Box #5813

Ellicott's Deliverance (2) Hand-carvedTrek

Bull Pen Rd, Highlands, NC
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PlantedApril 25, 2005
ModifiedApril 26, 2005
NameLast Found F-Summary Findability
1.
Chattooga Whitewater
activeOct 14, 2012fffchallenging
2.
Ellicott's Oops
activeJul 3, 2009xfchallenging
In the first decade of the 19th century, Georgia and North Carolina fought the brief "Walton County War" over just where Georgia ended and North Carolina began. For years, Georgia claimed that the 35th Parallel (a crucial part of the dividing line) was some 18 miles further north than the North Carolinians believed, and formed "Walton County" out of this piece of purloined Real Estate. After being trounced by the North Carolina militia at the Battle of McGaha Branch and the Battle of Selica Hill, the Georgia Governor hired noted surveyor Andrew Ellicott to locate the 35th parallel and thus the border. Ellicott marked a rock in the Chattooga River (later made even more famous in the movie "Deliverance" based on the novel by James Dickey) as being the location where North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia met. Unfortunately, this was NOT where the Georgians wanted the 35th Parallel to be and they refused to pay Ellicott. Indeed, a later commission determined that Ellicott's calculations were slightly off and marked a different rock in the river as being the true 3 state meeting point, a rock approximately 10 FEET further south. Think about THAT the next time some geocacher blathers on about the precision of his 21st century GPS unit. Georgia did eventually accept that what it called Walton County was actually not really in Georgia and today the Ellicott's Deliverance series of boxes lies solidly in North Carolina.

Directions

Drive East on Main Street in Highlands, NC. Rte. US 64 will turn off to the left towards Cashiers and Brevard, Rte NC 28 will turn off right towards Walhalla, SC. Continue straight 4.6 miles on Main Street as it turns into Horse Cove Road, past the library and down the windy hill until the pavement ends. Turn on to the gravel road to your right (Bull Pen Road) and drive a further 1.7 miles (slowly and carefully - it's not the best road) and park at the marked trailhead for the Ellicott's Rock Trail.

Clue

Chatooga Whitewater: Follow the Ellicott's Rock Trail as far as the Chattooga River. The trail is for the most part broad and well marked, but with occasional blowdowns, stream crossings and a 7 mile round trip distance, you may not wish to bring along the little ones.

Enjoy a picnic or more by the rippling River, still fairly shallow this close to its source. Where the trail crosses the Chattooga, stand by the river on the West bank next to a tree marked with a yellow sign announcing the presence of the trail. Look up the bank towards another tree with the same sign. Behind and to the right of the 2nd tree is a 3rd tree of the same type (that is, not a rhododendron.) Look in a small hollow at the base of the south side this 3rd tree, under a rock, for a camo box.

Ellicott's Oops: Imagine Ellicott and his party returning to the trailhead from the River. 75 uphill paces after crossing the stream closest to the river, imagine Ellicott saying to the gathered audience "this hollow tree here would make a wonderful hiding spot for a letterbox." Imagine also that the Governor of Georgia was along and, after inspecting the hollow tree, gave it a mighty whack, causing the hollow tree to fall against another tree at an angle. "Methinks not" imagine the Governor saying. After which a commission would come along and locate a letterbox at the base of the north side of the tree 10 feet to the NE of the fallen hollow one.

And now for the walk back to the car. Sorry, it's pretty much all uphill from here.

Hike Length: 7.0 miles
Elevation Gain: 700 feet
NOTE: Before you set out you must read and agree to the Waiver of Responsibility and Disclaimer.