Thursday, November 05, 2009

Don't Take It For Granite

Yeah, I know, corny post title. What's up with that lately?? Anyway...

Yesterday Ed and I went to Stone Mountain, Georgia, the largest granite dome in North America. It's 825 feet tall, covers 583 acres and the granite of the mountain extends underground nine miles at its longest point. The exposed portion is approximately two miles in length and a half a mile wide.

In addition to the many attractions at the park, they have many nature and hiking trails, including a trail to walk to the top of the mountain. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. A trail! To the top! That you can walk. Oh my God, my sides are splitting! Isn't that the funniest thing you've ever heard??

We took this to get to the top. Yeah, that's right. I'm no dummy.
From the top, in addition to everything else we saw, we also had a very good view of where we parked our truck. It's just to the right of that circle down there in the parking lot, which happens to be a helicopter landing pad. It's handy to be able to keep an eye on the truck, you know, just in case any hoodlums decided they want to go joy-riding; although I'm sure they wouldn't hear me yelling, "Hey! Stop!" from the top of the rock.
This next one is a shot I got of a father and his son enjoying the view. I saw them struggling to get a picture of themselves with their teeny cell phone camera, so I offered to take one for them; the father shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn't possible and then told me that the batteries in his camera were dead. I then offered to take one with mine and email it to him.

He liked the idea and posed with his son for a photo, then gave me his email and thanked me for taking the picture of them. As we talked, I learned that they were in Atlanta from San Salvador, El Salvador for a neurological medical treatment for his son. The kid was about ten years old, so I hope everything goes well for them.

When I got back to my computer, I sent him not only the picture I took of them facing me, but also the one above and several others I took as they were walking down the mountainside, with the fall colors behind them. In this one, although there is a haze in the distance (you can barely make out the city of Atlanta right in the center, waaay out there) and not a whole lot of vibrant color, I really like the father and son moment.

Here we have Ed taking a break from his extensive picture taking; you know, because it's such hard work and all.
Another view from the top, with the lake and golf course in view.
And finally, the famous carving.The entire carved surface of the Memorial Carving, which is the largest bas relief sculpture in the world and located on the face of the mountain, measures three acres; larger than a football field. The carving of the three Confederate leaders of the civil war; General Stonewall Jackson, General Robert E. Lee and President Jefferson Davis, towers 400 feet above the ground and measures 90 by 190 feet. It is recessed 42 feet into the mountain. The deepest point of the carving is at Lee's elbow, which is 12 feet into the mountain.

I was thrilled to finally have visited this site, after hearing so much about it. I'm also glad that we went in now, since I couldn't imagine being at the top of that rock in the humid Georgia summer. The Fall foliage colors were an added bonus....much more spectacular in person!

Maybe next time we'll get to see that laser light show I've heard so much about!


5 comments:

chez bez said...

Trivia: I proposed to my wife from high atop Stone Mountain. I love that place.

Anocsanamun said...

wooooooooooow

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is cool! I've never heard of that place -- thanks for letting me travel vicariously with you!

B in Dallas

Sauntering Soul said...

I grew up about 15 minutes from Stone Mountain (and live about 45 minutes away from it now). In fact, my first job ever was working at the concession stand at the Riverboat attraction. I sometimes had to work at the concession stand on top of the mountain. I have walked up a few times and trust me, it's not easy (especially when you get up towards the top where the incline gets super steep).

On Sunday afternoons when I was in high school, everyone would go to Stone Mountain and cruise all the way around the mountain. There would be thousands of high schoolers trying to pick each other up. So funny! They don't allow that anymore though. My ex-husband and I went on many dates to Stone Mountain when were dating back in high school.

If you are ever there in the summer, stay until the evening and watch the laser show. Everyone brings picnic dinners and blankets, sits on the lawn in front of the carving and there is a really cool laser show on the side of the mountain. It's free other than what you pay to get into the park.

My dad is a professional photographer and was up on the carving site when they were finally finishing it (it took many, many, many years).

Okay, you probably have heard way more than you wanted to about Stone Mountain from me.

I was actually in Snellville last night (where I grew up) and had I known you were that close I would have LOVED to have met you and Eddie! I hope that doesn't sound stalker-ish or scary. I'm totally harmless! I know I don't comment very much, but I do come by here quite often.

shabbi said...

i love your pictures of stone mountain. i grew up in atlanta. i was wondering if you would tell me what kind of camera you use. thanks.