Wesser Bald, Macon County (10-25-12)
Read MoreAppalachian Trail
Not to contradict myself but there are actually two routes to the top. From the trailhead you can either go straight up the old access road (right) for 0.9 miles or along the A.T. (left) for 1.4 miles. The old access road is shorter and therefore steeper, much steeper. If you really want to see what both are like do what I did, ascend via the A.T. and return down the old road...your lungs will thank me for it...
Wesser Bald - 4,627'
The steel frame is all that remains of the original fire tower which, originally, was capped by an enclosed cab. The cab burned sometime after the tower was abandoned in the 1960's. In the 1990's the current wooden observation deck was placed atop the remaining steel frame for the benefit of hikers...
Wesser Bald - 4,627'
The grand northern panorama...
The view north is breathtaking. the broken landscape drops away 3,000 feet to the waters of Fontana Lake, just visible in the center of the shot. Rising like a misty wall in the distance is the main ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains. A keen eye would be able to count no less than eight 6,000' peaks in this frame!Wesser Bald - 4,627'
...and an even closer look at the Smokies. In this shot you can clearly see four peaks along the ridge line. To the far left is Silers Bald (5,574), highest just right of center is Clingmans Dome (6,646'), immediately to the right of Clingmans, barely visible, is Mt. LeConte (6,574'), and to the far right is Mt. Kephart (6,217')...
Wesser Bald - 4,627'
The eastern panorama...
Overlooking the valley of the Little Tennessee River, the peaks and ridges are almost too numerous to count. It doesn't seem like it in this shot but the clarity in this direction was incredible. The high peak in the distance just to the left of center is Richland Balsam (6,400'), nearly 40 miles away!!Wesser Bald - 4,627'
The panorama south and west...
To the far left is the summit of Rocky Bald (5,324'). The distant ridge to the left of center includes Wayah Bald (5,334') which is the home to another old fire lookout. Somewhere out there in the dead center, 31 hazy miles away, is Brasstown Bald (4,750'), Georgia's highest. Finally, to the right of center is Tusquitee Bald (5,170')...Wesser Bald - 4,627'
The western panorama...
Here I'm looking over the Nantahala Gorge. The high peak to the upper left is Tusquitee Bald (5,170') which is about 12 miles distant, Teyahalee Bald (4,694') is directly ahead, and another regionally famous bald, Cheoah (5,049') rises to the upper right...