Radbun Bald, Blue Ridge, Georgia
Radbun Bald is a high point on the Blue Ridge in Radbun County, Georgia, just below the North Carolina border. It has a 360 degree view from a stone observation tower at the summit.
The Blue Ridge Mountains form the southeastern flank of the Southern Appalachians in North Carolina and Georgia. The ridge tends to have steep slopes to the southeast that face the rolling Piedmont many miles away. At Radbun Bald, the land drops away quickly in that direction, descending over the course of a few miles from the 4700 foot bald into a jumble of ridges 2000-2500 feet lower in height, criss-crossed by a network of winding streams. Beyond this birds-eye view of near wilderness, the flat Georgia piedmont stretches off into the haze.
To the northeast, the Blue Ridge continues, with steep or rocky summits standing out at various distances.
North and west loom some of the high ridges of the Southern Appalachians. Research has confirmed that the big dark shapes in the middle distance to the northwest are the Nantahala Mountains, and the Smoky Mountains dominate the gray horizon to the north. Both of these ranges rise considerably higher than the Blue Ridge.
Plant Life
The forests around Radbun Bald are exquisite. The lushness of the plant life at the high elevations reflects the 80 inches of annual rainfall that the ridge gets, nearly double the average for the eastern US. Thickets of rhododendron 20 feet high cover a good portion of the high ground, extending to the very top of the ridge. In sunny spots, wildflowers including aster and mountain mint (and many others I don’t recognize such as what looks like a mini sunflower) are everywhere. Still other high slopes are blanketed with ferns.
The forest is oak dominated all the way up. Chestnut oak is probably the single most common species of the upper slopes, with black and red oaks on thicker soils. Cucumber magnolia is significant sub-canopy tree at all elevations. Sweet birch, red maple, sassafras, eastern hemlock, white pine, tulip poplar, sourwood (I think), black locust and occasionally another southern species or two (that I can’t recognize) are more minor components of the high elevation forests. There were a number of deciduous shrubs that I couldn’t identify. One had smooth, reddish bark, leaves with jagged edges and clusters of flowers (not flowering anymore).
Descending on a steep trail down the southeastern slope, some of the most extensive wildflower areas can be found along the steep ridge. A small flat col in the ridge is home to a grassy field full of wildflowers that seems to make an incredible campsite, except for the absence of water. Red maples and red oaks dominate the riparian areas along with rhododendron. Descending further into lower areas with thicker soils, a diversity of heath type plants I’m not too familiar with make up the shrub layer. Mountain laurel is there but not as common as some others I don’t recognize. Sourwood (I think) becomes increasingly common as a smaller sub-canopy tree, along with cucumber magnolia.
The hills at the foot of the mountain have a lot of beautiful tall white pines and white oaks. The streams are absolutely choked with rhododendron and look like the Smoky Mountains. Wet areas at lower elevations are home to red maple, cucumber magnolia, sweet birch and tulip poplar in addition to the oaks and pines. In a few drier spots at lower elevations I noticed a southern pine, I think shortleaf pine, and holly in the understory.
There is much to learn about the forests of the Southern Appalachians.
The Blue Ridge Mountains form the southeastern flank of the Southern Appalachians in North Carolina and Georgia. The ridge tends to have steep slopes to the southeast that face the rolling Piedmont many miles away. At Radbun Bald, the land drops away quickly in that direction, descending over the course of a few miles from the 4700 foot bald into a jumble of ridges 2000-2500 feet lower in height, criss-crossed by a network of winding streams. Beyond this birds-eye view of near wilderness, the flat Georgia piedmont stretches off into the haze.
To the northeast, the Blue Ridge continues, with steep or rocky summits standing out at various distances.
North and west loom some of the high ridges of the Southern Appalachians. Research has confirmed that the big dark shapes in the middle distance to the northwest are the Nantahala Mountains, and the Smoky Mountains dominate the gray horizon to the north. Both of these ranges rise considerably higher than the Blue Ridge.
Plant Life
The forests around Radbun Bald are exquisite. The lushness of the plant life at the high elevations reflects the 80 inches of annual rainfall that the ridge gets, nearly double the average for the eastern US. Thickets of rhododendron 20 feet high cover a good portion of the high ground, extending to the very top of the ridge. In sunny spots, wildflowers including aster and mountain mint (and many others I don’t recognize such as what looks like a mini sunflower) are everywhere. Still other high slopes are blanketed with ferns.
The forest is oak dominated all the way up. Chestnut oak is probably the single most common species of the upper slopes, with black and red oaks on thicker soils. Cucumber magnolia is significant sub-canopy tree at all elevations. Sweet birch, red maple, sassafras, eastern hemlock, white pine, tulip poplar, sourwood (I think), black locust and occasionally another southern species or two (that I can’t recognize) are more minor components of the high elevation forests. There were a number of deciduous shrubs that I couldn’t identify. One had smooth, reddish bark, leaves with jagged edges and clusters of flowers (not flowering anymore).
Descending on a steep trail down the southeastern slope, some of the most extensive wildflower areas can be found along the steep ridge. A small flat col in the ridge is home to a grassy field full of wildflowers that seems to make an incredible campsite, except for the absence of water. Red maples and red oaks dominate the riparian areas along with rhododendron. Descending further into lower areas with thicker soils, a diversity of heath type plants I’m not too familiar with make up the shrub layer. Mountain laurel is there but not as common as some others I don’t recognize. Sourwood (I think) becomes increasingly common as a smaller sub-canopy tree, along with cucumber magnolia.
The hills at the foot of the mountain have a lot of beautiful tall white pines and white oaks. The streams are absolutely choked with rhododendron and look like the Smoky Mountains. Wet areas at lower elevations are home to red maple, cucumber magnolia, sweet birch and tulip poplar in addition to the oaks and pines. In a few drier spots at lower elevations I noticed a southern pine, I think shortleaf pine, and holly in the understory.
There is much to learn about the forests of the Southern Appalachians.
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