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We took a long hike on Stone Mountain, Georgia this afternoon. It was an unplanned excursion. In the images above and below you can make out the skyline of Atlanta on the western horizon.
The top of the mountain is a landscape of bare rock and rock pools.
After screwing around in the Stone Mountain Village and walking through the shoppes area at the base of Stone Mountain, we decided to ignore the warnings on the signs and go to the top. I think we qualified for all the items on their list of reasons why one should not go up.
Below: One of the many warning signs.
Stone Mountain is a quartz dome known as a monadnock or inselberg -- an isolated small mountain that rises abruptly to 1,686 feet (513 m) from the virtually level surrounding plain (which is about 800 feet above sea level).
Below: On this crystal-clear day Kennesaw Mountain and the Appalachians were clearly visible to the naked eye, but didn't show up so well in these images.
It was quite chilly at the top of the mountain, perhaps 40° F. (4.4° C.) with a light breeze.
Below: The mountain is well-known not only for its geology, but also for the enormous bas-relief on its north face -- the largest such sculpture in the world. The carving depicts three prominent figures of the Confederate States of America: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis.
Below: I have my finger on the butt of General Stonewall Jackson's horse, 'Little Sorrel.'
The entire carved surface area covers 3 acres. The carving of the three men towers 400 feet (120 m.) above the ground, measures 90 by 190 feet, and is recessed 42 feet (13 m) into the mountain.
Fall colors were prominent in the forest as we descended the mountain on the 1.5 mile trail.
Everything from American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) to Red Maple (Acer rubrum) were in peak fall colors.
Below: A memorial about half way down the mountain.
Below: Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) dominate the forest trail.
Below: Black Gum or Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica).
Below: Hickory (Carya spp.) in full color.
Below: White Pine (Pinus strobus) and granite slabs near the bottom of the forest trail.
Below: A Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) in the pine forest.
Below: A huge bundle of mistletoe in the village shoppes at the base of Stone Mountain. The entire area is completely decked out in holiday lights and workers were furiously creating artificial snow in preparation for the opening of their Stone Mountain Park Christmas and Snow Mountain that opens on November 23.
Below: With a slightly larger-than-life Santa in Stone Mountain Village.
Below: Driving out of the park near dark. It was a huge contrast to the previous day the Georgia Aquarium. . . in that this natural wonderland was mostly deserted.
