Whittier Mill (Fulton County, Georgia)

With a pretty substantial chance for rain going into the weekend, I wasn't sure that I would be able to get in many trail miles, but luckily the showers had passed over by the time of the Meetup's Sunday hike. Today, we're exploring some new trails starting at Whittier Mill Park west of Atlanta. The group is smaller today, only consisting of about ten hikers. We do our introductions and then quickly hit the trails.

Coming out of the parking area, we immediately pass by the remains of an old carpentry shop that served the Mill facility. Not much remains of the overall site, but this structure was stabilized and now servers as a group area for visitors to the park, complete with picnic tables inside the building's brick husk. Soon the trail heads up hill and we begin walking along the supports of an elevated railroad track. While we'll definitely get some time in the woods, it seems there is going to be a lot more industrial area along today's path than normal.

Entering the woods, today's leader points out a couple of oddities in the distance, which we follow the trail over to examine more closely. The first and more eye catching is a replica (I hope) human skeleton perched atop the frame of a Schwinn bicycle. The frame is mounted to some steel plates to keep it up right and the skeleton seems to be enjoying himself on his stationary ride. Nearby, a number of other bike frames have been lined up and partially buried. It's an odd sight, but certainly interesting.

Heading further into the woods, we meet up with the Chattahoochee River and the trail begins following it, though there area a large number of connecting trails throughout this area. This seems to be in the flood plane judging by the vegetation, mud, and debris. This is not really a pretty part of the river, as it is passing by a number of industrial plants. We see one on our side of the river and two or three on the opposite shore. I comment that it seems we are in the bowels of Atlanta.

The trail continues north until we eventually reach a railroad yard. We attempt to find a way around the area, but having no luck in that endeavor, choose to walk through. While we search for continuations of the trails north of the yard, we really find nothing and decide to head back, though taking one of the many alternate paths we had found. At one point, we end up in a neighborhood dog park. I'm sure the people exercising their pooches there are wondering about a group of ten people emerging from the woods, but they greet us with a friendly hello regardless.

After some more adventure crossing a few questionable foot bridges, we eventually end up back a the park where we left our cars. We discuss grabbing a bite to eat at a nearby barbeque place, which turns out to be pretty fantastic. The hike today was only about 5.6 miles and it was quite different than our normal adventures, passing through some less beautiful areas of the city. While it was interesting, I don't think this one will be added to the group's standard rotation.

Alpine Helen Weihnachten 5k (White County, Georgia)

Hosted by the Alpine Helen Volksmarch Club, the first annual Weihnachten (Christmas in German) 5k seemed like a fun event for the Meetup group for which I lead hikes. Unlike the traditional '5k', this is not a run, but an evening meander through the Bavarian-themed city of Helen to enjoy the holiday spirit in the form of Christmas light displays all around the main strip of town. After posting the event, I originally had five people sign-up, but by the time of the event, it was just myself and one other hiker.

After registering at the Loreley Resort's Clubhouse on the outskirts of town, we began our short walk through the streets, complete with map in hand. The path first took us across a short footbridge crossing the Chattahoochee River, which passes through town, but is much closer to its headwaters and therefore, much smaller. From there, we walked the streets past the Oktoberfest Beer Hall and into a park area with several brilliant light displays, all Christmas themed. It wasn't quite dark yet and so, the lights were not as impressive as they likely will be on the return trip in an hour or so.

Continuing through the streets of Helen, we're both taken by the number of people shuffling about in the touristy town. Some of whom are participating in the 5k, but the majority of whom are probably just here on their own. There is a festive mood in the air and the weather is just about perfect - cool, but cold. 

We do struggle a little bit with the map as it is not exactly to scale, but it's not like we can get lost here in the streets of this little mountain town. Quickly, we find our way back to the intended route and begin look for the turn around near the western end of town. We cross the street and begin making our way back down the other side of Main Street. Along the way, we encounter the a line for the Christmas Train and then the Train itself, which is more of an amusement ferrying people up and down the main street to enjoy the same sights and Christmas spirit we are enjoying on foot.

Before returning to the resort for the raffle, we decide to stop for some dinner. Originally, we had both wanted to eat at one of the several German-themed restaurants, but as most had a long line, we settled on a Thai place. This turned out to be a great choice, as the food was fantastic. After our meal, we completed the walk and returned to the clubhouse just as the raffle was beginning. Neither of us ended up winning anything, but it was still a nice event and I look forward to possibly doing it again in the future.

Silver Comet - Rockmart to Brushy Mountain Tunnel (Polk County, Georgia)

The Silver Comet Trail was created as a rails-to-trails project in 1998. It spans from Smyrna, GA, on the western outskirts of Atlanta, to the Alabama border, distance of 61.5 miles. Combined with the Chief Ladiga Trail, which it connects to at the border, it creates a continues 94-mile paved multi-use trail. Since hearing about the trail shortly after my move to Atlanta about 6-years ago, I've wanted to bike the entire distance. For one reason or another though, I've not found the opportunity and with a big hiking trip coming up in the late spring, I thought I would explore a portion of the trail on foot today. I also enjoy walking some of these less remote paved trails as they give me a chance to listen to podcasts or an audio book. On today's playlist, Jack London's 'White Fang'.

The drive to the trailhead I wanted to start at took me about an hour-and-a-half, but it was a nice drive in Sunday morning traffic. Rockmart is a small town west of Atlanta that offers a nice parking area right in the middle of the small downtown district for those enjoying the trail. There is even a small snack shop and restrooms available. The beautiful Euharlee Creek runs right beside the paved trail and offers a gorgeous little area to start my hike, which is actually more of a walk.

As I begin walking, I start my audio book and just start pumping out the miles. The first part of the trail traverses through the outskirts of town and continues to follow the creek, which offers some nice views. The water has carved some shallow canyons through the area and a number of park benches offer a rest bit to those using the trail. The trail is extremely flat and I'm able to maintain a pace of between 3 and 3.5 mph, even while stopping for the occasional picture. 

The weather couldn't be better today. Even though we're only a few days from Thanksgiving, afternoon temperatures will be in the low 70's and the big blue sky is clear with only the occasional puffy white cloud. I can imagine this could be a very sweaty endeavor in the heat of the Georgia summer, but today, I will barely work up a sweat.

Making my way out of town, the flat trail and formerly railbed has been cut through the undulating hills of the area, which reminds me of the snow tunnels driving up Mount Rose Highway in the late winter near Lake Tahoe, near which I lived for many years. Here though, the snow is replaced with rock, which has either been mechanically or explosively removed to allow the flat trail to pass through. Numerous bikers zip past me as I continue to walk, and I only encounter a handful of walkers/hikers during that same time span.

Reaching my turn at the Brushy Mountain Tunnel, I stop to eat a peanut butter sandwich. The tall long railroad tunnel offers me an opportunity to turn off my audio book and enjoy the reverberation as I belt out some 80's and 90's ballads. It's all in good fun, but it sounds great here. After just short break, I start heading back the way I came. Several more bikers pass by me along the way. Everyone is friendly and greets me with either a wave or a nod. 

Finally getting back into town, I walk a bit west of where I started in order to get a picture of the bridge crossing Euharlee Creek, which has a nice Silver Comet Sign attached to it. Seems like a good photo to have of today's adventure. Total distance covered was 13.9 miles, which on the flat paved surface took me less than 4.5 hours to complete. This is not nearly as adventurous as some of my hikes, but it was still nice to get outside and get some good miles in.

Appalachian Trail - Hightower Gap to Long Creek Falls (Union County, Georgia)

 

Continuing my quest to hike all sections of the Appalachian Trail's (AT) route through Georgia, I organized a Meetup Event to do the short section between Hightower Gap and Long Creek Falls. Several of the friends that I regularly hike with have expressed interest and five people signed up to join me for the hike. I ended up carpooling with two of them to get tot he trailhead, which is a nice change as I normally drive to all of my hikes. The route is a little rough as we have to traverse several miles of Forest Service roads, but with expert skill my friend easily navigated the way in her Audi SUV. We had actually attempted this section a few weeks ago, but when we got to the trailhead, it started pouring down rain and I wasn't confident of my car making out of the area on those rough, muddy roads. Luckily, the weather today seems to be ideal.

After our traditional round of introductions, the five of us hit the trail heading west, which is actually southbound on the AT. The first short section climbs pretty steadily until we reach a point along the side of Hawk Mountain where it levels out and from there, we pretty much follow the contour of the mountain. I'm feeling great and push the pace pretty hard, but when I see others falling behind, I stop and wait for them to catch up.

Soon, we reach an area near Hickory Flats Cemetery that has been cleared out. I'm not sure of the purpose this was done for, but it now just sits as a large grassy field in the middle of the forest. A short distance beyond this oddity, we hit the junction with the Benton MacKaye Trail and the spur to Long Creek Falls, which is our planned rest stop. 

When we walk into the area near the falls, I'm a little surprised to see such a crowd here. There are probably twenty people here enjoying the scenery. They are all very nice and respectful, and a group of backpackers even offers to move their gear from the rock when I begin pointing out petroglyphs below. I've mentioned this in previous write-ups, but I'm fairly certain that this are more conventional petroglyphs, given their style and subject matter. Though the discoloration of the rock and presence of moss in the scratched lines indicates they are likely a few decades old, at least. 

After having a quick snack at the waterfall, we head back to the junction and I ask if anyone wants to continue west to Three Forks, which is only another half-mile or so away. For my purposes, I don't need to do this section, but if anyone else is trying to follow my lead and do all sections, they may need it. One gentleman suggests that he would like to do it and so, we continue the short distance west to the confluence of Stover, Chester, and Long Creeks. 

Heading back the way we came, I pick up the pace a little bit, but still do my best to keep track of my fellow hikers. The return trip is uneventful, but filled with good conversation as always. As we skirt around Hawk Mountain once again, I'm struck by how long and steep the hillside is. While it probably wouldn't be noticeable in the spring or summer with all of the greenery, here in the late fall, it's an impressive incline and I suspect anyone rolling down from the top would find difficulty in stopping themselves for a few hundred yards.

With the hike complete and all of us back at our cars, we make plans to meet at a nearby meadery/brewery for a couple of drinks before heading to our respective homes. Our mileage was just over 8.6 miles today, but they were very easy miles, as this is probably one of the easiest sections of the AT. Still a great way to spend a Saturday though. 

Airmail Arrow via Tom Cooke Trail (Washoe County, Nevada)

One of the first uses of air travel was for the delivery of mail. Since flight technology was just slightly ahead of radio technology, other means had to be used to help pilots navigate. In the 1920's a series of concrete arrows were poured on ridge tops in the western US to direct pilots of these airmail planes to their destinations. The broken remnants of one such arrow remains on a hill overlooking Interstate 80 just west of Reno, NV. I've hiked nearby before and always been curious about the arrow, but never taken the time to find the exact route. As it turns out, it's only about half-a-mile beyond a well known trail known as the Tom Cooke Trail and it's final destination known as Hole in the Wall.

Parking my rental at Mayberry Park along the Truckee River, I head down the paved path and across a somewhat precarious bridge to the dirt trails. The first part climbs steadily until it reaches the ridge that follows the Steamboat Ditch. This ditch was cut to divert water from the river to the higher areas of Washoe Valley when settlers were first moving into the area. Once on the ridge, the trail remains mostly flat for a long distance and offers some spectacular views of the yellow grass covered hillsides of the dry eastern Sierra Nevada foothills.

There are a few hikers and trail runners out this morning. I know this a popular trail and hiked to Hole in the Wall nearly ten years ago. The area just opens up and gives visitors a sense of the vastness of the American West. The trail is easy though and I make good time.

Finally reaching Hole in the Wall, I wade out into the shallow water to see that a new pipe has been installed. Originally, it was literally just a hole in the wall that had been drilled through the mountain to allow water to pass through and continue on via the Steamboat Ditch. It was an interesting tidbit of history, but since my last visit, a large pipe has been added underneath the drilled hole. To my mind, it kind of takes something away from the history of the place, but it is what it is.

From Hole in the Wall, I join a double-track jeep trail and head up the steep incline above the hole. The trail then circles around to the ridge just to the northwest of the site. It's a pretty steep climb and I have to stop for a breather a couple of times, but soon, I reach the flat plateau and walk out to the northern end. There sprawled out before me the airmail arrow has survived the last century with only some mild cracking. Someone has spraypainted the head of the arrow in an with some odd colors and shapes, but it helps it stand out from the yellow grasses surrounding it. The fixture is roughly forty feet long and pointing east towards Reno, which was the presumed destination of the pilots looking for their route.

After taking a few minutes to circle around the arrow seeking the best angle, I start my trek back towards the parking area. The return trip is uneventful, but I do encounter several more people, a couple of which ask me how far it is to Hole in the Wall. I provide my best estimate of their distance to the site.

When I get back to my rental car, I see that I've hiked about 6.4 miles. I take a couple of extra minutes to get some pictures of the river and the gorgeous fall colors of the trees lined along the water. I'm glad I was able to find and visit this site today. It's an interesting piece of history and it was good to get a few more miles in before heading home tomorrow.

Rosetta Stone (Inyo County, California)

Most of the time I lived in Reno, I was always interested in Native American rock art and spent a lot of time in the surrounding region hunting the desert for petroglyphs, pictographs, and geoglyphs created by these ancient peoples. Some of the more well known sites and panels are shared in pictures, but few people talk about their actual locations. Among these is one often called the Rosetta Stone somewhere in the volcanic tablelands north of Bishop, CA. I've searched for this one a few times over the years and had success in finding a couple of it's other well known companions in the general area, including Sky Rock and 13 Moons. This particular one tough has eluded me for roughly 15 years. Recently, I discovered a write-up on the internet, which describes in some detail the exact location of the Rosetta Stone boulder and since I'm in Reno for business, what's a three-and-a-half hour drive each way to finally find this masterpiece.

As strange as it seems, the Rosetta Stone isn't hard to get to at all. It's just difficult to know the exact location (which I will not share here). As there has been a lot of theft and vandalism of these historical treasures over the years, the best way to protect them is to keep their locations in obscurity and I will follow suit on this philosophy. 

After parking my car, I make the short walk down a dusty road until I see the small cave mentioned by the poster mentioned above. I climb up through some rocks and bushes to check it out. I'm very conscious of overhanging rocks that may be home to rattlesnakes. The cave which is probably only big enough to provide shelter to a single adult was obviously used for shelter many times over the millennia, as the ceiling is covered in soot. 

Only about ten yards from the cave a tangle of tall bushes stand guard around the Rosetta Stone. I poke my head in and weave my way through the thick wall of branches to the center where I get my first view. Again, I stamp my feet and make exaggerated coughing sounds to alert any resting critters of my presence. Once inside the natural fortification, I stare at the masterfully adorned boulder that lay directly in front of me. The flat top surface covered with desert patina has a perimeter scratched into it. Within the perimeter line, which acts as a border for the artwork, numerous figures have been drawn with care. These include turkey tracks, a spiral and and a series of concentric circles with a lines drown through them like the sites of a targeting tool. I have no idea what it all means and certainly, it is not truly like the 'Rosetta Stone' in the sense that it will not unlock a lost language to us, but it is magnificent nonetheless. Further, it's the culmination of many years of research and hiking in search of this artwork. I feel a sense of completion having finally located the last of the three famous panels in this area. Experts have suggested the petroglyphs here were carved around 8,000 years ago. It is my sincerest hope that they last another 8,000 years or more.

Prison Hill (Ormsby County, Nevada)

I arranged my schedule during this week in Reno to allow me some time to seek adventure and to spend time with friends. With that said, today I'm going to be exploring a couple of places I've had on my radar for a while. Some years ago, I ran a grueling trail 5k on a small mountain overlooking Carson City, NV from the east called Prison Hill. It's named as such because of the various incarnations of prisons that have been constructed over the decades on the below the northeastern corner of the mountain. These include the Nevada State Prison (now a historic site) and the Warm Springs Correctional Center. It's an unfortunate way for a mountain to get a name, but we give things monikers that relate something about them and I guess this fits.

The trailhead was a little hard to find as Google Maps took me to someone's driveway before I had a difference of opinion with the software and found my own way, which was only a short drive on a dirt road away. The facilities here are like new, as I don't think the declaration of this place as a recreational area happened all that long ago. I'm fairly certain, it wasn't defined as such when I moved to Atlanta just over six years ago. Regardless, I park the car and start heading up the desert trails.

The trail system is fairly complex here and I'm forced to look at my map a few times to ensure I stay on the course I had planned. It's not that I could get lost on this mountain, as it is surrounded by Carson City proper to the west and farms and ranches to the east. However, I have a set amount of time I want to spend here before heading to my next destination and I want to stick to my plan to ensure I have plenty of time. After following a shallow grade for a while, the incline starts to increase and I begin to climb to the ridge. This whole mountain complex is pretty rugged, though the trails do a fine job of keeping to the easier paths.

With the ridge reached, I head north to start the North Loop trail, but soon diverge to climb to the summit of the northern peak, where a pile of white rocks mark the spot. Looking at the map, I had seen a side trail that heads back down from the summit to the North Loop Trail and after spending a couple of minutes at the top for pictures, I take it. 

From here, I continue around the northern 'peninsula' of the mountain, which offers a view of the prison, but to get a decent angle, requires me to bushwhack just a little bit. It's really rocky up here and and it must have taken quite a bit of work to clear out the paths the trails now sit in. Making my way around the backside, the trial follows the contour of the mountain while offering views of the ranches below. In the distance, I hear some cows doing their best to imitate the rooster's welcome to the rising sun.

Soon, I'm back at the junction and making my way back down the mountain towards the parking lot. I hear a couple of mountain bikers in the distance. The way these trails are laid out, I bet they are spectacular for that sport. It's not really my thing though, as I prefer road biking and keeping trails for my feet. Back at the car, I check my distance and see that I'm at 4.2 miles. Not a bad way to start a morning.