Kennesaw Mountain

Back in 1988 there was a Kennesaw Mountain Trail closure protest  because of a sign posted saying “NO MORE BICYCLES ON THE TRAILS AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN”. Jim Craig and Kevin Pagent and a hand full of folks tried to stop the rangers form closing the trails. The trails at Kennesaw were great for introducing people to mountain biking. Soap Creek, Cheatham Hill Trail System and Kennesaw Mountain were like Blanket’s creek is today for mountain biking. I remember riding by the Illinois monument and feeling the energy of the Civil War. A battle for many years to come. I did not realize there would be a battle to keep the trails open at Kennesaw Mountain. Rumor has it that a runner was hit by a mountain biker. The biker kept on rolling and never stopped. This was one of the rumors I heard about before the trail closure. “Think about trail etiquette” it really helps in the long run. Fourteen people showed up to try and keep the trails at Kennesaw opened. A gentle man by the name of Mr. Craig did his best to keep the trails open but failed. A mountain bike club was formed – SORBA.

 I remember walking around and riding around the woods with Steve Houghton. Steve kept telling me that these were going to be awesome trails. Those trails are now Bull Mountain. Steve Houghton and I met Jay Franklin former President of SORBA. Jay used to call me up and ask me to meet with the forest service on issues pertaining to mountain bikers in the North Georgia area. I moved to Ellijay in 1989. I was an active rider, racer and worked on the trails and hardly ever recorded or documented anything. I would do what we had to do to keep the trails clear. Jay is still a good friend of mine.

Fort Mountain Trails

Jay Schemanski, Doug White and Wally Woods and I walked around Fort Mountain to plan out a mountain bike trail system. It was an all day affair. The trails at Ft. Mountain were built with hard core labor – State Prisoners and dynamite. Thanks a bunch to Freddy and Sheri Walk and Frank Ward. Frank Ward was the first President of the Ellijay Mountain Bike Club (EMBA). Frank was instrumental in building the Boy Scout Loop at the River Loop and Red & White trail system. The River Loop is the oldest Mountain Bike trail in Georgia. Mountain town Outdoor Expeditions (“MOE” started ATB Races in 1982 at the River Loop and Red and White Trails. Frank moved on to North Carolina. Freddy Walker stepped up and took over as President of EMBA. Freddy and Sheri worked very hard for a long time. Freddy started the Woodring Branch project at Carter’s Lake. Freddy was one of the hardest trail workers I have ever seen. Freddy and Sheri also worked with the trail maintenance crew at Blanket’s Creek before the grand opening. The Cartecay Bike Shop was there also the opening day. We miss Freddy and Sheri. During their time we put on a few southeastern mountain bike festivals in Ellijay along with the 24 half of Ellijay in 1999. Legendary Gary Fisher stayed in Ellijay for a week riding and racing. Two hundred riders showed up to race, jump dual slalom and drink plenty of beer. The next EMBA president is a question. I can’t remember the guy’s name. Then came big Robert McBride who helped restart the engine of EMBA. Robert promoted races at Carter’s Lake and worked really hard with the Army Corps.  After he got hired by SORBA the fastest guy in south – Marco Falgiano showed up promoting EMBA to the next level with races and great food and adding members as fast as we can get them.

EMBA started out on the front porch of the Old Cartecay River Bicycle Shop with four folks. Fred Ward, Freddy and Sheri Walker and Mike Palmeri. Before a chapter was formed all we had up here was Jay from MEO and a few folks that would help out every now and then. SORBA has been a part of my life since 1988 and I appreciate all of the support. Just like the Kennesaw Mountain trail closure I was very worried about trail closures in North Georgia. The Indians worried about the white man taking over the territories and the Gold Rush. I worry about the development in the North Georgia region that will take away the best trails in the southeast. We really need everybody’s help to keep the trails open by working with the Land Managers, National Forest Services, Army Corp and State Park Service in North Georgia. Ellijay had the first mountain bike race. Ellijay has more miles of trials than any other county in Georgia and we should save what we have in North Georgia. We have some of the oldest trails in the southeast.