Bill Text: GA SR923 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Georgia Appalachian Trail Club; commend
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-02-01 - Senate Read and Adopted [SR923 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-SR923-Enrolled.html
10 LC
94 1840
Senate
Resolution 923
By:
Senators Butterworth of the 50th, Rogers of the 21st, Grant of the 25th, Heath
of the 31st, Pearson of the 51st and others
A
RESOLUTION
Commending
the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club and recognizing the importance in retaining
the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain, Georgia;
and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
the Appalachian Trail is a simple footpath through the wild, scenic, wooded,
pastoral, and culturally significant lands of the Appalachian Mountains, with
the portion of the trail in Georgia lying completely within the Chattahoochee
National Forest; and
WHEREAS,
since 1930, the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club has worked diligently and
conscientiously to protect, preserve, and maintain the Appalachian Trail in
Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
during the 80 years the Club has preserved America's premiere hiking trail in
Georgia, it has successfully staved off encroachments to both the trail and
terminus, lobbied for the establishment of four federally designated Wilderness
Areas, and prevented the extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway into Georgia, which
would have obliterated much of Georgia's Trail; and
WHEREAS,
over 50 years ago, the Club decided to move the southern terminus location from
Mount Oglethorpe to Springer Mountain in order to isolate the terminus and
prevent the encroachment of future development or tourism from hindering
enjoyment of the trail; and
WHEREAS,
there have been recent proposals to move the southern terminus of the
Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Cheaha in Alabama;
and
WHEREAS,
Springer Mountain stands as the highest peak in the eastern United States at its
southern latitude, standing approximately 3,800 feet in elevation, and is
accessible only by footpath with no surrounding man-made structures;
and
WHEREAS, moving the southern terminus from Springer Mountain to a location in Alabama would result in settling a terminus at an elevation at least 3,000 feet lower than its current location, and no guarantees are made that the new terminus location would be as isolated and serene as Springer Mountain; and
WHEREAS, moving the southern terminus from Springer Mountain to a location in Alabama would result in settling a terminus at an elevation at least 3,000 feet lower than its current location, and no guarantees are made that the new terminus location would be as isolated and serene as Springer Mountain; and
WHEREAS,
relocating the southern terminus to Alabama would extend the Appalachian Trail
and force hikers to hike approximately 50 miles along public roads in Georgia in
competition with vehicular traffic; and
WHEREAS,
the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is memorialized to retain the southern
terminus location for the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain;
and
WHEREAS,
a relocation of the southern terminus would obliterate the fundamental purpose
of the Appalachian Trail, which is to provide a footpath through nature and a
means of escaping the development, congestion, and clamor of everyday
life.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend
the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club for its diligence in protecting and
preserving the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and the Trail's southern terminus,
recognize the need for the southern terminus to remain at Springer Mountain, and
urge the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to reconfirm the southern terminus
location as Springer Mountain.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Georgia Appalachian
Trail Club.
