September 26, 2013
September 26, 2013
We woke outside Chattanooga, TN to better weather this morning. It is still overcast, but the clouds look higher. From our campground I can see the top of Lookout Mountain so we head up there. The eastern side of the Appalachians is a series of parallel steep ridges and valleys, akin to corduroy. Lookout Mountain is one ridge. As we head up the mountain we find it packed with nice houses with extraordinary views. At the top we drive to Point Park at the far northeast end. As we walk out to the Point, it starts to rain and the clouds descend obscuring our view. With clear weather you are supposed to be able to see for miles. We walk around the rocky precipice reading about the taking of Lookout Mountain during the Battle of Chattanooga. It is known as the “Battle above the Clouds”. With our weather today, I can relate to the soldiers involved.
From Chattanooga, we head an hour west to Russell Cave National Monument in Alabama. I was expecting this to be a cave visit but it turns out to be an Indian archeology site. Digging into the cave floor, scientists found evidence of habitation by Indians for the last 8000 years. I didn’t find the archeology to be that interesting but after walking out to the site, I was intrigued by the geology. Next to the cave is a large stream that disappears into a second cave. I notice the water source is a third cave. Then I realize that the stream is an underground river or spring that just happened to find the light of day because a section of roof fell away.
An hour south of the cave is Little River Canyon National Preserve. I feel a little déjà vu because the park is atop Lookout Mountain. Apparently the ridge extends all the way here from Chattanooga. At the Visitor Center we watch a movie about it and then drive down the western rim stopping at several lookouts. One has a nice waterfall, but in winter, this stream apparently roars with flow. The canyon is nice but I am more intrigued by the fact that this is a river-cut gorge that runs down the center of a flat top ridge (called a mesa in Arizona).
Afterwards we drive east into Georgia and stay at a lakeside campground. As we pull in, I notice a sign for Allatoona Pass Battlefield. Ooh, a bonus! Aimee groans. While she cooks dinner, I walk to check it out. It looks like just a plaque, or two or three. Wow, there is an extensive trail with tons of storyboards. It turns out to be a very cool battlefield. I don’t care that the battle was small and probably insignificant. After the fall of Atlanta, Sherman marched south. The Rebels decided to attack his supplyline from Chattanooga. Allatoona was a pinchpoint. Here the rail line runs through a narrow man-made ravine cut. On both sides, Union troops built small forts with supply bases. The rebels attacked on October 5, 1864, outnumbering the Union greatly. Fortunately they were dug in well and had a supply of new Henry repeating rifles. They survived.
We woke outside Chattanooga, TN to better weather this morning. It is still overcast, but the clouds look higher. From our campground I can see the top of Lookout Mountain so we head up there. The eastern side of the Appalachians is a series of parallel steep ridges and valleys, akin to corduroy. Lookout Mountain is one ridge. As we head up the mountain we find it packed with nice houses with extraordinary views. At the top we drive to Point Park at the far northeast end. As we walk out to the Point, it starts to rain and the clouds descend obscuring our view. With clear weather you are supposed to be able to see for miles. We walk around the rocky precipice reading about the taking of Lookout Mountain during the Battle of Chattanooga. It is known as the “Battle above the Clouds”. With our weather today, I can relate to the soldiers involved.
From Chattanooga, we head an hour west to Russell Cave National Monument in Alabama. I was expecting this to be a cave visit but it turns out to be an Indian archeology site. Digging into the cave floor, scientists found evidence of habitation by Indians for the last 8000 years. I didn’t find the archeology to be that interesting but after walking out to the site, I was intrigued by the geology. Next to the cave is a large stream that disappears into a second cave. I notice the water source is a third cave. Then I realize that the stream is an underground river or spring that just happened to find the light of day because a section of roof fell away. 
An hour south of the cave is Little River Canyon National Preserve. I feel a little déjà vu because the park is atop Lookout Mountain. Apparently the ridge extends all the way here from Chattanooga. At the Visitor Center we watch a movie about it and then drive down the western rim stopping at several lookouts. One has a nice waterfall, but in winter, this stream apparently roars with flow. The canyon is nice but I am more intrigued by the fact that this is a river-cut gorge that runs down the center of a flat top ridge (called a mesa in Arizona). 
Afterwards we drive east into Georgia and stay at a lakeside campground. As we pull in, I notice a sign for Allatoona Pass Battlefield. Ooh, a bonus! Aimee groans. While she cooks dinner, I walk to check it out. It looks like just a plaque, or two or three. Wow, there is an extensive trail with tons of storyboards. It turns out to be a very cool battlefield. I don’t care that the battle was small and probably insignificant. After the fall of Atlanta, Sherman marched south. The Rebels decided to attack his supplyline from Chattanooga. Allatoona was a pinchpoint. Here the rail line runs through a narrow man-made ravine cut. On both sides, Union troops built small forts with supply bases. The rebels attacked on October 5, 1864, outnumbering the Union greatly. Fortunately they were dug in well and had a supply of new Henry repeating rifles. They survived.
posted by Mike and Aimee at 5:43 PM
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