Ramp Cove    Jess Riddle    Apr 10, 2005 19:42 PDT  Ramp Cove does not have an uncut stand of hemlocks, but I would say the drainage still easily ranks as one of the five most impressive coves in north Georgia. Ramp Cove and the surrounding Kelly Ridge roadless area, which are not part of near by Tray Mountain Wilderness and not even designated as wilderness study by the Forest Service, are well worth multiple visits. One common route through the area consists of following an old road bed up Ramp Cove then coming back down the adjacent Stroud Creek drainage. The primary reason most people visit Ramp Cove is to see the stand of yellow buckeyes at the top of the cove. When the cove was logged, buckeyes were not removed and they took advantage of the gaps left by their neighbors. Consequently, the top of the cove has by far the greatest concentration of mature buckeyes of any site in north Georgia. The buckeyes commonly exceed 3' dbh, and one reaches 144.0' tall, the second greatest height known for a yellow buckeye. The cove also harbors a 159.0' tuliptree, the tallest known in the state, as well as black oak, bitternut hickory, white basswood, and black birch that approach state height records. Georgia Forestwatch,  http://www.gafw.org  is sponsoring a hike through the area on April 23rd. If you have any other questions about Ramp Cove or interesting features of the surrounding forest, just let me know. Jess Riddle ------------------------------------------------------------------- James Smith wrote (9 Apr 2005): I was thinking of visiting Tray Mountain Wilderness again this year, if I can. I was told that there may be an old-growth grove of hemlocks along a faint trail at a place called Ramp Cove. Are you guys familiar with it? If so, would it be worth a hike in to see them? Thanks!   Home