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By Susan Gast | Wednesday, March 12, 2008, 06:00 PM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I've often thought that we who live in the shadow of Stone Mountain take it for granted.
(Or, "for granite" as my kids teased when they were younger.)
I don't usually come to this conclusion while passing by the towering rock, maneuvering through traffic on the way downtown. It's amazing how easily you can ignore something that looms 825 feet above you.
Instead, the thought comes when the mountain's appearance is unexpected, sudden and surprising. (This happens in assorted spots, such as when you top Brook Hollow Parkway in Norcross).
The thought also arises when I am up close and personal with the mountain, as I was this past weekend. Perhaps you've been there, too — climbing to the top (in this case, twice), impersonating someone who is fit and pretending to wait on stragglers, just so you can rest a minute.
It's not just the physical challenge the mountain imposes that impresses me, although my calves admit to being duly affected.
It is the unlikely assemblage of human beings lured by the hike. There are the athletes sprinting up and down the slope, making everyone else look bad and feel worse. There are the folks who are out for the exercise or to prepare (by carrying 40-pound backpacks) for strenuous hiking trips. There are the tourists, some of whom are in regular street shoes and dress clothes. (The variety of languages spoken on the trail is astounding.) There are young couples, teenagers, dads with toddlers on their shoulders, senior citizens, guitarists and singers. This past weekend, there was a blind woman who, though in the company of friends, was making it on her own, cane in hand.
"We have one person who climbs it barefoot because they say that is the only way to truly commune with the mountain," said Curtis Branscome, chief executive officer for the Stone Mountain Memorial Association. "There is one gentleman who comes up the side of the mountain to do his chanting. There is a nice lady who composes poetry and climbs up to read poetry."
And of course, there are the people who climb early Easter morning for the sunrise service, an act that Branscome says is as much a part of the service as the service itself.
Whatever the reason that climbers come, the mile-plus (one-way) hike is nothing new. Graffiti carved into the mountain dates back to 1898, and there were surely climbers before then, Branscome said.
There's no definite data on how many people make the trek. Of the 4 million who visit the park annually, Branscome estimates 1 million come for the attractions and 1 million come for special events. The remaining 2 million come for walking and hiking, but how that breaks down among the 15 various trails and courses, he's not sure. His best guess is that 500,000 climb the mountain each year.
He is sure of one thing: ""If people could not walk up the mountain, there would be no Stone Mountain Park," said Branscome, who climbs twice a month. "It is the essential feature, the core feature."
Most years, my family makes the outing a couple or three times. This year, it's a regular ritual for my husband and son, who are preparing for an intense hike this summer. Less so for me, who took the trail last weekend like a grumbling bear coming out of winter hibernation.
The high point of the experience, of course, is the high point — making it to the top, feeling the satisfaction (and relief) and taking in the view, which — when clear — features the skyline of Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, the top of the Perimeter and Kennesaw Mountain. There's nothing quite like it.
We shouldn't take it for granite.
Around town
A few highs and lows around Snellville:
- The 21-year-old Chick-fil-A store on Main Street, the third free-standing restaurant opened by Chick-fil-A, closed temporarily Feb. 23 for renovations. It is expected to reopen March 22. "It will be dramatically different from what it was before," said Brad Spratte, who has operated the franchise store since October. Seating and tables, counters, rest rooms and the kitchen will all be updated. Outside, there will be new landscaping, as well as a renovated playground and drive-through. Employees of the store are working at other Chick-fil-A restaurants during the work.
- Belk's on Ga. 124 is taking over the space vacated by Goody's clothing store in part of a $2.7 million capital improvement project in Snellville. Belk's has gutted and renovated the 32,000 square feet of Goody's and will be moving it's men's, home and children's departments into that area. The department store will renovate its current 58,000 square feet and expand offerings in all areas. Among new offerings will be a men's fine jewelry department and a children's shoe department. Opening of the new Belk's area (which is near but not physically connected to the existing store) will be March 26, with a grand opening set for May.
- Speaking of Goody's, the clothing store on Ga. 124, closed Oct. 16. Kristin Alm of Goody's said the closing was the result of a "normal business practice" of reviewing each store's performance when a lease is up for renewal and closing stores that are under-performing.
- Speaking of "under-performing," Ryan's Grill Buffet and Bakery on Wisteria Drive closed Feb. 12 following the Jan. 22 filing of its parent company, Buffets Holdings Inc., for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The Snellville Ryan's was one of 50 "under-performing" stores (out of Buffets' more than 600 restaurants throughout the country) that were closed. Michael Freitag of Kekst and Company, a public relations firm speaking on behalf of Buffets, said he is not aware of any plans for the Snellville property. The 50 employees who worked there were placed at other restaurants or given severance packages, he said.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment | Categories: Susan Gast
Comments
By Cindy
March 12, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
Pretty good writing this time. I read it all…blogs usually lose me 1/3 of the way through.
By jct
March 13, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
I was walking on one of the glorious trails in the park just last evening. I love living so close that I can walk everyday. There is nothing like it.
By Alice Beth
March 13, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
I no longer live in Ga, but grew up with family trips to climb Stone Mtn when I was young. I have wonderful photos of family members who have clearly climbed in our clothes after church. I am about four and am pretty sure that my grandfather carried me. There is also a photo of me in the midst of the yellow daisies. Thanks for stirring up those memories.
By Mark
March 13, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Climbing the mountain is great exercise, but that last third of it on the way up will get to you. The first time I climbed it, I decided to quit smoking, as I barely made it to the top.
By LPC
March 13, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
My grandparents lived at N.Hairston and Memorial Drive. We loved "driving up" from Jonesboro(285 has not always been there) so that we could climb the mountain with Papa and go fishing with Grandma. Those were the days!
By Shaye breed
March 13, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
It's a great climb, but even better up the 'side'… a friend and I go out there every weekend and do a combo of climbing straight up, walking, and taking the side trails. And at $35 for an annual parking pass, it's super cheap. It's a shame that it took me so long to start getting out there.
By khs
March 13, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
My three year old daughter and I climb the mountain every weekend, weather permitting. She does the whole climb without being carried, and stopping 2/3s of the way up for a picnic is a great way to spend the afternoon. I love living so close to the park and am amazed that more people don't realize all that it has to offer.
By john
March 13, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
Stone mountain is one of the best natural attractions near Atlanta. Climbing the mountain is a superb workout, which starts off with a gentle incline and ends with two steep hills which are guaranteed to make anyone breathe hard. The reward for your hard work is a magnificent view of Atlanta and if your lucky a cool breeze. Some people climb it several times in a row for a killer workout. I've done three times in a row several times.
The trails around stone mountain are superb for hiking and wind around the mountain and lakes. On a weekday you may see 5 or 6 people on the trail on a 5 mile hike!
Picnicking at stone mountain is always fun for families and dates.
The laser show is free and is fun to take relatives whom are in town to watch.
The $35 a year pass may seem a little steep, but it keeps out the riff raff and is completely worth it to me. Then again I just go to take advantage of the outdoor opportunities and not to ride the rides -skylift,riverboat,etc. Take a carload of relatives to see the laser show, have a picnic and you it will pay for itself. $35 yearly is worth it to me to have access to a 3500 acre nature park within minutes from my house.
By Bill
March 13, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this
I have lived around Stone mtn all of my life.I still love going to the park.My familey and i used to go before the park was built and fish'ed in the old lake. if your from stone mtn then you know what i mean by the name old lake.Thats just what we called it. Me and my freinds used to climb the mountain from the east side when we were kids around 8 or 9 years old. how crazy was that?I still enjoy the park and visit every chance i get. Its like home to me.
By joe
March 13, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
But wait! Stone Mountain is OTP — I can't possibly go all the way out there! Just kidding — I love the big rock!
By Mark
March 13, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
I'm not the one mentioned but I have climbed the mountain barefoot more than once and have seen many others. It truly does bring you closer to the mountain and is surprisingly easy on your feet (depending on weather of course!)
By Tim Freeman
March 13, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
What a great read, Susan. It brought back many, many fond memories. I grew up in the shadow of the rock. I graduated from Stone Mountain High School in 1981. Every sunday night after church a crowd of us young folks from Stone Mtn. Methodist church would climb the mountain. Every sunday night, without fail. On nights when the moon was out, the old rock acted like a mirror and seemed to glow. No flashlights needed. We'd go up the mountain and talk, sing and visit. Good days, indeed. Thanks for bringing them alive again.
By Regular joe
March 13, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this
My wife and I walk up Stone Mountain 3 or 4 times a month. We love it.
By B. Barnacle
March 13, 2008 8:38 PM | Link to this
A girl I dated, who would latter become my wife, and I practically lived at Stone Mountain during the last half of the '60's.
She lived well south of Decatur and I lived in south Atlanta. I-285 had just opened and Memorial Drive was a narrow two lane black top. In 1970 I proposed at a pick nick area on the back side of the park and she said yes. However, there was Vietnam. I went into the military for four long years. Then our paths diverged with different careers and different lives in different cities.
In the late '80's circumstances brought us back together — and back to Stone Mountain. We spent most of the next decade rediscovering each other all over again, all in the shadow of that Mountain.
We were married at the end of 1998 near that big rock and I think we are as happy today as two people could be. In all the time we were apart we had seen and dated others, but neither of us had married.
A twenty eight year engagement that began and ended in the shadow of Stone Mountain.
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