After a long few months full of football mixed in with scouts, dance, homework, and bustling full time jobs, Smalls and I had a kid free weekend without any other previous engagements. We took off as fast as we could to north GA to get a good dose of the mountains that we had so desperately been needing. As usual, we went to Clayton. The weather was clear and the fall leaves were still looking beautiful, so we chose to do Glassy Mountain Fire Tower. It is a moderate trail 0.9 miles out and back that ends at a fire tower overlooking Lake Burton.
You must drive on a gravel service road for a few miles leading up to the trail. It is not technical, however, the road is narrow and steep in places. The trail is also a gravel road however it is blocked off so that cars cannot reach it. The 0.9 mile hike is straight up and then fire tower is about 4 stories high. I must say that is was intimidating climbing up, but the views are so worth it! The windows in the fire tower are all broken out. From what we have been told, this happens every time they are replaced. We are begging everyone to please take care of what we have! This is an amazingly beautiful place, like many of the places we visit, and it should be treated with respect.
Incidentally, we had an incident with the drone. I channeled my inner spiderman and was able to retrieve it from the roof. Smalls was able to get replacements parts for around $20 and it is up and running again.
Smalls and Talls Outdoors 