Mountaineering the Appalachians? Get started at Flagg Mountain in Coosa County

Appalachian Trail hikers may possibly get started their journey in Springer Mountain, Georgia, but geological purists know the Appalachian variety definitely starts off in Alabama — specifically, Flagg Mountain in Coosa County, the southernmost peak in the point out soaring more than 1,000 toes.

In truth, all around the very same time forester Benton MacKaye experienced dreamed up the idea of an Appalachian Path, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) received to get the job done constructing a condition park atop Flagg Mountain with cabins, a eating hall and a 52-foot tall tower with a wrap-close to check out, all made with locally sourced timber and stone. “Civilian Conservation Corps in Alabama, 1933-1942: A Fantastic and Lasting Great” by Robert G. Pasquill describes the endeavor, which associated a crew of about 200 adult men introduced down from New York and New Jersey and housed in non permanent barracks during the multi-year undertaking.

Then Earth War II hit and the CCC handed the site over to the Alabama Forestry Commission. Flagg Mountain in no way officially turned a point out park and its buildings were being deserted.

It was not right until the 21st century that Alabama Forestry and the Alabama Trails Foundation revived the undertaking, repairing the cabins and rerouting the close by Pinhoti Trail to terminate at the Flagg Mountain summit. Aggressive backpackers on the lookout to increase 335 miles to their Appalachian trek can now begin in Weogufka, Coosa County, and choose the Pinhoti Trail northeast to Springer Mountain where by it links up to the standard Appalachian Path.

Not all visits to Flagg Mountain will involve the 10 Essentials, nevertheless. Enhancements by the Alabama Trails Foundation at the moment underway will make the scenic vista much more effortlessly obtainable to working day-trippers, together with a 15-motor vehicle parking ton in the vicinity of the summit and a new fifty percent-mile trail to the tower. People can already ascend most of the 1,152-foot mini-peak by car or truck if they you should not brain the slender, potholed CCC road.

Existing development initiatives expected to be complete by August will also consist of renovation of the stone tower’s stairs, which for the previous few several years have rendered the 360-diploma lookout inaccessible thanks to wasp’s nests and typical disrepair.

According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, virtually 1,000 hikers finish the full 2,000-additionally mile trek per time, most of whom journey south-to-north. Some fans, known as “yo-yo-ers,” attain the northern terminus at Mount Katahdin, Maine, then switch around and hike again.

It would just take an act of Congress to formalize Flagg Mountain as the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, but with a bit of PR, Coosa County might be ready to capture some of that nationwide romance.

“We are thrilled to see this work start out,” Alabama Trails Basis president Tom Carruthers stated upon announcement of the job in Might. “The tactic trail to this historic landmark sets the phase for Flagg Mountain formally turning into the starting of the Pinhoti Trail and the gateway to Alabama’s Appalachian Mountains.”

Right up until the tower space is accomplished in late summertime, hikers are cost-free to the relaxation of Flagg Mountain together with the path and cabin regions. Website visitors can obtain the CCC highway from the north by using County Street 55, which connects to I-65, or from the south through County Street 29 which connects to U.S. Freeway 280 and Condition Highway 22.