Reply to May 2-3, 2015 Chief Ladiga & Silver Comet Review

Rode the entire distance of both trails this past weekend.

Saturday - Anniston, AL to Smyrna, GA

The trail for the entire length is in great condition. There are portions east of the state line on Silver Comet that were littered with some tree debris, such as branches and pine cones. Also, there's a few sections in GA that had standing water on the trail. Other than those items, I have zero complaints.

With respect to the elevation & difficulty of the ride, there's a couple serious climbs east of Cedartown, GA that are challenging, if you're not an experienced rider. Heading east out of Rockmart, there's a 6 mile gradual climb up to Brushy Mountain Railroad Tunnel. It's not steep, but it's long.

Between Piedmont and Cedartown, the trail is very remote with no chances to refill a water bottle or purchase food. Be fully stocked with plenty of both if the intention is to traverse that section.

I saw LOTS of wildlife that included rabbits, a couple small snakes, cows and dogs. These were all ON THE TRAIL! Not only did I have my firearm with me for protection, I also carried pepper spray in the event I had a run in with a not-so-nice dog (or any other animal). Fortunately, I didn't have to use either items.

Sunday's return trip was good. I think the climbs east of Cedartown and much more difficult traveling East to West. One of the climbs near the trash dump rewards riders with a fantastic view of the countryside looking north. Take a moment and enjoy the scenery.