Brasstown Bald
| Georgia |
Elevation: 4,784'
Vertical Gain: 1815'
Vertical Gain: 1815'
Date: April 21, 2011
Time: 9:55 AM
Time: 9:55 AM
Weather: Sunny, cool
Party: Bob, Kevin
Party: Bob, Kevin
The evening before this climb was spent at the Unicoi State Park just outside the village of
Helen, Georgia. I was looking forward to seeing Helen since it was modelled after a Bavarian
Alpine village to draw tourism after it's logging economy declined. I was hoping for some
German fare, especially the beer, but we must have been a little early in the season still and
there was not much open and no reason to pay the parking fee to wander around the near
empty sidewalks. Kevin and I settled for a Wendy's while we watched numerous cyclists ride
by. When we had registered at the large lodge complex at the park we saw a large group of
them gathering for their weeknight ride.
The tent had to be packed away wet this morning due to a thunderstorm that came through
and woke us up at night. We were both glad for a relatively easy 5.6 mile day after two hard
ones and with another hard one expected tomorrow. It was particularly good for Kevin who's
calf was bothering him from overuse. It was less than a 20 minute drive to where we parked for
the Jack's Knob trail which was at the beginning of the entrance road to Brasstown Bald. After
collecting our gear we started up at 8:38. We hiked at a moderate pace steadily uphill until a
short descent to the nearly empty summit parking area. From there it was another half mile up
a paved path to a large observation deck and visitor center. On this paved section a young guy
coming back down expressed surprise to see us "so soon", then quickly explained that he
passed us in his car as we were preparing our packs at the bottom. Although the total
elevation gain was approximately 2000 feet in 2.8 miles, it really didn't seem that long to us
either. The summit was left for us to explore alone and to enjoy the views from the observation
deck. Unfortunately, the visitor center and the highest part of the tower were closed.
The descent was uneventful. We were no longer heading farther from home with our next stop
being in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, which I was looking forward to.
Helen, Georgia. I was looking forward to seeing Helen since it was modelled after a Bavarian
Alpine village to draw tourism after it's logging economy declined. I was hoping for some
German fare, especially the beer, but we must have been a little early in the season still and
there was not much open and no reason to pay the parking fee to wander around the near
empty sidewalks. Kevin and I settled for a Wendy's while we watched numerous cyclists ride
by. When we had registered at the large lodge complex at the park we saw a large group of
them gathering for their weeknight ride.
The tent had to be packed away wet this morning due to a thunderstorm that came through
and woke us up at night. We were both glad for a relatively easy 5.6 mile day after two hard
ones and with another hard one expected tomorrow. It was particularly good for Kevin who's
calf was bothering him from overuse. It was less than a 20 minute drive to where we parked for
the Jack's Knob trail which was at the beginning of the entrance road to Brasstown Bald. After
collecting our gear we started up at 8:38. We hiked at a moderate pace steadily uphill until a
short descent to the nearly empty summit parking area. From there it was another half mile up
a paved path to a large observation deck and visitor center. On this paved section a young guy
coming back down expressed surprise to see us "so soon", then quickly explained that he
passed us in his car as we were preparing our packs at the bottom. Although the total
elevation gain was approximately 2000 feet in 2.8 miles, it really didn't seem that long to us
either. The summit was left for us to explore alone and to enjoy the views from the observation
deck. Unfortunately, the visitor center and the highest part of the tower were closed.
The descent was uneventful. We were no longer heading farther from home with our next stop
being in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, which I was looking forward to.
The trail up came over the hill
behind the parking lot and into
the far side of it.
behind the parking lot and into
the far side of it.
Bob enjoys the views and so does a little bird.
We have the observation deck all to ourselves.
The top is also a site of past
Tour de Georgia stage finishes
(during Lance's Discovery
Channel Team days).
Tour de Georgia stage finishes
(during Lance's Discovery
Channel Team days).
Does it count as #28 if Bob had to
push a tired Kevin up in a stroller?
push a tired Kevin up in a stroller?
Looking back at the summit before
heading down from the parking lot.
heading down from the parking lot.