Point Park on top of Lookout Mountain is beautiful and usually you can see the Tennessee River and the city of Chattanooga beyond these canons, but that was not true this past weekend. The mist was thick. Still, I walked down to the overlook just to see this awesome view.

The park was built in 1905 to commemorate the Civil War “Battle Above the Clouds.” Most of the actual fighting took place on the mountainside and not in the vicinity of the park. Carter Stevenson, commander of the three brigades that defended the area positioned canons atop Lookout Mountain to aid in it’s defense. Once the canons became ineffective, they were withdrawn.

The park has numerous monuments to the soldiers who died in the area. The battle for Chattanooga changed the outcome of the Civil War. It was the beginning of the end for the South. The next spring Sherman used Chattanooga for his base as he started his march to Atlanta and then on to the sea.

North Georgia has been under the cover of fog and rain for the past few days and more is on the way. Most people have heard or seen “See Rock City” signs. This past weekend, I was in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and drove up to Rock City before leaving and let me tell you that there was no way to “see” it. The fog was too thick and the clouds way too low. However, I did see this Starbucks at the top of the mountain and that was a welcomed treat.

Even though the day was rainy in Chattanooga, the time spent inside with friends was warm and relaxing.

Quite a different place to put in canoes and kayaks. That is what the small center ramp  is used for.

This past weekend I was at Vogel State Park with the dogs and while it was as beautiful as always, there was something missing. I think it was the people, those who camp and swim and relax in the little boats while floating lazily out across the water.

Wow! Here’s another lakeside view.

Here is a quick photo of Hog Pen Gap, which is located on the Appalachian Trail. Just a short distance south of this point is the Walasi-Yi Center at Neel’s Gap where the trail crosses the mountains. In fact, the center’s breezeway contains the familiar white blaze that marks the AT. The trail actually runs through the structure. It’s the only building that actually sits on the trail. It’s here that thru hikers stop, repack, and unload items they realize they won’t use. I’ve written this before but I have found out new information.

The Mountain Crossings Center at Walasi-yi was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936 and completed in 1937. It was originally an inn and restaurant for the brave souls, who ventured this far into the wilderness. This is the oldest part of the AT. A hundred years before the trail was constructed, the Cherokee Indians had a path in this area. It was a major trade route and settlers often wrote about Frogtown Gap, the original name for Neel’s Gap.

The remains of the original Cherokee town are below the Walasi-yi Center. This portion of the AT climbs 800 feet in a mile and a half to the breath-taking vista on Hogpen Mountain.

I love visiting Neel’s Gap any time of the year. I always take the dogs but we did not go far this year along the AT. I’ll write more about that on the next post.

Isn’t this a cool looking structure and it’s located flat on the AT.

It always amazes me how many shoes are left behind at Neel’s Gap. Hikers who don’t have the right gear to hike the trail usually know it by the time they reach this point and shed the things that just don’t work. In the case of “shoes,” hikers leave their old ones behind (some toss them up in the generous oak that borders the center) and purchase new ones at the Mountain Crossings Walasi-Yi Center.