Maybe next time reran & wareagle <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Was "nearby" today for an appointment that got broken ATLM, and I ran part of GladeRd/Burrells Ford Road out to the Hicks creek intersection. Latter is boulder blocked at the north end.

Rode to ball crk and out thru so nant. I found only one almost suitable site just past the albertmtn turnoff, but it's close to the road and a mite small and popular. Standing Indian campground had the dirt road section open with unwatered and unvolted table/tent sites. Faucet water nearby. toilet/shower = 1 for about 40 sites.

Additional nearby attractions to consider:

Cherokee Cave - from DavidG's map, take the last left before the Albert Mtn. turnoff to the right to the last loop to the south before the first fork, and walk SE to the overhang cave where legend/history has it that renegade Cherokee hid out from the Trail of Tears deportation. Bear country.

Picken's Nose trail. On D'G's map, leaves Ball creek rd between the above turnoff and the Albert Mtn. road turnoff the to south. Picken's nose can be seen as you pass the Rabun Gap - Nacoochee private school going N on 441. Looks just like a Hapsburg nose pointed up that needs pickin'. Very nice views out over the Tallulah Mountains and the upper Little Tennessee River valley to the south. Outward Bound does rapelling there on the cliffs.

Mooney Falls - midways in the southerly loop after Albert Mtn. Short trail to falls. It ain't Niagra, but nice.

Laurel falls - at the SW corner of the southerly loop - a longer trail than Mooney, but falls supposed to be better. Supposed to be uncut virgin primordal timber above Laurel falls in the Kilby creek valley, but I don't think you can reach it up the falls escarpment, and have to take the Beech Gap trail around and up to it just before that trail meets the AT at beech gap.

The only other thing of real note in the So. Nant. is the Waslick Poplar tree, now dead, that was the largest east of the Ms. river - 6+ of my fingertip to fingertip arm spans at 6'2" each in circumference at my shoulder height standing as far up on the trunk base flare as good soles and big feet would let me reach, probably 10+' off the ground. Big damn dead tree. Was 275-300' before it was topped about 10yrs ago by lightning, and was still over 200 the last time I saw it alive.

Next stuff of note is up on Wayah Bald, unless you want to look at recreated upland bogs. An old high altitude ranger station and the peak itself. Might drive up Park Gap road off 64 to the west of Rainbow Springs to the AT near Standing Indian Mtn and walk about a mile on the AT to Whiteoak Stamp to see not much at all but some history - old Indian ball ground and dance ground and deer lick and source of burl wood used to make tobacco pipes to replace Briarwood which was unavailable in war time. Later a highlands summer pasture for early settler cattle, and a good hidey place for stills off the old burl road.

There are a couple of rough road approaches to the north side of Hightower Bald to the east, off old 64 a little further to the west, after 64 drops off the high ridge after it loops north of Chunky Gal Mtn. I've found them once, and think I still have the directions. I never got to the end, but if you want rough.....

Wow, nice info Eddy. See everyone tomorrow @ noon at Joe's Country Cafe. I just called them and confirmed that they are open.

FYI...

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner- Thursday-Saturday

Breakfast, Lunch - Sunday-Wednesday

Chelsea and I will be there.

Eddy, can you bring that spare tire off of your gen1 LS, the plain looking steel one. I will trade you for some nice lights.

Should we bring some stuff to cook for breakfast?

If I have time to go pull it off Joni. Have to drive into Atl to pick up my CB either tonight or in the early a.m. Or you could ride down after Sun. ride and pick it up? It's about a mile from MM20 on i985.

Cool. I would plan on cooking dinner Saturday and breakfast/lunch on Sunday in the woods (both my friend and I are bringing along camp stoves, so feel free to use mine). I'll probably grab lunch at Joe's Country Cafe when I get there @ noon tomorrow...provided it's not too terrible.

Im home, it was fun, pics later.

Since brevity is the soul of wit...

Otto Cafe
Gravel
Cherokee Cave
Gravel
Albert Mt.
Gravel
Gravel
Camp
Food
Snoring
Gravel
Pavement
Gravel
Gravel
Gravel
Pavement
Gravel
Wayah Bald
Winespring Bald
Gravel
Pavement
Franklin
Wendy's
Home
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Glad ya'll had fun. I hope to have mine up and ready for the next one. Probably by November. The next 2 months are going to be crazy busy for me. Let me know when <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I got some poison ivy on my legs from that cave hike. I hate poison ivy. Pants next time, I dont care how hot it is.