Ammons Branch Campground

Ammons Branch Campground, Chattooga River

I continue to be completely horrified at the pace of development
(rape) around Highlands/Cashiers/Franklin. Very little of the land is
in public hands, so it's all being ruined. We had hoped to bag a
couple of peaks on land owned by an Inn just outside Highlands, but
the owners now no longer allow the public to use the trail. I wish I
could get some momentum going to get the state or federal government
to declare eminent domain and seize that land. The group owns two
mountains there from base to summit. They were on my list of peaks to
be bagged, but now that's not possible.

At any rate, here's a link to the photo album:

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/562434012bHjbsn

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TOPIC: Photo album, Chattooga River, Bartram Trail
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/6cac44915bc0698f?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Fri, Feb 29 2008 8:26 pm
From: James Parton

James S,

In time to come we probably will not be able to find any amount of
forested land outside of National and State forests. It is sad. Most
people consider static undeveloped land as having little value. I
remember well a beautiful area where I grew up. Starnes Cove near
Asheville NC. In 1975 when we moved there it was mostly fields and
forests ringed on three sides by five peaks. I knew them like the back
of my hand. Deaverview ( Baldie ), Spivey, and High Top were the most
prominent. Now that valley is nothing but junkyards, trailer parks/
subdivisions, businesses and with no zoning laws is all trashed up.
Even the mountains themselves are being encroached on. Zoning would
help but even that is not enough. People must care for the land and
environment enough to care. In the end man may find that there are
things more valuable than money. But will it be too late.

As one of Amy Grant's songs goes. " They paved paradise & put up a
parking lot ".

That was a nice photo gallery. I have never hiked the Chatooga area
though my father has fished there.

James Parton.

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