Chief Ladiga-Silver Comet
12-18-08, 10:03 PM
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Chief Ladiga-Silver Comet
I am looking to do most of, if not the entire length of Chief Ladiga-Silver Comet Trail from Anniston, AL-Gilmore, GA and back in one day. It's around 183 miles and will cut it short if I have to. I am currently planning to do it sometime between 22-29 DEC weather dependent. I will go alone but would rather have company. I would also welcome and advise concerning the trail. Anyone from the area interested?
12-19-08, 12:37 PM
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As the trail is pretty flat, this should be quite doable. On the
Georgia side there are increasing numbers of road crossings as you approach the trail end (which is about a mile from the parking
lot where a lot of locals start from).. The section from about 6-9miles from the Smyrna end to Rockmart is the most isolated and scenic, with a gentle downhill for miles. Between Rockmart and Cedarton the RR ROW is
still in use so the trail parallels US278 for about 10-12mi, a 4lane divided highway with rollers. It actually is a bit flatter to go off trail onto the road, traffic is not much really. There is a nice cafe in Cedartown,
innominata now, but it is on the main drag in downtown on the western side of the road 3-4blocks north of the RR depot where the trail crosses the main drag. They have a lot of old cola bottles all
over the walls. The route west from Cedartown through the suburbs peters out a bit after 6-8 blocks onto roads, not well marked. You have to keep a sharp eye for the trail markers among the houses.
Once into Alabama there is less and less commercial and mostly rural housing so be prepared to carry enough food/water to get you through to Piedmont, and from Piedmont to the Ala terminus there is
little option to refuel-Jacksonville has some options. There is nothing commercial near the Ala terminus, but there is a restroom there with a hot shower if so inclined. The Georgia section is concrete, not
crowned, so puddles here and there and steady thump of concrete dividers. There are a bunch of motels in Smyrna: the trail goes past a high rise apt/condo complex to a 4L road with the sidewalk
marked as though it were a bike trail. The sidewalk goes past a strip mall with a Burger King to another major thorofare. If you turn R onto this thorofare down a hill there are a bunch of restaurants and
motels about a mile down-all near 285. The Anniston end has no facilities near, you would have to bike 6-8mi or go back to Jacksonville. If you go during the week, there will be very little activity on
the trail except near Smyrna. On the week ends in warm weather a lot of cyclists, skaters, runners and walkers are on, again crescendoing near Smyrna. Suspect it will be quieter in December especially if
the cold front is still around when you ride. Twilite is ~6am-5pm and traffic on cross roads at the Smyrna end likely to be very high if during week. Many cross roads have pedestrian signals to be
punched, but not all, so take this into account. For a brief video of the group I rode with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zou5rKcBS-0 Other videos nearby.
I have done the trail twice, but going over on Sat and back on Sun. It is really amazing how little a Rails to trails conversion takes out of your legs, though you may already know this if you ride in Fla mostly, compared to riding on a road.
Georgia side there are increasing numbers of road crossings as you approach the trail end (which is about a mile from the parking
lot where a lot of locals start from).. The section from about 6-9miles from the Smyrna end to Rockmart is the most isolated and scenic, with a gentle downhill for miles. Between Rockmart and Cedarton the RR ROW is
still in use so the trail parallels US278 for about 10-12mi, a 4lane divided highway with rollers. It actually is a bit flatter to go off trail onto the road, traffic is not much really. There is a nice cafe in Cedartown,
innominata now, but it is on the main drag in downtown on the western side of the road 3-4blocks north of the RR depot where the trail crosses the main drag. They have a lot of old cola bottles all
over the walls. The route west from Cedartown through the suburbs peters out a bit after 6-8 blocks onto roads, not well marked. You have to keep a sharp eye for the trail markers among the houses.
Once into Alabama there is less and less commercial and mostly rural housing so be prepared to carry enough food/water to get you through to Piedmont, and from Piedmont to the Ala terminus there is
little option to refuel-Jacksonville has some options. There is nothing commercial near the Ala terminus, but there is a restroom there with a hot shower if so inclined. The Georgia section is concrete, not
crowned, so puddles here and there and steady thump of concrete dividers. There are a bunch of motels in Smyrna: the trail goes past a high rise apt/condo complex to a 4L road with the sidewalk
marked as though it were a bike trail. The sidewalk goes past a strip mall with a Burger King to another major thorofare. If you turn R onto this thorofare down a hill there are a bunch of restaurants and
motels about a mile down-all near 285. The Anniston end has no facilities near, you would have to bike 6-8mi or go back to Jacksonville. If you go during the week, there will be very little activity on
the trail except near Smyrna. On the week ends in warm weather a lot of cyclists, skaters, runners and walkers are on, again crescendoing near Smyrna. Suspect it will be quieter in December especially if
the cold front is still around when you ride. Twilite is ~6am-5pm and traffic on cross roads at the Smyrna end likely to be very high if during week. Many cross roads have pedestrian signals to be
punched, but not all, so take this into account. For a brief video of the group I rode with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zou5rKcBS-0 Other videos nearby.
I have done the trail twice, but going over on Sat and back on Sun. It is really amazing how little a Rails to trails conversion takes out of your legs, though you may already know this if you ride in Fla mostly, compared to riding on a road.
Last edited by sch; 12-21-08 at 07:28 PM.
12-19-08, 03:08 PM
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I think there's a hotel and chinese buffet just under a mile from the end in Anniston. Not sure when you rode it, but the trail is quite clear and easy to follow through Rockmart -- there is a split when you head back to from Smyrna to Rockmart as you get into Rockmart - bear left along the river, as opposed to straight up to a road - the trail stops right there, so if you miss it, just backtrack 50 feet and continue along the Riverwalk section in Rockmart. The Silver Comet trail is complete all the way from Smyrna through to Alabama now.
Let us know when you ride it.
Let us know when you ride it.
12-20-08, 02:59 PM
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I might be out on the trail around then. I am planning a light camping trip with a couple friends of mine.
12-28-08, 10:59 AM
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Trip Report:
Cloudy w/showers, 60degrees and an East wind @ 5kts. My plan was to leave at 0530, but it was pitch black and even with a headlamp, I was not comfortable because of all the debris on the trail from the previous nights storms. I ended up leaving from Anniston, AL at 0630. I made Piedmont in just over an hour did a refill and headed out again. The welcome center here is great but does not open till 0900. Previously I had never been past the first bridge over Terrapin Creek and WOW!, the section from here to the GA line is freshly paved and beautiful. I was a little surprised when I arrived in Cedartown; First by the depressed feeling but mostly by the grades East of town, there are some serious little hills in the neighborhood of 10% or more in this section. I was also chased by dogs 3 times in Cedartown, once right after crossing a railroad and headed up one of those serious little climbs, two very large dogs got after me, I never knew I could sprint uphill like that! Rockmart was georgous, great innercity park and the town square looked nice. I stopped for about 20 mins for lunch here. I continued to Dallas(about 18 miles from Rockmart) and had to turn around there because of daylight requirements to get back. In total it was 146.2 miles and 10.5 hours. I am going to try again in the Spring when there is more daylight to work with. Look out for squirrels and dogs, and take 3 bottles when it's warm. This was my first distance over 70 unsupported....and it felt great.
Cloudy w/showers, 60degrees and an East wind @ 5kts. My plan was to leave at 0530, but it was pitch black and even with a headlamp, I was not comfortable because of all the debris on the trail from the previous nights storms. I ended up leaving from Anniston, AL at 0630. I made Piedmont in just over an hour did a refill and headed out again. The welcome center here is great but does not open till 0900. Previously I had never been past the first bridge over Terrapin Creek and WOW!, the section from here to the GA line is freshly paved and beautiful. I was a little surprised when I arrived in Cedartown; First by the depressed feeling but mostly by the grades East of town, there are some serious little hills in the neighborhood of 10% or more in this section. I was also chased by dogs 3 times in Cedartown, once right after crossing a railroad and headed up one of those serious little climbs, two very large dogs got after me, I never knew I could sprint uphill like that! Rockmart was georgous, great innercity park and the town square looked nice. I stopped for about 20 mins for lunch here. I continued to Dallas(about 18 miles from Rockmart) and had to turn around there because of daylight requirements to get back. In total it was 146.2 miles and 10.5 hours. I am going to try again in the Spring when there is more daylight to work with. Look out for squirrels and dogs, and take 3 bottles when it's warm. This was my first distance over 70 unsupported....and it felt great.
12-29-08, 12:11 AM
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It is a little hilly between Cedartown and Rockmart, but not that bad!! The section just the
other side of Rockmart is by far the prettiest. Try it in April when the wildflowers are blooming.
There are a lot of native azaleas, dogwoods et al here and there. There is a restaurant about 50 yds from the pavilion in the park at Rockmart. I see you hit the sweet spot in temps last week, a couple of
good riding days interspersed with rain. We rode 12/27/08 at 72F on wet roads, but missed the
rain. Thanks for the report.
One other sociologic comment: it is truly amazing how many hispanics there
are in these small rural towns in Ala and Georgia.
other side of Rockmart is by far the prettiest. Try it in April when the wildflowers are blooming.
There are a lot of native azaleas, dogwoods et al here and there. There is a restaurant about 50 yds from the pavilion in the park at Rockmart. I see you hit the sweet spot in temps last week, a couple of
good riding days interspersed with rain. We rode 12/27/08 at 72F on wet roads, but missed the
rain. Thanks for the report.
One other sociologic comment: it is truly amazing how many hispanics there
are in these small rural towns in Ala and Georgia.
