgia history! Nevertheless, a great day for a hike.

Sweltering Summer

Even though the North Georgia mountain region is known for being an escape from the heat of the Piedmont, Sand Hills, and Coastal Plains regions of the state, this summer has seemed hotter than usual. Or, maybe as my body ages, it just doesn't handle the heat as well. Or, it's that extra 30 lbs I've managed to pack on since last summer.

Earlier in the season we had plenty of rain that managed to keep the air fresh and the temperatures down somewhat. But, for the past month it has been too hot for me to feel like doing anything beyond my never ending yard work.

My goal of attaining the summits of all of the 4000' peaks in Georgia requires bushwhacking, on many occasions, in order to reach the top. Doing this in the summer months involves a lot of contact with briers, which tend to win the battle against the flesh of my legs. I still have scars from the summer of 2008! This is an activity best left for fall and winter once the vegetation has died back a bit.    

Without any new ridge walking tales to tell, the next few posts are going to focus on hikes that I have taken and documented in the past three years. The majority of these took place in North Georgia, and include many of the 4000' peaks listed on peakbagger.com.

So, until I get back out there in real time, enjoy some history...coming soon!

Brasstown Bald

Since it's been almost two months since I've posted anything, I figured I better get something on here. Not a whole lot of ridge walking going on as I have been bogged down with some painting projects, getting my garden areas underway, and a four day excursion to the Shenandoah Valley and Washington, D.C.

On April 11, 2010, I did get a chance to hike with the super dogs, Rocket (L) and Tobey (R), up the Wagon Train Trail from Young Harris College to the top of Brasstown Bald. It was about a 6-mile excursion, and not wanting to take the time to hike back down the way we came, I arranged for Jennifer to meet us in the parking lot for a ride back home. It was an absolutely gorgeous day.

During the entire trek, that took about 4 hours, we passed one person on the trail. It was an interesting encounter. At around one mile from the parking area, around the bend came a fellow that was dressed head to toe in camouflage, including face paint. He was carrying what looked like a wooden bow with some arrows. Grinning like a jack-o-lantern, he commented, "Those are some nice dogs". I thanked him and kept heading up, in paranoid fashion waiting to hear the sound of an arrow slicing through the air just before it ripped into my back. Not this time, anyway. It was Turkey season, which if I had known this before, his presence wouldn't have seemed so odd.

I am going to try to share more of the informational aspects of my hikes as I post on here. As I'm hiking I like to make notes of interesting features or views and at what point they occur on the trail. I am a moderate to slow hiker, so feel free to use these as an informal guide depending on your own speed.

The following represents the time line of the hike:

9:15AM - Begin up gravel road at Young Harris College
9:32 - Large rock outcrop on the left.
9:43 - Reached the Wagon Train trail head.
10:17 - Spring branch at head of Darr Cove.
10:29 - Spine of Double Knob Ridge.
10:54 - Spring branch.
11:08 - Another spring branch (from here on to Buck Ridge, the trail frequently turned into a flowing branch. It has been a very wet year!)
11:38 - Spine of Buck Ridge.
11:55 - Great vista of the tower on Brasstown Bald (see photo at top).
12:20PM - Gap with a view to the East, overlooking Grass Branch Cove.
12:35 - Views to the NW.
12:49 - Gap with views of Chestnut Cove.
1:15 - Intersection with paved path that leads to the summit.
1:20 - Parking area.

The dogs and I laid down on a grassy area next to the parking lot, enjoyed some water and waited, while soaking up the sun, for our ride to arrive.

Our next trek will be up the Arkaquah Trail to the summit, again with a ride down. At some point later this summer, I hope to go up this trail and down the Wagon Train Trail in a one-day trip. It will be about 13 miles, and yes, I plan on being shuttled home after that one.

Trout Lily and Sweet Betsy Make Their Return

Springtime has taken over North Georgia. Beginning a few weeks ago I noticed in full bloom, the Daffodils and Redbuds. This week I have spied an explosion of color from Forsythia, Bradford Pear trees, Yoshino Cherry trees, and Japanese Magnolias, amongst others. At home, I have eagerly been watching to see if the many perennials that were planted last year would make their return.

Hyacinths, Tulips, Hostas, Cone Flower, Hydrangea, Rasberry, and Blackberry bush have all begun to poke their green heads out of the ground. Last year, we ordered a couple of Forsythias from the Arbor Day Foundation, and laughed when two sticks arrived in the mail. I know, what did I expect for less than $3 each? They were planted one on either side of the driveway with the expectation that we would be enjoying a beachball sized plume of yellow by the next spring.

Well, they really didn't grow at all over the summer or winter. In fact it got to the point that I just knew they were dead. I mean, they looked like lifeless twigs that had been haphazardly stuck into the ground. We also transplanted, from Mobile, several Cast Iron Plants late last summer. With the unusually cold winter that we've had, they all turned a sickly light brown color, and some of them simply laid down flat and gave up.

Low and behold, both of the Forsythia have new green buds (maybe they'll get plumes the size of a baseball), and a couple of the Cast Iron plants have new growth poking out near the base. I was very excited (it doesn't take much) at these revelations.

On the wild side of things, a true sign that spring has arrived in when the ground near the spring branch becomes covered with Trout Lilies and Sweet Betsy's. They are the first of the wildflowers to be spotted once winter has released its harsh grip.

Soon, the Mayapple and the Trillium will sprout, the trees will fill with leaves and the curtain will be drawn, shutting off my view of Brasstown Bald. Now is the time to dig out briers before they take over. It's time to mulch the flower beds. Before you know it, the vegetable gardening will begin, and none too soon. We are almost out of salsa.

Fall is my first love, but Spring is a very close second.

Yellow-rumped Warbler!

March 6, 2010 - While taking a stroll along the Augusta Canal Heritage Area (near the pumping station) with some family members, I spotted a small bird flitting from branch to branch in a budding Red Maple. A quick glance through the binoculars revealed distinct yellow spots on either sides of its breast. A check of the bird book later identified it as a Yellow-rumped Warbler. According to the website Whatbird.com, it is one of the most common Warblers in North America.

Yellow-rumped Warbler, bird number 46.

Mobile, AL Mardi Gras and A Few Birds.

After my Cheaha Mountain trek, I headed south through small town Alabama, including Shinbone, Lineville, Equality, and Wetumpka, before hitting Montgomery and hopping on I-65. From there is was 177 miles of some pretty flat and swampy terrain before hitting the city limits of Mobile.

Most people think of New Orleans when the subject of Mardi Gras comes up. Mobile actually has the oldest Mardi Gras celebration in America, beginning in 1703. New Orleans wasn't even founded until 1718.

During my week long stay I attended 15 Mardi Gras Parades, and was pelted with various items slung from the floats including frisbees, stuffed animals, bags of roasted peanuts, Mary Janes, Super Bubble, plastic doubloons, Moon Pies, and of course, beads. Lots of beads. Considering the volume of items flung in my direction, it's surprising that I only got smacked in the face once. A set of beads found their mark on the bridge of my nose. By Fat Tuesday, I was paraded out.

As a break from the parades, on Sunday Jennifer and I headed south to Dauphin Island to ride the ferry across Mobile Bay from Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island to Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores. During this outing, I spotted two new birds to add to my list, a Cedar Waxwing (seen at the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail #42) and a Royal Tern (seen at the ferry landing on Dauphin Island). I would have added more, but I forgot my binoculars like a dope. Later that week I also spotted a Boat Tailed Grackle in some reeds after I dined on some fine fried shrimp at Ed's Seafood on the Mobile Causeway. So, three birds when I hoped for ten. I'll take that.

I enjoyed my first visit to this area and look forward to a return trip....without forgetting the binoculars.

Mobile Bay from Dauphin Island (Including natural gas rigs in the distance, they are everywhere, as far as the eye can see!)

A Hike Down, Then Up To the Summit.

Feb 11, 2010 - As the light barely began to filter through the window of my room, I rose at about 5:30AM and drove up to the picnic area near the summit. Here I shivered in the frigid wind while taking pictures of an absolutely inspiring sunrise. I was ready to hit the trail.

After considering my all of my options, it was decided that the Lake Trail/Rock Gardens Trail would be the most difficult approach considering the fact that I had an 11:00AM checkout time. My ascent (which actually begins as a descent) began at the loop road for cabins 7, 8, 9, and 10. This is where the Lake Trail/Rock Gardens Trail begins. Granted, it's not a long hike, but again, like Chinnabee, it was very rocky at the top (thus the Rock Gardens name). The views from the Rock Gardens on this morning were gorgeous. In the photo below you can see the lake in the background, to the left of one of the granite crags of the Rock Gardens.



Down 1200' I went traveling through granite boulder fields, hardwood forest with a couple of small creek crossings, until I reached the shoreline of the lake 45 minutes later. After taking a few pictures of the mountain from the lake, I began my ascent going the same way I came down. This trail is not for those that have issues with steep, rocky (boulders) trails. A 1200' elevation change in one mile is no picnic.

Once I got back up to the car, I continued across the road and bushwhacked my way up the ridge until I came out at the campground near the group picnic shelter. From here it was a walk on the asphalt until I reached the high point. The observatory tower wasn't open and I walked around until I found the USGS marker identifying the high point. My travel time from the lake to the summit took one hour and sixteen minutes.


(above) View of Cheaha Mountain (high point at tower) from Cheaha Lake

This time of year in this park was ideal for me. Though it may seem anti-social, the fewer people I run into on the trails, the better. In my almost 24 hours spent in the park, I ran across a total of two people, none on the trails. I basically had the park to myself. I definitely plan on returning, as I hope to finish my hike to the summit using the Chinnabee Silent Trail and the Pinhoti Trail.

If you ever find yourself traveling I-20 between Atlanta and Birmingham, I definitely recommend that you detour south and visit Cheaha State Park. Like most state parks, the facilities are obviously suffering from budget cuts, and the place really needs a bit of a makeover (unfortunately, the summit tower sits right beside the ugliest, run down, junky looking communications tower facility), but once you are on the trails, the variety of terrain from boggy pine bottoms, to talus strewn side slopes bisected by clear flowing streams, to granite boulder ridge tops, is wonderful. Check it out.