Stone Mountain

Years ago, this park was the first place I tried and did go camping. While there, I took the nature thing a bit further, and hiked up to the top of the mountain. My first hike, alone, out in the ruff etc.

There were some hard places, and then almost at the top is it all smooth curved stone. I decided to take the short cut. Oh My GOSH! I was almost vertical laying on the stone going up. It got to a point my toes were bent my boobs were touching the stone along with my face..and nothing to hang on to..just smooth rock… I could not go forward and I could not go back..if I was to have slipped then, it was all smooth rock to over the side… Litterally to save myself… I then became Spider Woman! and inched sideways until I could find a little weeds coming out of the rock… I kept going sidways until I could get on the regular trail. Made it up and made it down… almost to the building where I could get my Climbing certificate…and I tripped and fell on the railroad tracks and cut up my knees! I did good! Nice park…

I drove down to Stone Mountain GA for Atlantafest last week… the park was more amazing that I remember!

I’ve only been here once but it was a lot of fun! Make sure you see the lazer light show! Its amazing!!

Be sure to stay for the laser show – the night is well worth it, and it has many of the old classics we know and love. The mountain (I’m from Georgia. I know it’s not REALLY a mountain, but it’s one of the biggest things we got here! :D ) isn’t spectacularly breathtaking, but the history behind it is well worth a stop by anyone visiting. (Or a local in for a walk through memory lane! The music hails from all sorts of eras!)

When I first went to Stone Mountain, I really didn’t know what to expect. There was not a battlefield and I knew there was a big rock. Other than that I went in a a blank slate just willing to take in whatever was there. When I left, I had a great appreciation for what it was. This is really a combination of what I saw and a response to those who claim that its not worth seeing because it wasn’t what they thought it should be.

It was a very enjoyable experience. First of all there’s that “rock.” Now those of you from the West and further up the Appalachain mountains may not appreciate it because it’s n ot as grand as some of the ranges there, but…appreciate it for what it is. Something that is completely different from the surrounding area, a large canvas with excellent art on it, and most of all, a tribute to an era now lost. I am from the MIdwest and I am a student of the Civil War. Most would say that means I’m a Yankee…

Not really. I was moved by the state memorials located throughout the park and along the sides of the main viewing lawn. We don’t often see this side of the Civil War. Stone Mountain is a tribute to all of the soldiers who fought and died for the Confederacy in 1861-1865. Does that mean you have to agree with their decision to appreciate and visit this place? Well, it helps, but no you don’t!

This monument is in honor of the men who fought for what they believed was right. It’s not about slavery. It’s not about “The South Shall Rise Again,” mentality that we see so often all across the country.

It is a memorial to their bravery. Get that in your head. This isn’t a huge amusement park for the kids to run around and ride roller coasters. its not intended to be a hike that will allow to see 7 states when you reach the top. It’s not even a place to try to bring back the old SOuth. IT IS A MONUMENT FOR MENS’ BRAVERY IN FIGHTING FOR WHAT THEY DEEMED RIGHT. If you don’t feel that way, don’t go…or go and educate yourself to the real story behind the Civil War.

P.S. I am an Enlightened Yankee, but I can look at all of the issues and make my own decisions about what happened. Don’t make your judgements without doing your own research. You might just be an enlightened Yankee too.