Brasstown Bald

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 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 County and in Union County. The peak is divided by the union county-towns county line. The mountain is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and within the borders of the Brasstown 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 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.

History

According to the two Georgia historical markers, Brasstown Bald was first settled by the Cherokee Indians. Its name was derived by a simple Cherokee translation error by white settlers. Sounding very similar, settlers confused the word "Itse'yĭ" (New Green Place or Place of Fresh Green) with "Ûňtsaiyĭ" (Brass). Itse'yĭ, New Green Place, was used to describe the top of the mountain, as it was grassy and devoid of trees.

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 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.

Other names given to Brasstown Bald by the Cherokee: Echia, Echoee, Etchowee & Enotah.

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.

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).

Tour de Georgia

Brasstown Bald has been the site of an hors categorie King of the Mountains stage finish in every edition of the Tour de Georgia since 2005.

Appearances in the Tour de Georgia (since 2005)

Year	Stage	Start	Leader at the summit
2008	6	Blairsville	Kanstantsin Siutsou
2007	5	Dalton	Levi Leipheimer
2006	5	Blairsville	Tom Danielson
2005	5	Gainesville	Tom Danielson

Images

See also

• List of tallest mountains of U.S. states
• Brasstown Wilderness

References

• Georgia's Named Summits
• 100 highest peaks in Georgia
• Georgia peaks over 4,000 feet
• T.S. Candler Bio Info/State of GA

External links

• Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Brasstown Bald Visitor Center
• Brasstown Wilderness and 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