1. DenaeEagen
Dr. Anne Richards
PRWR 7900 Travel Writing
11 December 2011
Fruit and Fire on Blackjack Mountain
The chestnut Tennessee Walking horse heaved a sigh as I tightened the cinch a final time.
Then I took hold of the leather reins and saddle horn in one hand, tipped the toe of my left boot
into the stirrup, and vaulted myself onto the seat of my beat-up black saddle. In one fluid motion,
my worldview changed. Being 15 hands higher brought me eye-level with the trees, a lifetime
closer to the sky, and a safe distance from the rest of life's concerns. Joining my Grandmother
and her long-time friend, Carol McCauley, we approached the entrance trail to BlackJack
Mountain. We were in Carroll County, a predominantly rural area heavy with agriculture in the
far Northwest of Georgia near the Alabama border, accessible by taking I-20 West from Atlanta
and then Highway 5. Carroll County is filled with rolling hills, horses and cattle, and deep
stretches of woods. Among the county’s many natural caches are two passive nature reserves:
one recently acquired and one long held, both steeped in rich history and wild beauty.
Part of the intrigue and mystery that draws nature enthusiasts to Carroll County is the
rawness of land before the roads have been paved, the trees trimmed, and twists and turns
marked with neat signage. Many of Georgia’s quiet roads and undisturbed woods can be found
by exploring the area. If finding your destination is part of the adventure, Blackjack Mountain in
Carroll County will appeal to your rugged sensibilities. Acquired by the county in 2005,
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2. Blackjack Mountain is now a publicly protected territory, ensuring the stewardship ofover 312
acres of plant and wildlife habitat. Little has been done with the land since its acquisition, save
for the creation of a flattened earth road at the peak and the installation of an emergency
communication tower. The 1545 foot mountain, one of the highest points in Georgia, is a
secluded gem for local equestrians and hikers in Western Georgia (Peakbagger.com). The locals
have been caring for the land long before the county took notice and continue to maintain the
trails with a gentle hand to keep the going safe for horses and hikers.
Blackjack Mountain isn’t easy to access. Tucked into the southwest corner of Carroll
County, near Ephesus, GA, Blackjack Mountain requires is located off Highway 5. The hazy
mountain peak rises up into the distance as you drive through the country back roads; however,
you might not notice you’ve arrived until you have passed it. The dirt access road is a subtle
driveway, complete with adjacent home, that abruptly deteriorates into overgrown earth and a
low canopy of sparkling sunlight and dark green leaves. Only properly equipped vehicles should
attempt to drive further. Smaller cars should park on the side of the road.A jeep or sturdy truck
and horse trailer can make it through to the small clearing within, low branches notwithstanding.
Entering the small clearing at the base of Blackjack Mountain brings you into a world of
green that delights the eyes; leafy trees rise up on all sides and grass and low shrubs mottle the
floor with light greens and golden browns. Slender trees dot the center of the area, providing
tieposts for the horses.The circular clearing is courtesy of a local farmer and horse rider, and the
open space offers a safe place to tie the horses while saddling up. The unmarked trail opens up at
the back of the clearing and leads to one of two small ponds before inclining steeply. Marked
with fallen trees and slabs of stone, the trail is uncultivated. Cicadas hum and sing, their voices
ringing between the trees. The heavy overgrowth is rich with greens and browns, and in late
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3. summer and fall the tree branches are heavy with muscadines. Their sweet perfume permeates
the air and, while passing through the trees, horse and rider alike can pluck the plump fruits,
hanging dark purple and black. Muscadinescan be eaten fresh while on the trail and are best
when you bite a small hole in the thick skin and suck the juice and pulp from the fruit before
discarding the flesh. Jams made from the musky saccharine treats are stored throughout the
season and shared at church functions by locals such as Carol McCauley, a resident of Carroll
County for more than ten years and owner of three Tennessee Walking horses. She frequents
Blackjack Mountain, often with cutters or a machete, with which she prunes the trail lightly, or
as lightly as possible from the back of a horse, when the trail becomes impassible. The narrow
path permits only one horse to pass through at a time, and any rider passing behind Carol will be
grateful that eye-level branches are cut down. Most horses can pick their way through the few
areas where trees have fallen across the trail, but the delicate footwork may cause some horses to
shy away. Clearing out larger debris requires heavier equipment and an extra set of hands. When
the fallen trunks aren’t blocking the path, they provide striking scenery along the trail. The
mountainside records the passage of intense weather artfully: trees broken against each other by
heavy winds intertwine, new growth bending and twisting around fallen trunks and outstretched
branches. The tormented structures form archways across the trail and tunnels of thick canopy.
Daylight filters through the branches into cool shadows, and warm shafts of light speckle the
path.
That Blackjack Mountain has a history is apparent as you climb the mountain. Rumored
to have been a prominent landmark on the East-West trading path, the land likely once belonged
to the native Creek Indians. Native American tree markers, distinguished by sharp and dramatic
bends in tree branches, point the way at regular intervals. Two such markers indicate a grand fire
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4. pit. Even dusted with leaves, the purposefulness of the pit is evident in the placement of the main
stone pit and the large family of rock slabs arranged in loose amphitheater fashion. While the
peak of Blackjack Mountain may have once been used for sacred ceremonies, little official
information exists or is readily available. No matter what history hides in the stones, be it sacred
or arbitrary, there is an unmistakable sense that others once stood here and that you pass in their
footsteps.
Blackjack Mountain’s summit offers views of faraway landscape. The trail opens into a
gentle dirt road cleared by the county. It’s an ideal spot for lunch and, while the comfortable road
offers an easy path home with scenic views, there’s more adventure to be had off the beaten path.
Unknown riders have marked off side-trails across the mountain, and Carol is slowly working to
connect them into navigable trails. The trails-to-be are discreet, subtle, and not at all easy to
explore.Butthey provide a thrill as you slither down the mountainside in pursuit of what may or
may not prove to be the right way—once you start, the only true direction is down, way down.
Just when you’re starting to feel a little hazy about your sense of direction, the older trail appears
in front of you, a little overgrown but gently packed down from long use. The anonymous lower
trail leads past the second pond and edges up to the fenceline of a nearby cattle farm. Wary cattle
peer through the barbed wire, their soft eyes reflecting the sunlight while their mottled black,
brown, and white coats soak in the warmth. Cattle calls echo through the small herds. Unripe
persimmons fill the trees lining the fence, and the heavy scent of muscadines is finally fading.
The way home is more level, but the path is still strewn with large stones. Somewhere there’s an
intersection, only Carol knows where, and the clearing at the base of the mountain is suddenly in
view, bringing the afternoon ride to an end.
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