Getting others interested in


the outdoors creates aware- ness of the environment and also protecting it.


Sawtooth Trail waterfall on the Pine Mountain Trail


who prefers to hike for three miles and set up camp to get away from the world, but even he is drawn to canyons of Provi- dence. “It is one of the few places where nature’s true beauty can be seen without taking a 3+ hour trip,” Largent offered. “Te coloration in the soil, the sunsets, the sheer beauty of a silent pine forest draw many in the Southeast to visit each year.” You can take in the panoramic view


see today. The massive gullies—pink and purple, red and orange—are truly a breath- taking sight to behold. Chris Largent, manager of Uptown


Columbus’ outdoor adventure, one-stop- shop The Outside World, is the kind of guy


from the rim trail. You can delve into the deepest canyons. You can even stay over- night out in the backcountry. But should you venture into the canyon, keep an eye out for an offbeat gem that is just off the beaten track: an old, abandoned home- stead complete with a rusty parking lot full of cars and trucks from the 1950s. It was the ravages of man that called the canyon into being; it’s nice to see that nature, as it tends to do, got the last laugh.


All of our batteries for cars, trucks, boats and golf carts are MADE IN THE USA!


-Chris Largent What is no laughing matter is the situ-


ation that enabled the creation of Provi- dence, namely, the forced evacuation of the Creek and Cherokee tribes. On the Geor- gia-Alabama border, you will find a stretch of the Trail of Tears that the area’s Native American population traversed as they fled the Valley. While somber in its origin, this trail provides a stellar hike without having to travel a great distance. Here, you will find trails that will guide you though Spanish moss, gigantic wild palm fronds, imposing rock formations, with cliff edges that offer amazing views of the river. Slightly farther into Alabama is the


blink-and-you-miss-it town of Salem. Tere you will find the Ghost Town Trail, a hike that combines tall pines, precarious cliffs and paranormal activity. On a good hike, the Ghost Town Trail is just as likely to reveal old oaks, the remains of an old grist mill and a free-running creek, as it is to reveal the ghost of Tandy Kay, gam- bling his death away at a card table above his grave. Should you brave this trail, note that it is on private property, so be respect- ful, leave only footprints, and no overnight camping. Te Chattahoochee Valley is a play-


EBCO BATTERY CO. “Always starting something® ” 4017 Warm Springs Road • Columbus, GA 31909 • (706) 563-8888


ground for outdoor enthusiasts and more and more people are discovering its trea- sures. Largent, whose business is depen- dent on outdoor adventurers, credits raised awareness. “More people are getting outdoors and taking friends, and the cycle keeps going. Te more people who get out- side and take their friends, interest builds. Getting others interested in the outdoors creates awareness of the environment and also protecting it.” So, are you an avid outdoorsman? Or


are you looking to join the exodus to the wilderness that is sweeping the Valley? No matter your skill level,


take Neal Wick-


ham’s advice: “Always pack a map, always bring water, and always let people know when and where you’re going.” Spring is upon us, so get out there and


explore the natural world in which we’ve made our home. C


30 Columbus and the Valley April 2013


photo by Jim Hall


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