David Memory led this PHOC hike in Stone Mountain State Park and Blue Ridge Parkway. We began the 11 mile route at the lower parking area ascending up Widow's Creek Trail. Once we past all the primitive campsites a faintly blazed trail continues up Scott Ridge. A couple sections were quite steep. The trail does not employ the use of switchbacks, so it did work your leg muscles. We stopped for beak by a small stream in what appeared to a former pasture. There were two chimney piles and various other rock structures, like the wall above.
At the high point of the hike, we ate lunch. Not far from our lunch stop is the strange concrete pad seen above. In the late 1960's an aerial tram was built here as a tourist attraction. The view would have been quite nice, but then most views along the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway also offered great views. The ill fated attraction lasted only a couple years
We briefly walked on the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Mahogany Rock overlook. This gap in the ridge is along the hawk migration route and is an active reporting location for the Hawk Migration Association. The big day this year for hawk count, was Sept 22. This location reported 4263 broadwings that day, 2666 during the noon hour. That is not quite 1 per second but close.
Stone Mountain looks rather small from up here. It sure looks big when you are standing at its base.
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