Whiteside Mountain, Jackson County (3-12-13)
Read MoreWhiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Entering the dark, damp woods...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Not far in the trail splits and you can choose to take the longer, more gradual climb to the cliffs on the left, or head right for the direct route to the top...I'd be going right...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
The trail is steep, but manageable due to the plethora of switchbacks...
IMG7055pWhiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
About halfway up the climb a swanky boardwalk takes you across a rock face that would be a bit troublesome to cross in the frequently damp or icy conditions...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Nearing the ridge, a break in the trees gives a glimpse west where morning clouds still hugged the hills around Highlands...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Another opening gives a preview of the panorama I'd have up top...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
As I gained the ridge, the sun broke out over the summit adding some welcome warmth to my walk...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Despite the hordes of people that crowd this mountain in the summer, the trails are in good shape and don't display the signs of overuse you might expect...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Before long I reached the first rock outcrop which signals the half mile ridge walk...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
A bit of Whiteside Granite, the erosion resistant rock that allows for the dramatic cliffs present on many of the regions peaks...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Shooting into the sun, the view south is dramatic but hard to get a picture of in the morning...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Continuing along the ridge...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
The fencing along the cliff face is evidence that this is a place frequently visited by those that perhaps shouldn't be allowed on mountain tops...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
Above the clouds...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
Along the edge...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
The sun-bleached-yet-still-grand panorama from the cliffs of Whiteside Mountain...
whiteside006Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
The high point of the ridge is located about halfway along it at this large lump of granite...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
Whiteside Mountain summit, 4,930'...
whiteside008Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
A closer look at the summit rock...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
The view south from the summit of Whiteside Mountain, 4930'...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
Looking west along the ridge from the summit. The 4,000'+ Highlands plateau is to the right while the foothills of Georgia stretch into the distance...
whiteside009Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
Beside the summit rock is a through a narrow cleft that takes you out to the edge of the cliffs where a dramatic rescue took place a century ago. A man fell onto a narrow precipice and was seemingly trapped. His friend made a daring free-climb down to him and carried him back to safety...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain
The view from Fool's Rock, so named because of the foolish accident and daring rescue which took place here 100 years ago (see previous slide)...
whiteside013Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Beyond the summit rock the trail along the ridge alternates between open views and forest...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Come for a walk with me along the ridge of Whiteside Mountain...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Yet another overlook...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
In a couple places you can just about lean over enough to get a better grasp as to how massive the cliff you are atop of really are...
whiteside005Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
It was quite nice to have this all to myself...
whiteside017Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Its amazing how trees of any size can grow up here considering how shallow the soil is...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Approaching the end of the ridge...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Just before you reach the east end of the ridge the trail passes an overhanging platform which provides a decent overlook for bird watching, particularly for seeing the Peregrine Falcons that nest here in the spring...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
This is the east end of the loop where the trail makes a sharp, but wide turn back towards the parking area. There are nice overlooks to the north and south here, the north one being particularly interesting as its the only place you can look in this direction on the mountain...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Whiteside Mountain Loop Trail
Looking north, the town of Cashiers peeks from beneath the morning clouds while the 6,000-foot peaks of the Great and Plott Balsam Ranges rise in the distance...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
The Forest Service doesn't encourage folks to hike over to Devil's Courthouse so I'm not going to provide the exact location of the spur trail here. If you want to find out how to get there do what I did and do a little research before you head out...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
Just below where I left the main trail there is another split where you must choose to go left or right. The left trail heads to Devil's Courthouse but check out the right one first, you'll see why in a couple photos...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
The right split is narrow, steep, and a bit overgrown...I'm betting most folks find themselves on it by mistake...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
Part of the reason the Forest Service doesn't want folks out here is the damage that can be done to the environment. I tried to avoid any further damage by carefully staying on already exposed rock whenever I could...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
After a short but steep descent, the right spur trail emerges from the thick understory to this...
whiteside032Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
The view from this over look is simply awe-inspiring...its arguably better than anything you get from up top, mainly because you get a dizzying view of Whiteside's 1,000' cliffs...
whiteside023Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
It doesn't get much better, but more was to come...
whiteside030Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
After climbing back up to the split I was back on the trail to Devil's Courthouse...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
The trail out to the Courthouse is kind of a mess which I rather enjoyed...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
Nearly to the gap between Whiteside and Devil's Courthouse a break in the trees provided my first glimpse of the Courthouse itself...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
A rather slick portion of the trail...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
Once I reached the gap beneath the Courthouse the trail unexpectedly split, I figured if I wanted views the trail that looked to be climbing was the one to follow...
IMG7109pWhiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers
Devils Courthouse Spur Trail
Getting on top of Devil's Courthouse took a bit of scrambling on, over, and around rocks and roots...I was assured the payoff was worth it...
Whiteside MountainappalachianBlue RidgeplutonHighlandsNantahalaNational ForestCashiers