Today (July 15) we went to the mountain looking for the promised land. The day was fairly clear, visibility about 5 miles.
Our day trip totalled 75 miles and about 60 ofthose were mountain driving with hairpin turns and 25 mph posted speed limits. The scenery from the car was absolutely beautiful.
The nameof the mountain is “Brasstown Bald,” rising 4,784 feet above sea level. It is Georgia's highest peak. On clear days, the spectacular 360-degree view from atop the mountain allows you to see four states, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The surrounding area is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including a healthy black bear population.
We need to remember to bring a light jacket on trips like this. The temp was in the mid 60’s (F), about 20 degrees cooler than the valley floors below. In winter the temps on this mountain can go as low as -27 degrees F. The video mentioned that the year-round weather up there is more like Massachusetts than Georgia.
The Visitor Information Center, located on the summit of the Bald, offers interesting exhibits, a video presentations and interpretive programs. It is operated by the U.S. Forest Service because it is part of the Chattahoochie National Forest of over 750,000 acres.
The Chattahoochee National Forest takes its name from the Chattahoochee River whose headwaters begin in the North Georgia mountains nearby. The River and the area were given the name by the English settlers who took the name from the Indians living here. In one dialect of the Muscogee native language, “Chatta” means stone; ho chee means “marked” or “flowered.” These marked or flowered stones were in the Chattahoochee River at a settlement near Columbus, Georgia.
We went to Hiawassee for lunch and a few errands. We ate local food at the “Mountain View.” As we looked out the window, there it was off in the distance -- Brasstown Bald. The waitress confirmed it. The visitor centeeer shape is unmistakable.
Our day trip totalled 75 miles and about 60 ofthose were mountain driving with hairpin turns and 25 mph posted speed limits. The scenery from the car was absolutely beautiful.
The nameof the mountain is “Brasstown Bald,” rising 4,784 feet above sea level. It is Georgia's highest peak. On clear days, the spectacular 360-degree view from atop the mountain allows you to see four states, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The surrounding area is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, including a healthy black bear population.
We need to remember to bring a light jacket on trips like this. The temp was in the mid 60’s (F), about 20 degrees cooler than the valley floors below. In winter the temps on this mountain can go as low as -27 degrees F. The video mentioned that the year-round weather up there is more like Massachusetts than Georgia.
The Visitor Information Center, located on the summit of the Bald, offers interesting exhibits, a video presentations and interpretive programs. It is operated by the U.S. Forest Service because it is part of the Chattahoochie National Forest of over 750,000 acres.
The Chattahoochee National Forest takes its name from the Chattahoochee River whose headwaters begin in the North Georgia mountains nearby. The River and the area were given the name by the English settlers who took the name from the Indians living here. In one dialect of the Muscogee native language, “Chatta” means stone; ho chee means “marked” or “flowered.” These marked or flowered stones were in the Chattahoochee River at a settlement near Columbus, Georgia.
We went to Hiawassee for lunch and a few errands. We ate local food at the “Mountain View.” As we looked out the window, there it was off in the distance -- Brasstown Bald. The waitress confirmed it. The visitor centeeer shape is unmistakable.
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