Brasstown Bald
Encyclopedia
Brasstown Bald is the highest natural point in the state of Georgia
, USA
, with a summit elevation
of 4,784 feet (1,458 m) above mean sea level
.
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 webcam
s 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.
According to the two Georgia
historical marker
s, the area surrounding Brasstown Bald was settled by the Cherokee
people. 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 crop
s. They continued planting until the water subsided.
While the Cherokee legend tells of a treeless mountain top, the term "bald" is common mountain terminology describing mountaintops 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 mountaintop, the way the term is used for most other Appalachian balds.
Other names given to Brasstown Bald by the Cherokee: Echia, Echoee, Etchowee & Enotah.
. 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 three months after his memorial was presented.
Georgia 17
and Georgia 75
near Mountain Scene, the climb is 13.5 kilometres (8.4 mi) long, gaining 828 metres (2,717 ft).
From the southeast, starting at the intersection of Georgia 180
and Georgia 17/75 near Sooky Gap, the climb is 13.1 kilometres (8.1 mi) long, gaining 790 metres (2,592 ft), an average of 6.0% grade.
From the west, starting at the intersection of Georgia 180 and Georgia 348
near Choestoe, the climb is 14.9 kilometres (9.3 mi), gaining 856 metres (2,808 ft), an average of 5.7% grade.
From the intersection of Route 180 and Route 180 Spur at Jacks Gap the climb is 4.9 kilometres (3 mi) at an average gradient of 11.2%, (height gain: 551 metres (1,808 ft)).
An additional route to the summit is the Wagon Train Trail
, starting at Young Harris College
. The trail is traditionally hike
d by graduating students and their families on the evening before graduation
; a vespers
service is held at the summit.
.
transmits from atop the mountain, simulcasting with KXI75
from Blue Ridge, Georgia
. The programming originates from NWSFO Peachtree City.
Georgia Public Broadcasting
had or has construction permit
s from the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) for two low-power
broadcast translator stations at the summit. The digital TV station on channel 12 (W12DK-D, license
d December 2009) is the direct replacement for analog TV station W04BJ in nearby Young Harris
, and also covers 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
.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with a summit elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
of 4,784 feet (1,458 m) above mean sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
.
The mountain is known to the native Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
people as Enotah. It is named for the former Cherokee village of Brasstown, Georgia, located along the upper Brasstown Creek. Across the North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
state line, immediately to its north, is Brasstown, North Carolina, in the Brasstown township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
of Clay County, North Carolina
Clay County, North Carolina
-Communities and Townships:Hayesville, with a 2000 population of 297, is the only incorporated town in the county, the county seat, and center of economic activity for Clay County...
.
Brasstown Bald is partly in Towns and partly in Union
Union County, Georgia
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 17,289. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,968. The county seat is Blairsville.Its Sole commissioner is Lamar Paris, who has served since 2001....
counties, the peak being divided by the county line. The mountain is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
, (part of the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
), and within the borders of the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The mountain is mostly made up of soapstone
Soapstone
Soapstone is a metamorphic rock, a talc-schist. It is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich in magnesium. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occurs in the areas where tectonic plates are subducted, changing rocks by heat and pressure, with influx...
and dunite
Dunite
Dunite is an igneous, plutonic rock, of ultramafic composition, with coarse-grained or phaneritic texture. The mineral assemblage is greater than 90% olivine, with minor amounts of other minerals such as pyroxene, chromite and pyrope. Dunite is the olivine-rich end-member of the peridotite group...
.
On a clear day, it is possible to see the tall buildings of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
from the summit. The U.S. Forest Service has webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
s atop the observation tower
Observation tower
An observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision. They are usually at least tall and made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches...
, and a RAWS weather station
Weather station
A weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for observing atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind...
further down the mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
. The public can drive to the top via Georgia state route 180 Spur.
History
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
historical marker
Historical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
s, the area surrounding Brasstown Bald was settled by the Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
people. 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
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
that swept over the land. Everyone that inhabited the land died except a few Cherokee families that sought refuge in a giant canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
. The canoe ran aground at the summit of the mountain. Having no wild game to hunt
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
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 crop
Crop
Crop may refer to:* Crop, a plant grown and harvested for agricultural use* Crop , part of the alimentary tract of some animals* Crop , a modified whip used in horseback riding or disciplining humans...
s. They continued planting until the water subsided.
While the Cherokee legend tells of a treeless mountain top, the term "bald" is common mountain terminology describing mountaintops 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 mountaintop, the way the term is used for most other Appalachian balds.
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, GeorgiaBlairsville, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 659 people, 226 households, and 101 families residing in the city. The population density was 619.7 people per square mile . There were 261 housing units at an average density of 245.4 per square mile...
. Candler was a graduate from Young Harris College
Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private, Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college located in the mountains of northeast Georgia. The current president is Cathy Cox, former Georgia Secretary of State.-Origins:...
in 1913 and later attended the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
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
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, where he served until he retired in 1966. Judge Candler died on September 15, 1971, only three months after his memorial was presented.
Distances to summit
From the northeast, starting at the intersection of Owl Creek Road and the concurrentConcurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
Georgia 17
Georgia State Route 17
State Route 17 is a north–south route located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The route runs from its southern terminus at I-16 south of Bloomingdale north to the North Carolina border north of Hiawassee.-Route description:...
and Georgia 75
Georgia State Route 75
State Route 75 is a north–south route located in the U.S. state of Georgia in Towns and White Counties. The route runs from its southern terminus in Cleveland, Georgia at S.R. 11/S.R. 75 Alt/U.S. 129 north to the North Carolina border after passing through Hiawassee, Georgia. S. R...
near Mountain Scene, the climb is 13.5 kilometres (8.4 mi) long, gaining 828 metres (2,717 ft).
From the southeast, starting at the intersection of Georgia 180
Georgia State Route 180
State Route 180 runs for about from SR 60 in Suches to SR 17/75 halfway between Hiawassee and Helen in Union County. SR 180 traverses some of the most difficult terrain in Georgia, traveling the gaps of the highest mountains in the state. The route has two sections known as Bald Mountain Road...
and Georgia 17/75 near Sooky Gap, the climb is 13.1 kilometres (8.1 mi) long, gaining 790 metres (2,592 ft), an average of 6.0% grade.
From the west, starting at the intersection of Georgia 180 and Georgia 348
Georgia State Route 348
State Route 348 is a state route in northern Georgia. S.R. 348 serves as a direct route from Blairsville, Georgia to Helen, Georgia.Also known as Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway, S.R. 348 winds through the Chattahoochee National Forest at elevations ranging from to . It begins at the...
near Choestoe, the climb is 14.9 kilometres (9.3 mi), gaining 856 metres (2,808 ft), an average of 5.7% grade.
From the intersection of Route 180 and Route 180 Spur at Jacks Gap the climb is 4.9 kilometres (3 mi) at an average gradient of 11.2%, (height gain: 551 metres (1,808 ft)).
An additional route to the summit is the Wagon Train Trail
Trails of the Chattahoochee National Forest
There are 86 trails maintained by the U.S. Forest Service in the Chattahoochee National Forest in the State of Georgia. These trails include:...
, starting at Young Harris College
Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private, Methodist-affiliated liberal arts college located in the mountains of northeast Georgia. The current president is Cathy Cox, former Georgia Secretary of State.-Origins:...
. The trail is traditionally hike
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
d by graduating students and their families on the evening before graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
; a vespers
Vespers
Vespers is the evening prayer service in the Western Catholic, Eastern Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgies of the canonical hours...
service is held at the summit.
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 GeorgiaTour de Georgia
The Tour de Georgia is a U.S. professional cycling stage race across the state of Georgia. The race began in 2003 and has been contested six times. It is one of the three events in North America ranked as Hors Classe stage race events by the UCI, which is cycling's international governing body,...
.
Appearances in the Tour de Georgia (since 2004)
| Year | Stage | Start | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 2008 Tour de Georgia The 2008 Tour de Georgia was a seven-stage professional bicycle race held from April 21 through April 27, 2008 across the state of Georgia. The race was part of the 2008 USA Cycling Pro Tour and 2007-2008 UCI America Tour, and was presented by AT&T.... |
6 | Blairsville Blairsville, Georgia -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 659 people, 226 households, and 101 families residing in the city. The population density was 619.7 people per square mile . There were 261 housing units at an average density of 245.4 per square mile... |
Kanstantsin Siutsou Kanstantsin Siutsou Kanstantsin Sivtsov is a Belarusian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam team . He will ride for Team Sky in 2012.-Palmares:2004... |
| 2007 2007 Tour de Georgia The 2007 Tour de Georgia was a seven-stage professional bicycle race held from April 16 through April 22, 2007 across the state of Georgia and into Tennessee. The race was part of the 2007 USA Cycling Pro Tour... |
5 | Dalton Dalton, Georgia Dalton is a city in Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is the county seat of Whitfield County and the principal city of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of both Murray and Whitfield counties. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,128... |
Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a... |
| 2006 | 5 | Blairsville Blairsville, Georgia -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 659 people, 226 households, and 101 families residing in the city. The population density was 619.7 people per square mile . There were 261 housing units at an average density of 245.4 per square mile... |
Tom Danielson Tom Danielson Tom Danielson is a professional road racing cyclist. Previously riding for the Saturn Team on the U.S. Pro Circuit, and for Fassa Bortolo in Europe, Danielson is currently a member of , but rode for the Discovery Channel team between 2005 and 2007.Danielson currently holds the record for the... |
| 2005 | 5 | Gainesville Gainesville, Georgia -Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring... |
Tom Danielson Tom Danielson Tom Danielson is a professional road racing cyclist. Previously riding for the Saturn Team on the U.S. Pro Circuit, and for Fassa Bortolo in Europe, Danielson is currently a member of , but rode for the Discovery Channel team between 2005 and 2007.Danielson currently holds the record for the... |
| 2004 | 6 | Athens Athens, Georgia Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city... |
Cesar Grajales |
Broadcasting
NOAA Weather Radio station KXI22KXI22
KXI22 is a newer NOAA Weather Radio station that serves parts of the north Georgia mountains with 100 watts on 162.500MHz. Its transmitter is located atop Brasstown Bald KXI22 is a newer NOAA Weather Radio station that serves parts of the north Georgia mountains with 100 watts on 162.500MHz. Its...
transmits from atop the mountain, simulcasting with KXI75
KXI75
KXI75 is an older NOAA Weather Radio station that serves parts of the north Georgia mountains with 300 watts on 162.475 MHz from a location near Blue Ridge, Georgia. It is programmed from NWSFO Peachtree City, the National Weather Service forecast office at Falcon Field airport in Peachtree...
from Blue Ridge, Georgia
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Blue Ridge is a city in Fannin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,210 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Fannin County.-Geography:Blue Ridge, GA is located at ....
. The programming originates from NWSFO Peachtree City.
Georgia Public Broadcasting
Georgia Public Broadcasting
Georgia Public Broadcasting is the public broadcasting radio and television state network in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is operated by the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission....
had or has construction permit
Construction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
s from the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) for two low-power
Low-power broadcasting
Low-power broadcasting is electronic broadcasting at very low power and low cost, to a small community area.The terms "low-power broadcasting" and "micropower broadcasting" should not be used interchangeably, because the markets are not the same...
broadcast translator stations at the summit. The digital TV station on channel 12 (W12DK-D, license
Broadcast license
A broadcast license or broadcast license is a specific type of spectrum license that grants the licensee the privilege to use a portion of the radio frequency spectrum in a given geographical area for broadcasting purposes. The licenses are generally straddled with additional restrictions that...
d December 2009) is the direct replacement for analog TV station W04BJ in nearby Young Harris
Young Harris, Georgia
Young Harris is a city in Towns County, Georgia, United States. The population was 604 at the 2000 census. Young Harris is home to Young Harris College, after which it was named.-Geography:Young Harris is located at ....
, and also covers for W50AB in nearby Hiawassee
Hiawassee, Georgia
Hiawassee is a town in and the county seat of Towns County, Georgia, United States. The population was 810 at the 2000 census. Its name comes from the Cherokee word Ayuhwasi, which means a meadow.-Geography:...
(both to the north). New station WBTB FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
90.3 will transmit at just 97 watts, equivalent to several hundred watts because of the height above average terrain
Height above average terrain
Height above average terrain is used extensively in FM radio and television, as it is actually much more important than effective radiated power in determining the range of broadcasts...
of over 700 meters, or more than 2300 feet. Both stations will have Young Harris as the city of license
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
.