THE TN/VA/NC CORNER:
Southern Hospitality Included

Our visit to this tri-point was scheduled as an NC06 Konvention event we were to lead. Two tri-pointers showed up - us. Good thing, too, because there was floundering since we had not been there before. As Bob Whitney recently reported, permission is no longer needed to pass through the 2 livestock gates which are now left open. Also, the last 1/2 mile has been re-graded by the owner but needs some fine-tuning. Meanwhile, a 4WD is still required for this final leg.

We drove to the base of the owner's driveway and headed up, not knowing for certain how far we'd need to hike. As we neared the top of the driveway, a man appeared at the back of the house. It was the owner, Lowell Hensley (pictured). We asked if we were trespassing and xplained our mission. No problem: Do we want a ride up? Mr. Hensley graciously drove us the remaining distance in his 4WD construction-cab P/U truck, pleased as cheese grits to do it. His Christmas tree farm touches the 3Pt.

Go 10 miles east from Damascus on US58. At Konnarock, 58 goes hard right and up. Look for Rt726 but do not turn at Chestnut Mountain Rd.; instead, continue to the right turn (US58 goes left) at the Green Cove/Whitetop Stn. sign (Rt726). Pass the Green Cove Church. At the unmistakable, 7-point intersection, look for Rt755 ->, Pond Mountain Ln., a gravel road which travels uphill for over 3 miles. (Note: If driving west on US58, turn left immediately prior to the Whitetop general store and proceed 2 miles to the 7-pt. crossing). When within sight of the "WEIGHT LIMIT 3 TONS" sign, bear right, passing through 2 open gates, the first a new, red one. Pass the access road to the right for the cell phone repeater tower for a rougher up. Where P.M. Ln. goes hard left, continue straight to the Hensley home or park on the grass and hike up.

The 3Pt is another 1/2 mi. above the house near the NC forest land gate on a right fork. If Mr. Hensley is in, this fine gentleman says he'll take you up; otherwise, he invites 2WD tri-pointers to leg it or kick back on a porch rocking chair, wait for his return, and ride.

THE TN/AL/GA TRI-POINT: There's no cute pavilion here...

Unlike the too-cute Tennessee tri-point at Cumberland Gap, this tri-state corner needs some work. We located the TVA sign, now half-rusted away (J.P.'s report for this corner is dated 1991). It's post is festooned like a Maypole with orange surveyor ribbon. We could not find the other mentioned nearby post except for one laying on the ground, tagged with orange and yellow ribbon. Nor did we locate a pile of yellow rocks. There was, however, a breadbox-sized orange-ish and yellow-ish painted rock in a gully about 15 feet from the TVA sign. The TVA post was at the end of a barbed-wire fence which seemed to run eastward with the E-W state line. The GPS was no help since we didn't have the definitive coordinates and the trees blocked satellite reception, anyway.

J.P.s directions are good except for the "200 yds." hike which should read "200 ft." From the parking area at the corner of the State Line Cemetery, go west through a hole in the brush for the trail. Do not bear right at the top of the grade but go straight onto the vague trail. At this time, there was a blow down with pink tape which some thoughtful person put there. Step over this tree and you'll spot the Maypole at 10 o'clock. Also, the turn south (left) at the Macedonia Church is designated "Macedonia Church Rd." After crossing Cole City Creek, make a right turn on Beakas Way (going straight will take you into GA past a "Welcome To Dade County" sign). Go to the very end of this road and you're there.

TN/NC/GA Tri-Point
A New Addition...

On our 3rd visit to this tri-point in as many years, A.D. Paterson, the 3Pt land owner was off delivering chicken droppings, but we talked with Mrs. Paterson for a spell. She pointed out the new addition to their farm - a 7ft. tall pointy rock on the GA edge of their property. Note, this marker does not designate the actual tri-point which is 100yds. west, reached by following the barbed wire fence line. The rock is positioned on the GA side of the fence at the "WELCOME TO FANNIN COUNTY GEORGIA" sign where the NC/GA line meets the road. Since A.D. was off to market, we couldn't inquire about his red engravings. We decided that the "F." under GA stood for Fannin County and the "C." under NC (the N is reversed) designates Cherokee County. The T = Tennessee.

Jack Parsell's directions for this 3Pt are from Copperhill. We approached from US64/74. Aprx. 15 miles west of the 64/74/19/129 junction, turn left on Wolf Creek Rd. at the Wolf Creek Corner store. If coming from TN, this store/road is 1 mile from the TN/NC line. Go 2.2 miles to a "T" and turn right onto Wolf Creek Rd. GA (Wolf Creek Spur goes left). Go .3 miles, crossing new bridge, to the Paterson farm on the left. The newly erected "psuedo" marker is hard to miss. Park at the dirt road beyond the rock, about 25yds. west. Walk in and follow the barbed fence right to it's junction with more fence. The USGS marker is at this "wirey" intersection.

BACK FROM THE NC '06 KONVENTION
Another good one of these gigs...

According to Jean Trousdale, Ma Merc, 247 HP crazies attended/participated in the Konvention festivities. There was lots going on in the Asheville area and attendees soaked it up. Whatever your reason for missing this one , well . . . eat your heart out. Click on the HP Club sites in the right hand column of this blog for more Konvention details as they're published.