BMT West Fork trail section........Grave?

[Gizmo Joe]

I have hiked the West Fork (303) several times and have always wondered what is up with the big pile of rocks, bricks, and cinder blocks with the cross on top. To be more specific on the location, I am talking about the section of the West Fork trail in-between FSR 45 and FSR 221...........is it a grave?.........all I know is its kind of creepy.

[SGT Rock]

You know, I am not sure I even remember the cross you are talking about. I must be zoning out the couple of times I have hiked through there. Maybe if I saw it again I would remember seeing it. But I sure do not know what it is for. The two people I can think of that are most likely to know are Tipi Walter since he practically lives out there, and Rick Harris because he did a lot of research on the history of the areas the trail passes through for the BMTA section guides. I can't find my copy of the Georgia section guide where that section is covered (I know it is in TN). Tim Homan's book may also mention it since that section was already established when he wrote his book years ago, but I don't own a copy of that one.

[Gizmo Joe]

Thanks SGT Rock!

I will see if I cant find some of those resources.......I cant fin the GA book anywhere.............and maybe Tipi Walter will see this post and respond when he gets back from his latest adventure!

[Tipi Walter]

Hey guys---I got your message on Trailspace and have a shortened trip report there for anyone interested in the B Mac from Tellico River south to Big Frog Mountain---I also posted this link on Sgt Rock's website.

http://www.trailspace.com/forums/tri...cs/128530.html



Here's the cross mentioned on Trail 303/305. This was taken on a previous trip in the summer of 2011.

[Tipi Walter]

What's really weird was hiking in the recent heatwave south of Hiway 68 towards Coker Creek footbridge when I stopped on the trail at a little water seep to eat lunch in the middle of nowhere and looked off the trail 25 feet and saw this memorial cross on a tree---


No one would see it unless they stopped right at that spring seep and looked off thru the "jungle" and saw it. I figured Mickey Ray must've spent a lot of time in these woods and it's a fitting memorial to him.

[SGT Rock]

I saw that one in January. It was the first time I noticed it, but since the date on the right is 2011 I figured it was fairly recent. I still don't remember the other cross.

[Gizmo Joe]

Thats it Tipi!........I searched as best I can on the web with no results............thanks for posting the Pic!...........just as creepy as ever!