Bald and Beautiful: To the Top of Georgia
Special to The ARS Sojourner
At 6:20 a.m., I started my 450-mile, 9.25-hour journey to Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest peak on the first Friday in February.
In some ways, the most challenging part of the trip was in the final leg. From the entrance of the reserve, it's three miles of steep, winding road to the parking area.
The final half-mile to the top is gated for the winter, so I carried my gear and slowly went up - resting about every 40 feet. It's a real climb. I didn't want my 74-year-old heart to give out! The summit is at 4,784 feet.
It took about a half hour to hike to the top. I set up on the observation deck and at 21:33 UTC I had a QSO with Harry, W1HVC, in Waltham, MA.I interrupted a DX QSO he was having and he told me to wait.
When he finished he called and we QSO'd. I was told at the start of my hike that there was no one at the top. I had bought film, but forgot it.
When I arrived at the summit, there was a couple there and they took pictures and
will forward them to me in the future. When I receive them I'll send them for follow-up publication in The ARS Sojourner.
My plans were to activate two states the same day, but learned the road to the
other mountain is closed for the season.
I had been to Brasstown Bald last month on my way back from Florida but the road was ice covered and closed.
Should you ever go to this mountain, when you turn off Route 129 onto GA 180 there is a quaint little general store on the corner with a flashing light and a weathered sign advertising snow cones.
The combination seemed so out of place in this remote location. What a wonderful 360 degree view on a clear, windless, 69 degree day. It made the trip worthwhile. This is great fun! For a close look at the mountain and terrain, visit: http://ngeorgia.com/travel/brasstown.html
Here's a view from the peak's web-cam: http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/webcam.htm
For additional information, visit: http://www.georgiamagazine.com/outdoors/mountain/brasstown/
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Glen Hazen, N8WE, is an avid QRPer from Kettering, OH.