Raven Rock, Chattooga River (Section 4)

Taylor and I hiked down to the Chattooga River at Raven Rock, about a mile downhill to the river. The hike is easy going down, more difficult coming back uphill. Location: 34.778, -83.321

Raven Chute, a class-IV rapid

Two hundred foot cliff, on the South Carolina side of the river.

Taylor takes a dip in the river.

Large specimen of cauliflower mushroom (sparassis crispa) along the trail. It is an edible mushroom, 
often found at the base of conifers.

From US 441/23 around Lakemont, take Camp Creek Road (paved), heading east. At 1.5 miles, turn left (north) on Water Gauge Road, which becomes gravel shortly. After 2.6 miles on Water Gauge, turn left on Raven Rock Road, and follow it about 1 mile, to the trailhead at the end. From here, it is less than a mile on foot to the river. We did not need 4-wheel drive anywhere on this route, but it is slow going once you leave Camp Creek Rd.

Woodturning

Heavily-spalted maple bowl, donated to Market at Lake Rabun fundraiser.

New sundeck railing

First, we had to demolish and remove the old wooden railings. The 8x8 posts were sound; all we did to them was reinforce their attachment to the sundeck, and add new metal support brackets for the new railings.

Then, we assembled the new railings, using pressure-treated 2x4's and aluminum balusters. The assembly was done on a pair of sawhorses, and held together temporarily by the orange strap clamps you see here, while the assembly was being placed into the newly-installed support brackets on the existing 8x8 posts.

All done except the stain on the new wood, which has to wait until the lumber has dried out some. The sawhorse shown are where the railing assemblies were put together.

Spalted maple cake platter

Spalted maple, from a branch crotch; note that the grain directions on the left and right are at angles to each other, and between them is a feather-pattern grain, typical of branching wood.

Winter sunset behind Tray Mountain