SOTA Guide - Grandmother Mtn, W4C/EM-022

Drive Guide - Grandmother Mountain from Mt Mitchell

• Duration: 1:45, 57 miles
• Google Maps URL from Atlanta (33.917, -84.3378): (google is broken. It thinks you can’t make a left turn.)
  • http://goo.gl/maps/fNCLg (part way there)
  • http://goo.gl/maps/Yo3E1 (rest of the way there)
• Seasonal/Limited Access: Check the BRP Closure Map.
• Directions:
  • Go 4.5 down the Mt Mitchell parking driveway
  • L on Blue Ridge Pky and go 50
    • Last restroom at Linville Falls picnic area, after driving 39 miles from Mt. Mitchell.
      • There are some picnic areas before/after, where you can wander into the woods.
  • Exit L for US-221 / Blowing Rock Hwy - after passing mile marker 306. Don’t take the earlier exit for US-221.
  • L on US-221 / Blowing Rock Hwy
  • Immediately after crossing under the Parkway, turn L on Leason Carroll Gragg Rd
    • This road starts off as paved, but turns to gravel. OK for sedans, with caution.
  • Follow the road to the summit.

Drive Guide - Grandmother Mountain TO Atlanta

• Duration: 4:30, 256 miles
• Google Maps URL: http://goo.gl/maps/IzbYm
• Directions:
  • Head downhill on Grandmother Mountain Rd
  • At the end of the road, turn L.
  • Immediately after crossing under the Parkway, turn R onto Parkway ramp
  • R at the Parkway and go 12.4
  • R on the ramp to US-221
  • L on US-221 S and go 26.8
  • R onto US-221 S and go 27.0
  • R onto US-74 W and go 17.4
  • R onto ramp to I-26 S and go 0.7
  • R on West Mills St and go 0.1
  • L onto ramp to I-26 S and go 21.8
  • Ramp to I-85 S and go 153
  • I-285 West

Trail Guide

• Duration: 1/4 mile, 10 minutes
• Navigation
  • Follow the road uphill.
  • At about 0.16 miles, the road forks. R for continues up to the tower. Keep R and go 350’.
  • Park at the rusted, abandoned water tank.
• Trailhead altitude: 4600
• Summit altitude: 4660.
  • Activation zone is 80’, so anything above 4580 is good.
• GPS tracks/waypoints:
  • Parking: 36.06226,-81.84253
  • Summit: 36.063, -81.8428

Summit Guide

• Hang antenna from tree:
• Space to guy mast:
• Cell coverage:
• Unique features:
  • TV transmitter on summit. Awful QRM, loud enough to de-sense my receiver to the point where I had to increase audio gain by 50%. 40m unusable due to QRM. 20m marginally usable. LOTS of No Trespassing signs near the summit, so I activated from the side of the road.
  • Drive-up summit. Easy to park near top and walk out/into the activation zone.