VivaLaVida in NW Georgia (update 12/20/13)

[Pschitt]

Thanks to all.

Originally Posted by 86Scotty

Claude, are those icy roadside shots on the way up to Clingman's Dome? I have taken practically that same shot on the road up to Clingman's Dome, and that ice hangs around there all winter.
Just curious.

No, it's along the Russell-Brasstown Byway, near the Hogpen Gap where the Appalachian Trail crosses it.

[tonyvoudy]

Hi Pschitt,

You are in my backyard! (I live in Jasper, GA) Sounds like you are having some great adventures! The ice wall at the top of Hogpen Gap is popular with ice climbers.

-Tony V

[Pschitt]

Hi Tony,

I'm back in Atlanta but I would have some beers with you if I would have seen your message earlier...
Thanks for the details about this ice wall. Actually, ice definitely wasn't thick enough to allow ice climbing.

[Pschitt]

Here is the continuation of my journey in North-West Georgia mountains, begining with a picture of Unico Lake in a cold morning...

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... on the way to Anna Ruby Falls, certainly the most known and visited waterfalls of the area.

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Then I hiked a nice trail to Raven Cliffs, a small cliff with a crack where a waterfall jumps in.

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Detail of the fall...

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Unfortunately, the strong and cold wind brought a lot of freezing clouds in the mountains, allowing me only very poor light...

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Late afternoon, it was much better since I was looking for a boondocking place in the hills.

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I found this one at Whetstone Gap (34.806398, -83.692544), definitely a nice place to stay for the night. The Sunset was colorfull.

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The next morning, I planed to hike to the top of mount Yonah, only about 30 miles away. I drove a forest road found on my GAIA Apps but the road was in really bad state. Many fallen trees and no way to turn back. So I had to take the axe and needed almost 6 hours to progress about 5 miles..!

VivalaVida balanced on two wheels..!

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Low clearance under some trees...

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And definitely no clearance under others..! ;-)

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What a speed average ! :-D

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It was obviously to late to hike Mount Yonah, so I found another nice boondocking place to spend the night (34.78264, -83.71727)

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The next morning, I finally hiked the Mount Yonah which have beautifull cliffs under the top.

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I saw many Great Buzard flying around...

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On even landed just next to me...

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The sighting was just beautiful!

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I was even able to see buildings of Downtown Atlanta, about 80 miles away..!

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That ends this small trip report. Hope you will enjoy it.

[twogone]

Nice... love the can't-turn-around style of travel!

[Zeta]

If you have a 6.0 PSD, that would explain the buzzards.

Excellent trip report.

Z

[86Scotty]

Originally Posted by Zeta

If you have a 6.0 PSD, that would explain the buzzards.

Excellent trip report.

Z

[Pschitt]

Originally Posted by Zeta

If you have a 6.0 PSD, that would explain the buzzards.

So you're also used to these great birds..?

[Zeta]

Buzzards and, occasionally, I'll have a tow truck shadowing me.

Z

[BogusBlake]

Dang, that's a lot of chopping! I'm more of a saw man myself...

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