Georgia Natural Wonder #107 - Waterfalls of Camp Merrill and Camp Wahsega. 1,174

[Top Row Dawg]

We move away from our three weeks in Savannah, with 10 total post on the swamps and history of Chatham County and Savannah. That was really fun and is just an big old exclamation point on our great state. I saw a Vidalia Onion commercial and the slogan struck me - "Nature's Favorite State". They were trying to describe the soil that made it so good for the onions to grow so tasty. 50% of the World Sweet Onion production is right here in Georgia. I try to squeeze in some Vidalia Onion talk when I pass the Varsity everyday on my tour, and talk about their onion rings and Nipsey Russell.



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Anyway, it fits with this Forum, I like it .....

Nature's Favorite State

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It has been so long working on Savannah, I almost forgot my waterfall to swamp theme for ten post each. We did Cochran - Horsetrough - Little Rock Creek & Fall Branch Falls vs. Phinizy - Chickasawhatchee - Savannah Swamps. 6 wonders but 16 post with 1 tangent of Dougherty County and Albany, but 9 tangents on Chatham County and Savannah. So we are back to the Dahlonega area today for 3 waterfalls at or near Frank D. Merrill Ranger Camp, and 1 smaller fall on the grounds of the 4 - H Camp Wahsega. I count all four falls as one wonder as they are all in North Dahlonega. We did a detailed tangent on Lumpkin County and Dahlonega with on Cane Creek Falls and Lumpkin County GNW #98 so there is no need for a tangent there. We do tangent on Merrill's Marauder's a bit but we explore our first waterfall ......

Edmondson Falls

We first want to talk about a waterfall on Edmunston Creek, in Lumpkin County, Georgia. It is a beauty on National Forest land but kind of difficult to determine exactly how to reach it with out trespassing on private land. DIRECTIONS: From downtown Dahlonega go east on East Main St to the first traffic light and turn left on N. Grove Road (Business 19/60). Go 2.25 miles and turn left on Camp Wahsega Road (Sign Camp Frank D. Merrill). Go 7.1 miles and turn left on Etowah Trail (Road) that is a gravel road. Go just under 0.5 miles to a Farm Yard type of gate on the right.



Park along the road in the widest place you can find; not in front of the gate! Walk around the gate and follow the road. In a quarter mile or so, you will pass by the top of the waterfall as the road drops down to a wide creek bottom. When the road flattens out, turn left off the road , cross the creek and walk up the level bottom land to the falls. You will be able to see the waterfall from the road.



About 30 feet high.



A vertical shot.



And a wide angle shot.



Waterfall Location: 34.612955,-84.086695



Top Row Dawg visits Edmunston Falls years ago.



Walk on over there and crawl up those treacherous rocks young daughter, Help me frame this image. My first Imgr images  - Let's see if it outlast the Facebook images.



Black Falls

Now just a bit further on Camp Wahsega Road you come to the two Black Falls.DIRECTIONS From downtown Dahlonega go east on East Main St to the first traffic light and turn left on N. Grove Road (Business 19/60). Go 2.25 miles and turn left on Camp Wahsega Road (Sign Camp Frank D. Merrill). Go 7.1 miles and go past Etowah Trail (Road) on the left - that is the gravel road you use to go to Edmunston Falls. Go a bit further and turn left on F.S. 28-1.  pas by the Mt. Zion Church on the left, and soon thereafter, the army camp's gym on the right. In .5 of a mile arrive at the parking area on the right. This is at Camp Merrill - stop at kiosk at camp gate for directions as needed. Falls are at SSG R Portello Rd. There are three roads and you want the one in the middle. Go past road at gate to small parking area. Go back to locked gate - you can get around it on the left side. Falls are at the bottom of the road and to the right.

Note: because the gate to this falls is kept locked, stop at the Camp Merrill gate for directions. You have to park at the top of the road and walk down.

These falls are on the grounds of the Camp Frank D Merrill Ranger training camp and is behind a locked gate. This area is also a rappelling training area and I suppose that's why it's kept locked - to keep idiots from falling off the cliff. Certainly the road to the other falls (West fork of Montgomery Creek) on this same property has always been open when I've been by there, but there's no cliff there. At .25 miles you can see the main falls from the road near the cliff. You see a long cascade through the trees. It was difficult to get a good picture, but the cascade starts near the top of the photo, where it's very bright and runs more or less straight down the photo.



To make your way to the base, you have to scramble over some downed trees and make your way to the sandy creek bottom.


This is the upper of two waterfalls on the Etowah River. It's often referred to as Black Falls. The falls is on the grounds of Camp Merrill.


At the bottom of the photo you can see a narrow footbridge with a rope strung across the creek as a hand-hold.

I found from "Waterfall Hikes of North Georgia" by Jim Parham that there is another falls below Black Falls, on the Etowah River. The directions are the same, but you have to follow the river downstream, along an old road, and when you get near the bottom of the hill - look back upstream for the lower of two waterfalls on the Etowah River. It's also often referred to as Black Falls.



These two falls are on the Etowah River. Here is a Facebook image of the lower falls.



Waterfall Location: 34.622817, -84.106017


One last image Lower Black Falls.

PLEASE STAY OFF THE RAPPELING CLIFF & other equipment!



Georgia, Cliff in vicinity of Camp Wahsega near Dahlonega—On 23 November, Robert D. Bridger (21), a Ranger student participating in scheduled training fell to his death. He was riding down on a suspension traverse constructed of a one inch manila, three strand rope. The rope was suspended with a total span of approximately 220 feet between two trees, one 18 inches in diameter on top of the cliff, the other 14 inches in diameter at the bottom. At the top it was secured with a round turn and two half hitches, and at the bottom with a “transport tightening knot”. The cliff was 60 feet high. The carrier for personnel riding the traverse consisted of two snaplinks on the static line, a carrier rope of 7/16 inch nylon passed through these snaplinks and down through the Swiss seat tied on the person. A belay rope of 7/16 inch nylon was tied to the center loop of the carrier rope by means of a “round turn and bowline”. The practice had been to allow the person riding the traverse to “run” down the static line to within approximately twenty feet of the pulley at the lower end of the traverse before the belayer arrested his descent.



The manila static line was very wet from a heavy rain storm the night before. The installation had been inspected by the Principal Instructor prior to its initial use and periodically during the morning which students were riding it. Twenty-two students had preceded Bridger down the traverse within two hours preceding the accident. The Principal Instructor reported that he had checked the rope not over a minute before it broke. At that time there was no evidence of fraying, bulging or excessive wear.



The fall resulting in death occurred when the one inch manila rope (static line) broke at a point approximately sixteen feet from the lower anchor and approximately ten feet from the “butterfly knot” used for the pulley in the “transport tightening knot.” It is estimated that the rope broke between one and two seconds after the man’s weight was placed on the static line. He had descended a vertical distance of approximately ten feet before the rope broke, allowing him to fall roughly fifty feet. The actual parting of the rope was witnessed by a man standing just below the breaking point and about two feet to the side. He reported that the rope just seemed to explode, fraying out in all directions immediately rather than just one strand breaking and unravelling followed by the other strands.



The exact age of the rope was not known but was estimated at about 6 months. It had been used for a variety of climbing operations during this period. When not in use it was cleaned and then stored loosely coiled in a dry building which was heated during the winter months.

Source: Newspaper clipping from F. Chamberlain. Report from U.S. Army Infantry School.

Analysis: This accident points up the inherent dangers of manila rope. It would appear that nylon rope is safer than manila not only because of its elastic characteristics but also due to its resistance to mould and mildew.



Tangent Frank D. Merrill and Camp

Camp Frank D. Merrill is among the important military bases operated by the US Army. It is located in Georgia and one of the few bases in the area. One important aspect about this camp is that it is the general meeting point for the 5th Ranger Training Battalion and a school for rangers. Other than that, both sectors are run by small units. The general purpose of the camp is to train these troops in various environments. The general idea is to deal with the adaption and movement on the ground, especially in mountainous environments. The camp is located close to a small town in Georgia – Dahlonega. According to the statistics, 1/8 of the world formation consists of mountainous formations, therefore such training activities have their particular importance level. The United States control only three such bases in the world. All of them are placed on their territory. This is the second one in importance.



The training activities take place in one more base. The new students are taken through a theoretical part first, with multiple field operations after for the superiors to test their abilities. They are then ordered by their dedication, resistance and stamina. Once they pass the courses, they are transferred to Camp Rudder, in Florida, where the final “exams” take place.



Camp Frank D. Merrill is named after Frank Dow Merrill, an expert leading multiple armies in the Burma campaigns during World War II.



He is best remembered for his command of Merrill's Marauders, officially the 5307th Composite Unit (provisional).



His division advanced over 750 miles through the deep jungles in order to harass the Japanese soldiers.



No other division managed to get that far.



They fought in 5 major engagements (Walawbum, Shaduzup, Inkangahtawng, Nhpum Ga, and Myitkyina) and engaged in combat with the Japanese Army on thirty-two separate occasions.



Battling Japanese soldiers, hunger, and disease, the 5307th was disbanded on August 10, 1944, with a final total of only 130 combat-effective officers and men (out of the original 2,997).



Burma in Georgia.



He received multiple awards and decorations before passing away in 1955, in Florida. His role was so important in World War II that Hollywood decided to award him with a special movie in 1962 as well – “Merril’s Marauders”.



Montgomery Creek Falls

Our third fall for today is a pretty waterfall on the west fork of Montgomery Creek.

Directions and Information:from Dahlonega, GA

  - north on US 19 bypass
  - left on Camp Glisson Rd
  - right on Camp Wahsega Rd
  - at Camp Merrill - left on gravel road
  - right on SSG Charles B. Cooper Rd
  - ford Etowah River
  - take left fork - or you can park here and hike the rest of the way
  - at end of narrow road in, there is a small parking area on the left
  - go past parking area and onto old road/trail
  - at about .4 miles will cross small branch and trail begins to climb
  - falls be heard soon after this point and are on the left



Note: Camp Wahsega Rd is blocked, at the end, alternately right & left by traffic dividers - to protect the entrance to the camp.  Just go around them and then left on the gravel road.  Remember, this falls is on the grounds of Camp Merrill and the road in is gated.  If it's closed, you will need to go back to the camp to see if they will give you permission to enter to see the falls. 



At the parking area I went the wrong way the first time I tried and ended up on entirely the wrong trail.  If you end up on a narrow, eroded, steep trail - you're on the wrong one!  The correct trail is an obvious old logging road.



Follow an old logging road (also used as a bike trail) from FS 141 just off the Camp Merrill grounds. To get to the waterfall, you will have to turn right at one point and parallel West Fork Montgomery Creek as the trail straight goes to the Etowah River confluence.



Tangent Camp Wahsega

Wahsega 4-H Center is one of five centers operated by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. We provide environmental and outdoor education opportunities during the school year and camping experiences to youth during the summer. Our programs enable youth to acquire relevant knowledge, develop significant life skills and form the appropriate attitudes they need to make intelligent decisions, solve problems and be responsible citizens.



Wahsega 4-H Center is 12 miles north of Dahlonega on Forest Service Rd. 28, one mile from the end of Camp Wahsega Road and the entrance to the Army Ranger Training Facility. We are in the Ward Creek valley on property owned by the University of Georgia in the Chattahoochee National Forest.  The shortest route into Wahsega travels down rough winding forest service dirt road. The best routes to Wahsega 4-H Center will always include traveling the entire length of Camp Wahsega Road.

Ward Creek Falls

The last of our four falls today is a small but picturesque cascading waterfall on Ward Creek.   



Ward Creek Falls is within the grounds of the 4H Center at Camp Washega. It is viewed via just a short, easy walk.



Directions and Information: from Dahlonega, GA

    Travel north out of Dahlonega on US Bus.19/GA. 60 for 2 miles.
    Turn left on Camp Wahsega Rd.
    Travel approximately 9.5 miles to Camp Frank D. Merrill – 5th Ranger Training Battalion.
    Do not enter the entrance to the camp.
    Instead, turn right on Forest Service Rd 80 – Coopers Gap Road.
    At the top of the mountain at Coopers Gap (approximately 4 miles) turn right on Forest Service Rd 42.
    Follow FS 42 approximately one mile and the falls will be on the left side of the road.

Note: Camp Wahsega Rd is blocked, at the end, alternately right & left by traffic dividers - to protect the entrance to the camp. Just go around them and then right on the gravel road. Watch your odometer after you turn onto FS 42, the falls might be hard to see in spring & summer.



Got two sets of coordinates, so you are on your own.

Waterfall Location: 34.61733, - 84.09746

COORDINATES: N 34° 39.107' | W 84° 04.071'

Top Row Dawg's buddy Sean, at Ward Creek Falls years ago.



Back when Sean could get around.



Today's GNW gals are Ranger ready...



Woo we have a poll, a difficult poll because it is a little hard to really distinguish between our two choices.I am pretty sure we have two separate gals so Ranger one is a darker brunette while ranger two is a bit more fair with touch of freckles.