Cowpen Mountain, Fannin County, GA

The ever elusive Cowpen Mountain. 4,149'

We took the East Cowpen Trail at the three forks parking area, and hiked 1.3 miles to where it leveled off at 4,100'. Not having a detailed map, we happened upon a Boy Scout Troop, and decided to walk the ridgeline back to find the summit.

We headed up the ridgeline and walked through numerous blackberry bushes, (very thorny) .5 mile, the trail was to our left side. As we were giving up, we found a peachtree, and under the peach tree was the summit sign and cairn. We had made it! For those of you wanting easy directions to the top do the following:

1. Park in the 3 Forks Parking Lot.

2. Hike 10 minutes to the split off to the Rough Ridge Trail. Keep straight.

3. Hike 10 more minutes to a gentle slope in the trail that bends right. Before the bend there is a creek bed on the left. We stacked a cairn at the creek bed. Turn left uphill.

4. Hike straight up the mountain for 8-10 minutes. Light bushwhacking is required.

5. Look for the Peachtree, the sign and the cairn. Mission Accomplished.

6. To get back down reverse the directions.

7. Let cool and serve. Serves 4-6.

Photos Here: Cowpen Mountain

Bald Mountain, Murray County, GA

Today we had two more 4000' on tap in the North Georgia Mountains.

First up, Bald Mountain 4005' the 29th highest in Georgia.

We drove to Elijay, GA and had lunch at one of the endless quaint cafes' in town. The name was Crumbs and Corks. These folks also had a shop that sold wine and sold cute little gifts. One framed saying stated.

"Cats are children in fur coats." <---HOW TRUE!

Anyway, after a mean egg salad sandwich we departed for the trailhead.

At the "Tearbritches Trail" trailhead we hiked a whopping 4/10 mile to the summit, and let me assure you this mountain was not "bald" It was very dense forest. 15 minutes later we were on the way to Cowpen Mountain. I don't name them I just climb them.

Photos Here: Bald Mountain