About Walker County, GA

Chattanooga and the surrounding area is a mecca for people who love the outdoors. Today I joined Chatt-Trekkers for an easy hike to Rock Town on Pigeon Mountain in North Georgia.

Chatt-Trekkers is a group of dedicated hikers, most of whom are also dedicated to their families. That means that the group hikes are organized with kids in mind.

The youngest today was 3. The oldest? [Information redacted]

If you haven't been to Rock Town, you're missing out. Climbers will enjoy the bouldering you can do without ropes and those who just like to explore will appreciate that most of the boulders can be climbed up one side or another without any skill at all (hey, if a 3 yr old can do it...).

It's only about a mile to 'downtown' and there's lots of good clambering spots all along the way.

Dogs are allowed on leashes and there is a fair amount of parking at the trailhead. Given the newly bearable weather we've been having, the elevation made this a popular weekend spot so we ran into a lot of other groups, large and small.

Check out Chatt-Trekkers' web site or facebook page for more information about upcoming trips including a slow water kayaking trip next weekend (again, suitable for littlies!).

So go take a hike!

1. Lather up - don't be caught unprepared: anticipate what is going to happen or what is going to be asked and be prepared with a response.
2. Let someone else pull the rope - accept help: if you can't get where you want to go on your own, look to those who can help you get there.
3. Run - when you can see disaster coming, avoid it whenever possible
4. When they stop pulling on the rope, propel yourself - even if you are counting on someone else to get you where you are going, be ready to make it happen on your own.

No children were harmed in the making of this video (not even mine).

Those who live in NW Georgia might recognize this house. I find it to be in such horrifyingly bad taste that I've got to admire the person who picked out those colors, thereby giving the proverbial finger to anybody who might dare question his choices. This is a true individual, not someone who follows the herd in painting his house the nice neutral colors (boring!) that other mere mortals would approve of.

Paint on, crazy-colored-house person, paint on!

Originally posted at JuliaOdom.com

Last weekend the 145^th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga was celebrated with a massive reenactment.

The Battle of Chickamauga was a bloody and costly 3 day fight that gave the Union forces one of its biggest defeats. It saved Chattanooga from Union control temporarily, until Sherman and Grant engaged the Battle of Chattanooga that November.

The Union Army under General William Rosencrans marched from Murfreesboro approximately 90 miles south east to Chattanooga with the plan to drive out the Confederate Army. Chattanooga was a key to victory in the war, because of it was a rail way hub and a commerce and manufacturing center. Taking Chattanooga would provide a direct route for the assault on Atlanta. President Lincoln said that "whoever controls Chattanooga will win the war."

Union General Rosencrans split up his 3 corps to surround the confederate army which had been reinforced by armies from Virginia and Mississippi. With the Union forces divided, the Confederate General Braxton Bragg engaged one of the Union corps at Chickamauga Creek on September 18. The battle was joined by both armies and lasted until September 20.

Union forces under Union General George Thomas made a valiant stand that saved the Union army from a more disastrous defeat. For this he earned the name the Rock of Chickamauga. The Union army under Rosencrans withdrew to Chattanooga, where is was laid siege for 3 months

The battle of Chickamauga stopped the Union army advance on Atlanta until Sherman and Grant gave the final defeat of the Confederate forces in Tennessee.

The Chattanooga and North Georgia area has an active community of Civil War enthusiasts, including dedicated partipants in the annual reenactments. There are 4 annual reenactments. The Battle of Bridgeport in March, Resaca in may, Tunnel Hill in September, and Missionary Ridge in November. The City of Chickamauga (The Gettysburg of the South) has the War Between the States Day, the third Saturday of September on the grounds of the Gordon-Lee Mansion and Crawfish Springs.

The 145^th anniversary was done on a large scale with thousands of observers. This link is to the Times Free Press article about Saturday's events and has a very good video. The reenactment was attended by Vice President Dick Cheney. This was the first reenactment of Chickamauga since 1999 and was 1 year in preparation. The reenactment was sponsored by the Lakeway Publishers who publishes the Civil War Courier .

Richard Smith
American Acceptance Mortgage, Inc
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