3/3/09 Chattooga River Trail – Ellicott Rock, SC/NC/GA

HIKERS – Along with our regular hikers today, we had a special group of guests from the Blue Ridge Outdoor Education Center. Director Josh Rood and the Spring 2009 staff.
Todays hikers: Coral Bass, Doug Clayton, Thomas Dunbar, Dave Hinson, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Linda Johnson, Dick Metzgar, Lani Meyer, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Joe Raguckas, Josh Rood, Dan Ross, Doug Russell , Char Sinnock, Pom Sinnock, Dave Standard, Eric Thompson, Matt Wagner, Carole Wintle , Aurora Ziobrowski and “Lili the trail dog”.

ELLICOTT ROCK HISTORY – (the following is from the Mountain X-Press.) In 1810 this section was the site of the Walton War, brought about by a dispute over the Georgia/North Carolina border. At the time, the 35th parallel was accepted as Georgia’s northern border, but no one was exactly sure where it ran. Consequently, the two states could not agree on who owned a 12-mile-wide strip of land in the disputed area.

In the late 18th century this “orphan strip” was home to 50 white settlers’ families, but because neither state policed it, it was also a haven for outlaws and criminals. Georgia laid claim to the section in 1803 and called it Walton County. Both states referred the boundary problem to the U.S. Congress, which did nothing about it. In 1810, North Carolina sent out its state militia to displace the Georgia government, resulting in a battle near present-day Brevard. North Carolina won and took back the area.

Georgia wasn’t satisfied, though, and hired Andrew Ellicott, a noted surveyor from Pennsylvania, to definitively establish the border. In 1811, Ellicott and his large team bushwhacked through rhododendrons and mountain laurel thickets to determine the location of the 35th parallel. He engraved the state boundary on a rock on the east side of the Chattooga River, giving the disputed land to North Carolina. Ellicott Rock, which can be reached only on foot, marks the location.

TRAIL INFORMATION – Parking at Burrell’s Ford Campground parking lot, we hiked up the Chattooga River to Ellicott Rock and back. We also did the side trail up to Spoonauger Falls. It is a mostly flat hike with only a few short inclines. Most of the hike keeps you in view of the federally designated “Wild and Scenic Chattooga River”
The forest is mixed with majestic White Pines and Eastern Hemlocks along with various hardwoods, rhododendrons and mountain laurel. We rate the hike easy except for several large trees down across the trail and one difficult stream crossing (depending on the water level).

Directions: From Walhalla, take SC 28 north to SC 107. Turn right onto SC 107 and follow for 17 miles to Forest Service road 708 (Burrells Ford Road). Travel about 2 miles or so down this gravel road and park in the campground parking lot .

Another great day for a hike! Fair and cold with temperatures ranging from 19 to 38 degrees F. Hiking distance – approx. 7.8 miles.

FLOWERS IN BLOOM: none

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Belted Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Dark-eyed Junco, Cedar Waxwings and Carolina Wren.