Brasstown Bald-July 2003

by Mitch Askew

Chad Pepper and I went up to the Gaps climb Brasstown Bald. It has been over a year since my last trip over there. We started at R-ranch and climbed Neals Gap first. Then, we climbed Jack's Gap and ontop of Jacks Gap is Brasstown 
Bald. I started climbing Brasstown a little faster than usual. I climbed a pretty steep section while seated the whole time. I mistook that section for the super steep section. I thought, "wow, I really must have gotten stronger over last year, because that was not bad at all". A few minutes later I came around the bend to see mile marker one. It is 3 miles to the top. I then realized the super steep section is in mile 2. I then began my ascent on the first part of super steep section and thought, "I will climb seated and in my 23 just for bragging rights". I then got around the bend and saw the steepest section and immediately cogged to my 25 and jumped out of the saddle. It really is the steepest piece of asphalt I have ever seen. It feels like you are going straight up. I am out of the saddle pressing down as hard as I can and going all out at about 3.8 mph. Just fast enough from falling over. Once past that part however it is smooth sailing. At the end of the day and a year later, Brasstown is still steep.

Chad Pepper and Mitch Askew at the top of Brasstown Bald in North Georgia.