Brasstown Bald Earthcache
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Voted Georgia's Outstanding Remarkable Cache Location for 2008 by
the GGA
Georgia’s Blue Ridge geologic region forms the North Georgia
Mountains. In this region you will find the highest points in
Georgia, including Brasstown Bald.
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Brasstown Bald is within Georgia’s Blue Ridge geologic region. This
region consists of a variety of igneous, metavolcanic and
high-grade metamorphic rocks, including numerous intrusions of
granite (common and widely occurring type of intrusive igneous
rock) and diabase (holocrystalline, igneous rock similar to
volcanic basalt.) Marble and talc are other resources produced in
the Blue Ridge region.
The metamorphic rocks were originally part of the Precambrian
basement. The volcanic and sedimentary rocks positioned as the
proto-Atlantic Ocean began to shut during the early Paleozoic era.
Gold was formed as the hot rocks interacted with water,
concentrated in the area, resulting in gold deposits that would
later be found in areas such as Dahlonega. A substantial section of
quartzite (quartz sandstone) partially circles the large Tallulah
dome and forms the high bluffs of Tallulah Gorge in northeast
Georgia. Migmatites (rocks with both metamorphic and igneous
characteristics) make up other eastern Blue Ridge rocks and reveal
the very high temperatures reached by these rocks during creation.
The Blue Ridge is a compilation of several stacked thrust sheets,
each with distinctive rock types and structure. A thrust sheet in
the continental crust is a large piece of rock that has been pushed
up and over other rocks along a break in the crust known as a
thrust fault. Thrust faults form in response to compression during
the creation of the mountain. Then once the thrust faults are
formed, they break when thrust sheets move. Along with folding
(bending of rocks) the movement of the thrust sheets is the process
by which rocks are stacked to form mountains. As the proto-Atlantic
Ocean was closing under the edge of the proto-North America, parts
of the continental margin and ocean floor were broken apart and
pushed toward the northwest along the thrust faults. (These faults
now outline the different thrust sheets of Blue Ridge geology.)
Then partial melting formed granite magma that intruded the
overlying stacks of metamorphic rocks. (Today this granite is about
375 million years old.) The major thrust sheets of the Blue Ridge
in Georgia are the Chattahoochee thrust sheet, the Dahlonega gold
belt, the Hayesville-Soque River thrust sheet, and the western Blue
Ridge thrust sheet.
The Chattahoochee thrust sheet, which contains the Tallulah dome,
rests against and partially atop the Dahlonega gold belt running
along the Chattahoochee fault. The Hayesville-Soque River thrust
sheet sits against and partially atop both the Dahlonega gold belt
and the western Blue Ridge along both the Hayesville fault and its
probable equivalent, the Soque River fault. To the southwest the
Dahlonega gold belt rests against the western Blue Ridge along the
Allatoona fault.
The proto-Atlantic Ocean finally closed at the end of the Paleozoic
era, at which time the southeastern part of what is now the North
American continent crashed into what is now the northwest African
continent. This huge collision pushed the entire Blue Ridge
province farther onto the continent by almost 100 miles, strongly
forcing the Paleozoic sedimentary rocks to the northwest into what
is now the Valley and Ridge geologic region.
Erosion of the Blue Ridge area for millions of years has exposed
rocks that were once buried deep inside the Appalachian Mountains.
In some places, erosion has passed through the thrust faults and
partially exposed the rocks buried underneath. Brasstown Bald
(consisting of Great Smoky rocks and surrounded by rocks of the
one-time overlying Hayesville-Soque River thrust sheet) is one of
the greatest examples of such a breach in the thrust fault.
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Brasstown Bald is the highest point within the state of Georgia.
The summit elevation is 4784 feet above sea level. Brasstown Bald
is known to the Cherokee as Enotah (derived from “place of fresh
green” or “new green place.” Brasstown Bald is named for the former
Cherokee village of Brasstown, Georgia, located along the upper
Brasstown Creek. Brasstown Bald is situated partly in Towns County
and partly in Union County. The peak is in Towns County. The
mountain is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and within the
boarders of the Blue Ridge Ranger District of the Chattahoochee
National Forest. The mountain mostly consists of soapstone and
dunite.
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From atop Brasstown Bald, on a clear day, you may see Atlanta,
Georgia from the summit. As a matter of fact, you can see four
states from the Visitor’s Center observation deck. The United
States Forest Service has webcams on the observation tower.
Further, down the mountain a RAWS weather station is located.
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In order to satisfy the requirements of this earthcache you will
need to visit the Visitor’s Center within the five-story
observation tower at the summit of Brasstown Bald. You will be
asked to examine some of the exhibits (there are exhibits which
trace the natural and cultural history of the area) within the
Visitor’s Center and answer a few questions. You will also be asked
a few questions to which the answers can be found along the paved
.6 mile walking trail from the parking area to the summit. This is
a short, but strenuous hike at a steep incline. This trail is
steep, but provides frequent places to rest along the way thus
making it achievable for even some of the most out-of-shape hikers.
As you walk along this trail from the parking area to the summit of
Brasstown Bald the change in the flora is equivalent to walking
1000 miles further north. Rosebay rhododendron are dominant at the
base of the trail. But, purple rhododendron replaces the rosebay as
the trail climbs. At the base, the trees are a variety of hardwoods
and large oak. However, as the trail climbs the trees become
smaller. Near the summit the area is covered by an unusual dwarf
forest. Here twisted and gnarled oaks create an atypical sight.
Because the top of mountain is higher than the base by 500 feet,
you will find an amazing 360 degree view of the surrounding
mountain area. You will be able to see Georgia’s second highest
mountain peek, Rabun Bald. You will also find spectacular views of
the Cohutta Mountains and of Blood Mountain.
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The Visitor Information Center is open daily from Memorial Day
through Veteran’s Day and on weekends in the early spring and late
fall (depending on the weather.)
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To reach Brasstown Bald from Blairsville take US 19/129 south for
8 miles. Turn left onto GA 180. Go 9 miles to GA 180 Spur. Turn
left. Go 3 miles to the Brasstown Bald parking area. There is a
nominal fee to access the Brasstown Bald Recreation Area. There is
no fee to access the summit trail or to enter the Visitor’s Center.
A concessioner operates a shuttle to the summit for a fee (not
required to log the earthcache.)
During the off season, you may wish to confirm that the Visitor’s
Center is open before making the drive. If you would like to
contact the Visitor Information Center before your visit, the phone
number is (706) 896-2556.
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In order to log this earthcache as found, you will need to post a
photo and answer a few questions.
1. Post a photo of you with your GPSr on or near the five-story
Visitor’s Center/Observation Tower at the summit of Brasstown Bald.
(If you are unable to take and post a photo, don't let that stop
you from enjoying this earthcache, learning about Brasstown Bald
and logging this cache as found.)
(The answers to the remaining questions should be emailed to me and
NOT posted on the cache page.)
2. Inside the Visitor’s Center you will find a very nice cut-out
model showing a cross section of Brasstown Bald. Based upon this
model, tell me what seven components make up the geology of
Brasstown Bald?
3. Inside the Visitor’s Center you will find an exhibit of the
Great Buzzard. According to Cherokee folklore, how were mountains
such as Brasstown Bald formed? (This is for fun. Obviously this is
not a geology lesson. But, if we didn’t study geology, we may still
feel our world was formed in manners such as these.)
4. Inside the Visitor’s Center is a very well done exhibit on
recycling. Because, I feel that geocachers can make a difference in
our small way through our CITO (Cache-In-Trash-Out) efforts, I’d
like for you to examine this exhibit. Tell me how long it takes
non-recycled plastic to decompose. Also, tell me how long glass can
continue to be used if it is recycled.
(The answers to the remaining questions will be found along the
trail to the summit. Again, this trail is .6 miles of strenuous
incline. It has several areas at which you may rest making it
accessible for most hikers. However, if you don’t feel that you are
physically able to hike this trail you may omit the following
questions from your requirement. You should also know that there
are shuttles that can take you to the summit for a small fee. If
you are disabled you may still complete this earthcache by making
use of the shuttle service and the elevator at the Visitor’s
Center. I do suggest that if you can make this hike that you do so.
This gives you a better understanding of the elevation of Brasstown
Bald and the changes in nature that occur through this 500 foot
elevation.)
5. At N 34 52.433 – W 083 48.696 you will find a small sign that
explains how nature can act as a sculpture. Tell me what has
sculpted the trees into the wonderfully twisted and gnarled shapes
that you observe here.
6. At N 34 52.269 – W 083 48.564 you will notice a roadway that
crosses the trail. This road leads to the Brasstown Wilderness
Area. This road is currently only available to hikers and horses.
But, tell me for many years what method of transport did families
use to travel this road when it was built in the 1950s.
As of April 11, 2009, I am adding this note
to all of my earthcache listings. I request that you email the
answers to me on the same day that you log your “found it” log.
(This does not have to be the day you visit, just the day you log
the find on the computer.) I also request that you do not log a
“found it” log unless you have actually visited the site of the
earthcache and sent the answers to me. As much as I hate to do so,
I will delete logs of finders who have not provided the appropriate
answers.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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