Brasstown Bald
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| Brasstown Bald (Enotah) | |
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 Observation tower atop Brasstown Bald |
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  Brasstown Bald (Enotah)
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| Elevation | 4,784 feet (1,458 m) |
| Location | Towns / Union counties, Georgia, United States |
| Range | Blue Ridge Mountains |
| Coordinates | 34°52′27″N 83°48′39″W / 34.87417°N 83.81083°WCoordinates: 34°52′27″N 83°48′39″W / 34.87417°N 83.81083°W |
| Topo map | USGS Jacks Gap |
| Easiest route | Drive or hike |
| Listing | U.S. state high point |
Brasstown Bald is the highest point in the state of Georgia, USA, with a summit elevation of 4,784 feet (1,458 m) above mean sea level. It is also the highest point in the Deep South (as distinguished from the Upper South).
The mountain is known to the native Cherokee people as Enotah. It is named for the former Cherokee village of Brasstown, Georgia, located along the upper Brasstown Creek. Across the North Carolina state line, immediately to its north, is Brasstown, North Carolina, in the Brasstown Township of Clay County, North Carolina.
Brasstown Bald is partly in Towns and partly in Union counties, the peak being divided by the county line. The mountain is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, (part of the Appalachian Mountains), and within the borders of the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The mountain is mostly made up of soapstone and dunite.
On a clear day, it is possible to see the tall buildings of Atlanta from the summit. The U.S. Forest Service has webcams atop the observation tower, and a RAWS weather station further down the mountain. The public can drive to the top via Georgia state route 180 Spur.
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[edit] History
According to the two Georgia historical markers, the area surrounding Brasstown Bald was settled by the Cherokee Indians. White settlers derived the word Brasstown from a translation error of a Cherokee word. Sounding very similar to another Cherokee word, settlers confused the word "Itse'yĭ" (New Green Place or Place of Fresh Green) with "Ûňtsaiyĭ" (Brass). Itse'yĭ, New Green Place, is a Cherokee locative name given to several distinct areas in the Cherokee world, including an area to the North of Brasstown Bald in North Georgia.
Cherokee legend tells of a great flood that swept over the land. Everyone that inhabited the land died except a few Cherokee families that sought refuge in a giant canoe. The canoe ran aground at the summit of the mountain. Having no wild game to hunt and no place to plant vegetation, the Great Spirit killed all of the trees on the top of the mountain so the surviving people could plant their crops. They continued planting until the water subsided.
While the Cherokee legend tells of a treeless mountain top, the term Bald is standard mountain terminology describing mountain tops that have 360 degree unobstructed views. The official name that includes the word Bald in this case was not intended to suggest a once treeless mountain top.
Other names given to Brasstown Bald by the Cherokee: Echia, Echoee, Etchowee & Enotah.
[edit] T.S. Candler Memorial
Former Georgia Supreme Court Judge T.S. Candler is memorialized with a stone monument at Brasstown Bald. T.S. Candler was born to William Ezekiel Candler and Mary Haralson on December 15, 1890 in nearby Blairsville, Georgia. Candler was a graduate from Young Harris College in 1913 and later attended the University of Georgia Law School where he received his degree 1915. After graduating, Candler returned to Blairsville where he began to practice law and became a prominent public figure in the community. He would later be a supporter of creating a visitor's center at Brasstown Bald for the public.
In 1953, T.S. Candler became a Georgia Supreme Court Judge where he served until he retired in 1966. Judge Candler died on September 15, 1971, only 3 months after his memorial was presented.
[edit] Details of the climb
From the northeast, starting at the intersection of Owl Creek Road and the multiplexed Georgia State Route 17 and Georgia State Route 75 near Mountain Scene, the climb is 13.5 km long, gaining 828 m (an average of 6.1%).
From the southeast, starting at the intersection of Georgia State Route 180 and Routes 17 and 75 near Sooky Gap, the climb is 13.1 km long, gaining 790 m (an average of 6.0%).
From the west, starting at the intersection of Route 180 and Georgia State Route 348 near Choestoe, the climb is 14.9 km, gaining 856 m (an average of 5.7%).
The actual climb to the summit starts at the intersection of Route 180 and Route 180 Spur at Jacks Gap. That part of the climb is 4.9 km long at an average gradient of 11.2% (height gain: 551 m).
An additional route to the summit is the Wagon Train Trail, starting at Young Harris College. The trail is traditionally hiked by graduating students and their families on the evening before graduation; a vespers service is held at the summit.
[edit] Tour de Georgia
Brasstown Bald was the site of an hors categorie King of the Mountains stage finish in the 2005 through 2008 editions of the Tour de Georgia.
[edit] Appearances in the Tour de Georgia (since 2005)
| Year | Stage | Start | Winner |
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| 2008 | 6 | Blairsville | Kanstantsin Siutsou |
| 2007 | 5 | Dalton | Levi Leipheimer |
| 2006 | 5 | Blairsville | Tom Danielson |
| 2005 | 5 | Gainesville | Tom Danielson |
[edit] Broadcasting
Georgia Public Broadcasting has construction permits from the FCC for two low-power broadcasting stations at the summit. The digital TV station on channel 12 will be the direct replacement for analog TV station W04BJ in nearby Young Harris, and will also cover for W50AB in nearby Hiawassee (both to the north). New station WBTB FM 90.3 will transmit at just 97 watts, equivalent to several hundred watts because of the height above average terrain of over 700 meters, or more than 2300 feet. Both stations will have Young Harris as the city of license.
[edit] Images
 Georgia Historical Marker #1 |
 Approaching Brasstown Bald |
 Aerial view of Brasstown Bald |
 Picnic area at Brasstown Bald |
 View of Hiawassee, GA |
 Looking north from Brasstown Bald |
 Looking south from Brasstown Bald |
 Brasstown Bald Parking as seen from Summit |
 Road leading up to Brasstown Bald Summit |
 Brasstown Bald Viewing Tower |
 View from Brasstown Bald in February |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Georgia's Named Summits
- 100 highest peaks in Georgia
- Georgia peaks over 4,000 feet
- T.S. Candler Bio Info/State of GA
[edit] External links
- Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Brasstown Bald Visitor Center
- RAWS weather observations at Brasstown (text)
- Forest Service article on Brasstown Bald
- Topographical Map of Brasstown Bald
- Brasstown Bald on Peakware.com
- Brasstown Bald Webcams
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