Wednesday, October 25, 2006

B&W Overlook at Walasi-Yi

I had a chance to go on a mini-vacation with my parents over a weekend to Blue Ridge, GA. During that time, we visited Amicalola Falls and stopped by Brasstown Bald on our way back. The fall colors were in peak and I got several nice shots of bright yellows, oranges, greens and browns; all the autumn colors.

The following 37 photographs (or so) were taken on this trip. Posted by Picasa

Blood Mountain Marker

This marker is located at Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi on Blood Mountain. Walasi-Yi is the only place that the Appalachian Trail goes through a man-made structure. Walasi-Yi offers a hostel to hikers as well as a general store for food, clothing and supplies. Posted by Picasa

Overlook at Walasi-Yi

A view from Mountain Crossings at Walasi-Yi.

Tv: 1/125
Av: 13.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 40.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Amicalola Falls State Park

The following 12 photographs were taken at Amicalola Falls State Park.

Amicalola Falls is the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. The park itself is a starting point for northbound hikers of the Appalachian Trail (see posts below). Posted by Picasa

Appalachian Trail Marker

Amicalola Falls lies 8.5 miles away from Springer Mountain, the beginning point of the Appalachian Trail. This marker outside the park's visitor's center tells some of the history and significance of the Applachian Trail.

Tv: 1/400
Av: 4.0
Exposure Compensation: +1/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 22.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Appalachian Trail Approach

Here is the sign just outside the park's visitor's center signifying the start of the Appalachian Trail approach.

Tv: 1/80
Av: 5.6
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Tree

I took this shot because the leaves on the tree were extraordinarily colorful against that grey sky. It had rained the night before and the morning of this trip was rather overcast.

Tv: 1/1600
Av: 5.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 27.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Steps

As mentioned in the picture below, there are about 175 steps to climb to get to the base of the falls. If you want to go to the top, you have two choices:

1. You can drive to the top

2. You can park at the entrance to the park, hike a half-mile trail, climb 175 steps to the base of the falls and then climb another 425 steps to get to the overlook.

I did both. Driving to the top was less tiring (obviously), but you miss some great views if you go that route.

While 600 steps are a lot to climb, it's not quite as bad as the 1200+ steps to get to the base of Tallulah Falls in Tallulah Gorge State Park.

Tv: 1/40
Av: 10.0
Exposure Compensation: +2/3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 18.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

The Base

This is a view from the base of the falls. You must walk a 0.5 mile trail from the Amicalola Falls State Park Visitor's Center and then climb about 175 steps to get to this point.

Tv: 1/10
Av: 20.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 52.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Amicalola Creek II

As stated in a photo below, I'm not really sure what the creek's name is that forms Amicalola Falls, but this is a photo of it at the base.

Tv: 1/15
AV: 11.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 18.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Amicalola Falls III

A view of the falls from the steps leading up to the base.

Tv: 1/50
Av: 11.0
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 55.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Amicalola Falls II

A view of the falls from the steps leading up to the top.

Tv: 0.3
Av: 36.0
Exposure Compensation: -2
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Amicalola Falls

A view of the falls from the base approach trail.

Tv: 1/6
Av: 18.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Amicalola Creek

To be honest, I don't have any idea what the name of the creek is that actually makes up Amicalola Falls. I probably need to find out. However, I'm going to call it Amicalola Creek.

If you know for sure, leave me a comment correcting my mistake (if, in fact, I did make one).

This was taken at the base of the trail leading up to the base of the falls.

Tv: 1/8
Av: 10.0
Exposure Compensation: -1/3
Focal Length: 28.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Amicalola Falls Overlook

This was taken at the top of the falls. I didn't get as much of the falls in the photo as I wanted.

Tv: 1/25
Av: 6.3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 22.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Branch at Amicalola Falls

There's not too much to describe in this photograph. The colors are what I was after.

Tv: 1/320
Av: 3.5
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 22.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Fall Foliage

You've pretty much got all the autumn colors you could want wrapped up in this one picture.

I was sitting on the back deck of the cabin and wanted to get a shot of leaves filling the frame to display the colors. I took this shot and actually cropped into it to just show this one tree. I like the way it turned out.

The next 7 photographs were taken from the cabin in Blue Ridge, GA.

Tv: 1/60
Av: 5.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 43.0mm
WB: Shade Posted by Picasa

Tree Through the Leaves

I thought this was an interesting shot. The leaves almost appear to be on fire.

Tv: 1/25
Av: 5.6
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0mm
WB: Shade Posted by Picasa

Cabin View II

Another view from the front porch of the cabin at Blue Ridge. I think in all of these shots, you can really tell why they call these the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sometimes they're more blue than others depending on the time of day, but they always seem to be blue.

Tv: 1/800
Av: 6.3
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0mm
WB: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Sunlight In The Cabin

I liked the way the sun was shining through this windowon the second floor of the cabin and wanted a picture of it. When I take these photos, I always have a mental picture of how I want them to look after I've downloaded them from my memory card...sometimes they look right and other times they don't. This one didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it, but I like it nonetheless.

Tv: 1/13
Av: 5.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 21.0mm
WB: Cloudy Posted by Picasa

Rocking Chair

This is pretty self-explanatory. I don't know why I like this picture, but I do. Maybe it's just because it's really simple.

Tv: 1/8
Av: 3.5
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 18.0mm
WB: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Front Porch

Taken on the front porch of the cabin at Blue Ridge. Very relaxing.

Tv: 1/15
Av: 20.0
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 27.0mm
WB: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Flowers at Blue Ridge

These had to be hearty flowers to still be blooming like this as cold as the nights were up there.

Again, I'm no flower expert...so, if you know what these flowers are called, you can comment and let me know.

Tv: 1/50
Av: 5.6
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 55.0mm
WB: Daylight Posted by Picasa

Cabin View

This is the view from the front porch of the cabin at Blue Ridge.

Tv: 1/50
Av: 5.6
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 38.0mm Posted by Picasa

Brasstown Bald - The Highest Point In Georgia

The next 14 pictures were taken at Brasstown Bald, the highest point in the state of Georgia. It rises 4,784 feet above sea level making it the 8th highest peak east of the Mississippi River. Brasstown Bald is part of the Blue Ridge Mountain chain in Georgia and is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest.

At the top of the mountain, there is a Visitor's Center complex operated by the US Forestry Service. A full 360 degree view is offered by the observation deck. A museum is also housed in the Visitor's Center at the top which contains several exhibits.

Brasstown Bald is a unique mountain in that the weather patterns are more similar to those found in the northeast United States. The highest temperature ever recorded on Brasstown Bald was 84 degrees (F) and the lowest was -27 degrees (F). It is also the southernmost habitat for many northern wildlife species. You can also find plant life living on the mountain that is seen more often in the northeast.

The mountain is "bald", so called for the lack of trees on its summit. Cherokee Indian legend has it that a winged beast which preyed on their children forced the Cherokees to clear the top of the mountain so it could easily be spotted and captured. There is also an explanation of the name in the marker seen in this picture. Posted by Picasa