The Great Outsmores

Now that the heat, humidity, bugs, leaves, and football season have left us until the coming year, it’s time to head to the North Georgia Mountains. Cooler weather makes it the perfect time to enjoy Georgia mountain hikes, and they’re plenty of gems to choose from. As the trees lose their leaves, and the summer haze diminishes, mountain trails lend grand vistas of the Blue Ridge, Cohuttas, Cumberland Plateau, and much more.

In the hot summer months, I try to stick to the river trails so that a quick dip can be a quick fix for our infamous heat and humidity. In winter, it seems that Georgia mountain trails take on a whole new identity once the orange and yellow trees succumb to their winter hibernation. Bluffs once enclosed by canopy, now offer stunning views of the valley floors below. I can’t help but wonder if the Blue Ridge were named this time of year, with endless ridge after ridge rolling off into the horizon like waves at sea.

In the coming weeks, I’m going to be profiling some of North Georgia’s best mountain hikes, as well as a couple hikes in neighboring North Carolina. It’s a great time to find solitude on the trail, and frozen waterfalls too. Here’s a taste of what’s coming up, so check back soon or subscribe with those little orange buttons on the top left.

• Cloudland Canyon State Park
  Simply the best mountain hike Georgia has to offer
• Rabun Bald
  Northeast GA’s crown
• The best mountain sunset on New Year’s eve
• Snow hiking in Great Smoky Mountain National Park
  No snow shoes required!
• Brasstown Bald
  Georgia’s highest peak
• Whiteside Mountain, NC
  Walkin’ in the clouds

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Viewing topo maps just got a whole lot easier. It appears that Google Maps now has a topography layer in addition to the satelite and map view.

The above route is a KML (Google Earth) file of the Lowest-to-Highest trail, which by the way looks like one heck of a trail.

TIP: TO DISPLAY A KML OR KMZ FILE IN GMAPS, JUST COPY THE LINK LOCATION AND PASTE IT INTO THE SEARCH BOX ON THE MAIN GOOGLE MAPS PAGE

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From Climbing.com :

“One lucky winner and a guest will receive a extraordinary four night all inclusive stay at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz. Built on the deep-blue waters of Lake Mohonk in 1869, this grand 265-room Victorian castle is one of America’s oldest family-owned resorts. Mohonk – or “lake in the sky” - is a sparkling wonder, tucked away at the top of the Shawangunk Ridge. Rock Climbing at Sky Top! Sky Top is the most dramatic view on the Shawangunk Ridge, and home to over 300 documented rock climbs. Prize includes guiding and round trip airfare. Don’t hesitate, for your chance to win. Courtesy of Mohonk Mountain House, Alpine Endeavors & Climbing Magazine. Enter daily!

The prize package includes:
1. Round-trip airfare for two (2) from select US gateway
2. Four (4) nights’ accommodations, double occupancy in a standard room category
3. All inclusive stay includes meals and taxes (drinks and tips are not included)”

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As a long time Fulton County resident, this one came as quite a surprise. Jay Maxwell, of Bethleham, bagged what maybe the non-typical, state-record bow-kill in

THE SUBURBS!

The guys over at Burnt Pine Plantation taped it at over 225″, which would potentially smash the previous thirty year old record. All on a three acre tract just outside of a Atlanta!

Read the whole Georgia Outdoors News article here…

On a personal note, I love seeing the deer come back in our area. Running around as a kid, I’d never see whitetail in these parts…. now they’re all over the place, usually does, fawns, and some small bucks. Makes me want get over to my in-laws place in Milton a little earlier next time………..

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Over the break, I was talking with one of my old hiking buddies who was actually bitten by a Cottonmouth when he was younger. He’s Ok now, of course, but I hope the following info. will help somebody avoid this kind of horrible encounter and also help us not to fear all snakes as they play their part in our local ecosystems.

Of Georgia’s 40 or so native species of snakes, only six are venomous and dangerous to humans. Most snakes we come across outdoors are not harmful at all, so please don’t harm them! If you encounter a dangerous snake, or you’re unsure what kind it is… leave it alone, and back away slowly.

• Copperhead
  (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix)
  Copperheads, the most common of Georgia’s venomous species, are between two and three feet long when fully grown, and come in two races: Southern and Northern. The Northern race (left picture) is a pale brown or gray, and the Southern race (right picture) appears a dull orange. Both have broken hourglass bands stretching their body’s length. Copperheads are usually lethargic hunters, preferring to lie and wait for passing rodents. They prefer rocky outcroppings common to the mountains, but can be found all across Georgia, save the most extreme Southern portions of the state. Copperheads lie dormant, hibernating all winter, are most active in the Spring and Fall, and become primarily nocturnal during the hot Summer months.

• Canebrake or Timber Rattlesnake
  (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus)
  Timber rattlesnakes, sometimes called Canebrakes, are between three and a half and four feet long when fully grown. They boast a thick triangular head, and come in two “phases,” the pale phase and canebrake phase. The canebrake phase (left picture) has dark V-shaped bands with a dark stripe behind the eye. The pale phase (right picture) is a yellow brown with dark brown blotches and a black tail. They are commonly found in cane and bamboo thickets, rocky outcroppings, and lowland forests.

• Cottonmouth a.k.a Water Moccasin
  (Agkistrodon pisvivorus conanti)
  Four feet long when fully grown, the Water Moccasin can be found around nearly any fresh water habitat including streams, rivers, ponds, marshes, and lakes, especially when bordered by lowland pine forests. Their bodies are a dark brown, with with dark yellow-brown bands. Cottonmouths can be distinguished from other water snakes by the deep between the nostrils and eyes, and a dark stripe on the side of the head, buffered by yellow on top and bottom. Unlike most other snakes, cottonmouths swim with their heads far out of the water. They can also be recognized by their tell-tale white mouth (inside), but I hope most readers don’t ever get close enough to realize what I’m talking about.
• Pigmy Rattlesnake
  (Sisturus miliarius)
  The pigmy rattlesnake is about two feet long when fully grown, with a broad triangular head with interlocking rattlers at the end of a thin tail. Two races inhabit the Georgia, and both races are pictured below:

  Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake	Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake

  Pigmies are one of the more aggressive species, however their short fangs sometimes fail to puncture clothing and boots. They’re common to pine flatwoods, prairies, marshes, and water sheds.

• Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
  (Crotalus adamanteus)
  Georgia’s largest rattlesnake, the Eastern Diamondback can grow up to five feet long. Eastern’s have a broad triangular head, and smoky gray body with dark brown daimonds surrounded by pale yellow. Rattler is horny, and interlocked. Easily distinguished by their light and dark diagnal lines across the face. E. Diamondbacks are very unpredictable, and should be given a wide berth. If you find one, freeze and let the snake move on. Habitats include hardwood and pine forests, palmetto stands, and fields along the coastal plain and peidmont.
• Eastern Coral Snake
  (Micrurus fulvius fulvius)
  Coral snakes are one and a half to two feet long when fully grown, and closely resemble two of Georgia’s non-venomous species, the milk snake and scarlet snake. Coral snakes are slender shiny creatures with yellow, black, and red bands. Their snouts are black, but their non-venomous relatives are red. Coral snakes are found mostly in Southern Georgia, near marshy wooded areas and streams. They are usually very shy, and solitary, but are highly venomous and should be avoided at all times. To distinguish a Coral snake from it’s harmless relatives, remember these three things:
  1. Red and yellow bands touch = dangerous
  2. Coral snakes have black noses
  3. ” If red touches yellow, it can kill a fellow. If red touches black, it is a friend of Jack.”

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The kickoff tourney will be over on Clarks Hill this Sunday, the 18th. You may have to join the website to regesiter, but it’s free all the way. This is a great way to give back to those who have given so much to us.

From AIM’s website :

“Attention! AMI Members from Canada and the USA, it’s your duty to recruit a soldier to AMI for a fishing expedition! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to hook up with an American or Canadian soldier from November 18, 2007 to June 7, 2008 for the chance to win a spot on an all-expenses-paid pike fishing trip with AMI founder and master angler Dave Abbott. To start, sign yourself up for the Take a Soldier Fishing derby. Then, feel free to head down to the kick-off event on November 18, 2007. Free AMI Measuring tapes will be handed out at the event to help you measure those big catches. You’ll also get a unique PIN to write on your AMI tape – so we can make sure the right fish are credited to your Livewell! Location: Clarks Hill, Wildwood Park Appling, Georgia Time: 7 a.m. Start Time The Best Superfish from this single event will win the first spot to go on the grand prize trip with Dave. Of course, any other angling you or your soldier buddy do, regardless of making it out to the kick-off event, counts toward your individual totals to win a second spot on the trip. Make sure you still sign up for the derby, get your unique pin, order an AMI measuring tape (or use one from a previous competition!) and continue fishing with your partner and add your catches to the Take A Soldier Fishing derby on AMI. Each week between the kick-off event and June 7, 2008 will give you the opportunity to win the Best Weekly Superfish & the Best Weekly Grand Master. Every weekly winner will be entered to win the second spot on the trip with Dave. So what are you waiting for? It’s your duty to take your soldier buddies out for the chance to win an unforgettable angling experience with AMI! Stand up for your country and sit down for a fun day of fishing with a soldier.”

A big thanks to Doug for the heads up on this…

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John over at Hog Island Boat works sent me this yesterday. These things are for real (or should I say reel?). My favorite part is when the six man raft gets dumped by some Class IV water on the Lochsa River, ID, and these guys run it upright in a drift boat.

If interested, y’all can find more info. here about Hog Island Boat Works & their roto-molded drift boats.

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In response to recent public comment regarding Georgia’s dove hunting season structure, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) has created a convenient online dove season questionnaire, available at www.gohuntgeorgia.com . The purpose of the questionnaire is to provide hunters an opportunity to share their opinions on certain aspects of Georgia’s current dove hunting season schedule. The 2007-2008 season runs Sept. 1-15, Oct. 6-15 and Nov. 22 – Jan. 5. Questionnaire responses will be considered as public input in the Department’s effort to evaluate potential season alternatives.

“WRD recognizes and appreciates the desire recently expressed by many hunters for late-season dove hunting opportunity,” says assistant chief of Game Management John Bowers. “We value public input in developing seasons and regulations that are not only biologically sound but that also reflect the desires of the public.”

Classified as migratory birds by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), doves are regulated under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Under this authority, states must adhere to the USFWS framework which provides for an opening date no earlier than Sept. 1, a closing date no later than Jan. 15, no more than three seasons and a total of no more than 70 days. Georgia’s current season conforms to this framework. However, considering the recent feedback regarding the desire for more late-season hunting opportunity (i.e. additional days in January), WRD is assessing the possibility of adjusting the current season structure to accommodate the public input. In order to do so, the proposition to adjust the current season must be presented and approved.

Upon assessment of public input, WRD will evaluate potential season alternatives and present these to the public through a series of public meetings in Jan. 2008. Based on those meeting responses, WRD may or may not propose a regulation change to the Board of Natural Resources. The board will review any submitted proposals in the spring of 2008.

Hunters and other interested parties can access the online survey at www.gohuntgeorgia.com - click on “Hunting” and then the link “New: Dove Season Evaluation,” located near the top of the page. The online evaluation is available through Jan. 18, 2008.

For more information or questions regarding the dove season survey, contact WRD Hunter Services at (770) 761-3045. For general information regarding dove season, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com or call (770) 918-6416.

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Clarks Hill Lake on the South Carolina border near August will host the Bassmaster Weekend Series Championship bass tourney this weekend from Nov. 14th to 17th.

The tournament will be headquartered at Wildwood Park, in Appling, GA. What’s at stake? Only 100,000 big ones and an elusive Bassmaster Classic berth. Check out the BASS Reporter’s notebook for more information or check back here for the results.

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It was James Pirkle’s first deer, but it was a huge milestone for the charitable program. Sealey’s Deer Cooler in Jefferson, one of the deer-processing companies that accept venison for the GH4H program collected the donation while GA DNR officials were on hand, and even doled out a prize pack.

Read more

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