Man Kills Bear With Log at Ga. Camp Site
HELEN, Ga. — A 300-pound black bear raided a family's campsite, and the father saved his sons from harm by throwing a log at the beast, killing it with a single blow.
Chris Everhart and his three sons were camping in the Chattahoochee National Forest in northern Georgia when the encounter happened Saturday. The bear took the family's cooler and was heading back to the woods when the youngest son, 6-year-old Logan, hurled a shovel at it.
The bear then dropped the cooler and started coming at the boy, said his father. Fearing what might happen next, Everhart, an ex-Marine, grabbed the closest thing he could find — a log from their stash of firewood.
"(I) threw it at it and it happened to hit the bear in the head," Everhart said. "I thought it just knocked it out but it actually ended up killing the bear."
Everhart was given a ticket for failing to secure his camp site, said Ken Riddleberger, a region supervisor for game management with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
"We've not had an attack in Georgia," Riddleberger said. "The key thing to learn from this is if there's a bear around, do not have your garbage or food available. If we manage our food, we won't have bears around."
The attack happened the same weekend that an 11-year-old boy was killed by a black bear while camping in a forest in Utah. Sam Ives was found mauled to death after he was pulled screaming from his tent in the Uinta National Forest, about 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.
Authorities said it was the first recorded fatal attack by a black bear in that state. His family said there was no food in the tent to attract a bear.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
The Chattahoochee - Oconee National Forest
The Chattahoochee-Oconee Forest delivers two forests in one package. Once separate, now combined, they really do have very different characters.
The Chattahoochee is the more rugged of the two, and includes a piece of the legendary Blue Ridge Mountains. Often called"a hiker's paradise," the Chat has over 430 miles of trails that wander through mountains, wind along rolling hills, and traverse wild rivers. You'll find the highest mountain in the state, numerous waterfalls, hundreds of miles of trout streams, and the base of the Appalachian Trail.
The Oconee lays across the gently rolling Piedmont section of central Georgia. This is family fishing, camping, and hiking. Beautiful Sinclair Lake is a real centerpiece here — a fun spot for a range of water and land activities.
Together, these forests offer more than ten wilderness areas, six beaches, and thousands of acres of lakes and streams. The forest is a real draw for history buffs, who can get absorbed in tracing events such as the Trail of Tears and many a Civil War battle.
The lands that make up Georgia's beautiful National Forests were once the lands nobody wanted. The early history of Georgia is a tale of abuse and overuse of the fragile ecosystems. Hydraulic mining for gold, cut and leave practices of early timber companies, wildfires, over-grazing and unregulated hunting and fishing led to a forest that was in need of extensive restoration efforts.
The Forest Service purchased 31,000 acres in four North Georgia counties in 1911 for $7 per acre. In the beginning, the Chattahoochee was part of the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests in North Carolina and Tennessee. Many of the early purchases were old homesteads and abandoned farm lands.
On July 9, 1936, the Chattahoochee National Forest was proclaimed as a separate National Forest. At that time, Forest Service managers began to restore these lands by planting trees, fighting wildfires, controlling erosion and introducing wildlife and fish back into their natural habitat. As a result of a concentrated effort by the Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources personnel, the deer and trout populations which had been virtually eliminated, were brought back to today's healthy and productive level. Today's estimate of the deer population is more than 30,000 animals and a turkey population of over 6,000 birds.
Likewise in 1970, the bear population on the Chattahoochee totaled 106 bears. After 20 years of continually managing the habitat for this animal, the Chattahoochee today boasts a healthy bear population of more than 650 animals.
Today, the Chattahoochee National Forest covers 749,549.71 acres in North Georgia and is managed out of six ranger district offices.
Lodging can be found inside the Chattahoochee National Forest at Fort Mountain State Park http://gastateparks.org/info/fortmt/ or if you are looking for luxury go to: Wilderness View Cabins. Hot Tubs cabins on 6-7 acres. http://www.wildernessviewcabins.com If you truly want to be pampered The Overlook Inn www.theoverlookinn.com also has Hot Tubs and has 4 miles of hiking trails thru the National Forest. All three locations are on top of Fort Mountain.
The Chattahoochee is the more rugged of the two, and includes a piece of the legendary Blue Ridge Mountains. Often called"a hiker's paradise," the Chat has over 430 miles of trails that wander through mountains, wind along rolling hills, and traverse wild rivers. You'll find the highest mountain in the state, numerous waterfalls, hundreds of miles of trout streams, and the base of the Appalachian Trail.
The Oconee lays across the gently rolling Piedmont section of central Georgia. This is family fishing, camping, and hiking. Beautiful Sinclair Lake is a real centerpiece here — a fun spot for a range of water and land activities.
Together, these forests offer more than ten wilderness areas, six beaches, and thousands of acres of lakes and streams. The forest is a real draw for history buffs, who can get absorbed in tracing events such as the Trail of Tears and many a Civil War battle.
The lands that make up Georgia's beautiful National Forests were once the lands nobody wanted. The early history of Georgia is a tale of abuse and overuse of the fragile ecosystems. Hydraulic mining for gold, cut and leave practices of early timber companies, wildfires, over-grazing and unregulated hunting and fishing led to a forest that was in need of extensive restoration efforts.
The Forest Service purchased 31,000 acres in four North Georgia counties in 1911 for $7 per acre. In the beginning, the Chattahoochee was part of the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests in North Carolina and Tennessee. Many of the early purchases were old homesteads and abandoned farm lands.
On July 9, 1936, the Chattahoochee National Forest was proclaimed as a separate National Forest. At that time, Forest Service managers began to restore these lands by planting trees, fighting wildfires, controlling erosion and introducing wildlife and fish back into their natural habitat. As a result of a concentrated effort by the Forest Service and the Department of Natural Resources personnel, the deer and trout populations which had been virtually eliminated, were brought back to today's healthy and productive level. Today's estimate of the deer population is more than 30,000 animals and a turkey population of over 6,000 birds.
Likewise in 1970, the bear population on the Chattahoochee totaled 106 bears. After 20 years of continually managing the habitat for this animal, the Chattahoochee today boasts a healthy bear population of more than 650 animals.
Today, the Chattahoochee National Forest covers 749,549.71 acres in North Georgia and is managed out of six ranger district offices.
Lodging can be found inside the Chattahoochee National Forest at Fort Mountain State Park http://gastateparks.org/info/fortmt/ or if you are looking for luxury go to: Wilderness View Cabins. Hot Tubs cabins on 6-7 acres. http://www.wildernessviewcabins.com If you truly want to be pampered The Overlook Inn www.theoverlookinn.com also has Hot Tubs and has 4 miles of hiking trails thru the National Forest. All three locations are on top of Fort Mountain.
Ellijay, GA
Enjoy Ellijay!
Just a quick – and impossibly scenic – 30-minute drive down the east side of Fort Mountain sits lovely Ellijay, Georgia. Full of friendly greetings and warm smiles, it invites you to while away a few hours. Between the quaint, postcard-pretty town itself and the surrounding area, there’s plenty to keep any visitor busy and happy for days. While the area’s known as Georgia’s “Apple Capital” for its 25 crisp, sweet varieties available from September till December, apples are just the first sweet taste of this place…
Love the great outdoors? The area’s stunning mountains lakes and rivers were made for
boating, fishing, water skiing, hiking, cycling, kayaking, picnicking, hunting and camping. Rustic mountain cabins from simple to luxurious beckon those wanting to wake up to that mountain feeling.
Back in town, downtown Ellijay has everything you need for a wonderful relaxed afternoon – the renowned Heritage Museum, plenty of antique stores, specialty shops, and shady park benches – when you’re ready to “set a spell.” And as the sun sets, why not relax with a glass at a local wine tasting room? Then, perhaps enjoy a meal at one of the many local restaurants – from bustle and red-checked tablecloths to candles and white linen. Finish off the day with a stroll down brick sidewalks in the glow of old-fashioned lampposts and a night in a cozy B&B. It’s all here and ready to welcome you! For all the scoop on what’s happening now in Ellijay, visit http://www.gilmerchamber.com.
Just a quick – and impossibly scenic – 30-minute drive down the east side of Fort Mountain sits lovely Ellijay, Georgia. Full of friendly greetings and warm smiles, it invites you to while away a few hours. Between the quaint, postcard-pretty town itself and the surrounding area, there’s plenty to keep any visitor busy and happy for days. While the area’s known as Georgia’s “Apple Capital” for its 25 crisp, sweet varieties available from September till December, apples are just the first sweet taste of this place…
Love the great outdoors? The area’s stunning mountains lakes and rivers were made for
boating, fishing, water skiing, hiking, cycling, kayaking, picnicking, hunting and camping. Rustic mountain cabins from simple to luxurious beckon those wanting to wake up to that mountain feeling.
Back in town, downtown Ellijay has everything you need for a wonderful relaxed afternoon – the renowned Heritage Museum, plenty of antique stores, specialty shops, and shady park benches – when you’re ready to “set a spell.” And as the sun sets, why not relax with a glass at a local wine tasting room? Then, perhaps enjoy a meal at one of the many local restaurants – from bustle and red-checked tablecloths to candles and white linen. Finish off the day with a stroll down brick sidewalks in the glow of old-fashioned lampposts and a night in a cozy B&B. It’s all here and ready to welcome you! For all the scoop on what’s happening now in Ellijay, visit http://www.gilmerchamber.com.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Mystery of Fort Mountain
Mystery of Fort Mountain
High atop a wind-swept summit on Fort Mountain in the Cohutta Mountain Range, stands the rumbling ruins of an ancient Stone Wall whose prehistoric origin remains steeped in mystery and legend.
Generations of archaeologists, historians, and treasure hunters have unsuccessfully sought to unravel the timeless riddle of the Stone Wall, one of the several enigmatic stone assembles scattered throughout the highlands of Tennessee and other parts of the Southeastern United States.
More than 100 years after the Wall’s discovery, the search goes on for clues to answer three important questions: Who built the Wall, when was it built and for what purpose?
Theories abound, of course, but only a few are considered seriously by archaeologists. The most realistic explanation offered by experts is that the Wall was built by a tribe of Indians around 500 A.D. - possibly for religious purposes. This theory has often been challenged by others who assert that the Stone Wall was built by wandering bands of Welsh Explorers in the 14th Century - possibly as a fortification against hostile Indian tribes. According to Cherokee Indian legends, the Wall was built by a race of people the Cherokees referred to as the “Moon Eyes”. As legend has it, the “Moon Eyes” were a race of light-skinned people who could see in the dark. Because of the language barrier, it is hard to decipher exactly what the Cherokee Indians meant by the “Moon Eyed” people. As Indians are born only with brown or black eyes, could they have been describing a race with pale blue eyes, or light-colored eyes? No one really knows.
The theory that the Wall was built by a tribe of unknown Indians around 500 A.D. for religious purposes is supported by the fact the Wall extends by a precipice on the east side of the mountain and due west to a similar point on the other side. Consequently, the sun rises on the end of the Wall and sets on the other. The Indians worshipped the sun, as they did all things in nature. The fact that no artifacts of any kind have ever been found in or around the area of the Stone Wall supports the theory that the Indians built the Wall for religious purposes. Indian ceremonial objects used in religious ceremonies were always taken with the Indians when they moved to a new location.
Another theory about the Stone Wall’s origin involved a legendary Welsh Prince named Madoc. He supposedly sailed into Mobile, Alabama 500 years ago and worked this way northward toward the Fort Mountain vicinity. Nothing else is known about Prince Madoc except that his name is linked to several stone markings called petrol glyphs in other parts of the southeast.
Yet another theory, which once received wide support, is that Spanish conquistadors, possible Hernando de Soto himself, helped build the wall as a defense against Indian attacks. Self-styled experts enjoy tearing holes in this theory by asserting that de Soto was never in the are long enough to build such a defense system. The explanation most defended by archaeologists today, however, leans toward the Native American connection.
The Stone Wall runs east and west and is 855 feet in length. Approximately every 30 feet circular pits were built into the wall. Its height runs from two feet to approximately six feet, but archaeologists believe that the Stone Wall might have been considerably higher many years ago.
Nobody really knows who built this mysterious Wall of stones that zigzags across the southern face of the most prominent peak of the Cohutta Range in Murray County. Lack of artifacts and written records lead many archaeologists to fear that the legendary origins of the Stone Wall and the secrets once contained within its walls will forever remain a mystery.
While exploring the mystery stay at http://www.theoverlookinn.com/ a luxury B&B or just a mile away stay in a secluded luxury hot ub cabin at http://www.wildernessviewcabins.com/
High atop a wind-swept summit on Fort Mountain in the Cohutta Mountain Range, stands the rumbling ruins of an ancient Stone Wall whose prehistoric origin remains steeped in mystery and legend.
Generations of archaeologists, historians, and treasure hunters have unsuccessfully sought to unravel the timeless riddle of the Stone Wall, one of the several enigmatic stone assembles scattered throughout the highlands of Tennessee and other parts of the Southeastern United States.
More than 100 years after the Wall’s discovery, the search goes on for clues to answer three important questions: Who built the Wall, when was it built and for what purpose?
Theories abound, of course, but only a few are considered seriously by archaeologists. The most realistic explanation offered by experts is that the Wall was built by a tribe of Indians around 500 A.D. - possibly for religious purposes. This theory has often been challenged by others who assert that the Stone Wall was built by wandering bands of Welsh Explorers in the 14th Century - possibly as a fortification against hostile Indian tribes. According to Cherokee Indian legends, the Wall was built by a race of people the Cherokees referred to as the “Moon Eyes”. As legend has it, the “Moon Eyes” were a race of light-skinned people who could see in the dark. Because of the language barrier, it is hard to decipher exactly what the Cherokee Indians meant by the “Moon Eyed” people. As Indians are born only with brown or black eyes, could they have been describing a race with pale blue eyes, or light-colored eyes? No one really knows.
The theory that the Wall was built by a tribe of unknown Indians around 500 A.D. for religious purposes is supported by the fact the Wall extends by a precipice on the east side of the mountain and due west to a similar point on the other side. Consequently, the sun rises on the end of the Wall and sets on the other. The Indians worshipped the sun, as they did all things in nature. The fact that no artifacts of any kind have ever been found in or around the area of the Stone Wall supports the theory that the Indians built the Wall for religious purposes. Indian ceremonial objects used in religious ceremonies were always taken with the Indians when they moved to a new location.
Another theory about the Stone Wall’s origin involved a legendary Welsh Prince named Madoc. He supposedly sailed into Mobile, Alabama 500 years ago and worked this way northward toward the Fort Mountain vicinity. Nothing else is known about Prince Madoc except that his name is linked to several stone markings called petrol glyphs in other parts of the southeast.
Yet another theory, which once received wide support, is that Spanish conquistadors, possible Hernando de Soto himself, helped build the wall as a defense against Indian attacks. Self-styled experts enjoy tearing holes in this theory by asserting that de Soto was never in the are long enough to build such a defense system. The explanation most defended by archaeologists today, however, leans toward the Native American connection.
The Stone Wall runs east and west and is 855 feet in length. Approximately every 30 feet circular pits were built into the wall. Its height runs from two feet to approximately six feet, but archaeologists believe that the Stone Wall might have been considerably higher many years ago.
Nobody really knows who built this mysterious Wall of stones that zigzags across the southern face of the most prominent peak of the Cohutta Range in Murray County. Lack of artifacts and written records lead many archaeologists to fear that the legendary origins of the Stone Wall and the secrets once contained within its walls will forever remain a mystery.
While exploring the mystery stay at http://www.theoverlookinn.com/ a luxury B&B or just a mile away stay in a secluded luxury hot ub cabin at http://www.wildernessviewcabins.com/
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