Fast Food Decadence in Dawsonville

We haven't reviewed a chain restaurant for Mountainfreak.net up till this point, but not many fast food restaurants make the Zagat Survey while being located right on one of the major thoroughfares we use to get up into the North Georgia Mountains. Five Guys is a no frills, cook to order hamburger joint that gives you a little bit more of everything you order-almost to the point of being decadent.
First of all, the regular burger comes with two fresh grilled patties of fresh (never frozen) ground beef with an amazing number of add-ons at no extra charge. The fries, also fresh cut and never frozen. A regular order was more than I could eat on a recent visit. A large styrofoam cup is loaded with hot fries and then they throw a large handful in the bag along with your order for good measure. A large order might feed 3-4 folks. You can order your fries "Five Guys" style or cajun style. Kosher Hot Dogs and sandwiches are available on the menu-but make no mistake, this is a burger joint with the emphasis on making a good hamburger. I admit to having a little sticker shock the first time I ate at Five Guys. A burger, fries and regular drink will run you about 9 bucks. Everything is relative, however. When compared to pre-frozen then microwaved/heat lamped burgers and frozen fries that will run you close to $6 at other burger chains, Five Guys is a value.
The Dawsonville Five Guys is located in the Dawsonville Commons shopping center right off of GA 400...in front of the Walmart and across 400 from the huge gaudy outlet mall Dawsonville has become semi-famous for. Very easy access if you are heading up to the mountains west of Dawsonville or up to Dahlonega and beyond.

S.W.

1st Annual Horsin' Around Barbecue Showdown

1st Annual Barbecue Festival Coming to Brasstown Valley



The First Annual Horsin' Around Barbecue Showdown
will be held from May 23-25 at Brasstown Valley Resort in the North Georgia Mountains. $6500 in prize money is awaiting contestants from all over Georgia and the southeast as the compete in the categories of Brisket, Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder and Chicken.
Along with the barbecue contest there will be an Arts & Crafts Fair, Bike Show, Kid's Corral Fun Zone and numerous concessions. We also hear there will be live music and entertainment-all for an admission price of $3 per person. The main activities will be held at The Stables area of the resort.
The barbeque contest is sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society and proceeds benefit S.A.F.E. Mountainfreak.net will be there to enjoy the festivities, we hope to see you there! For more information and directions, visit the Brasstown Valley Resort website: www.brasstownvalley.com

Camping Around Helen, GA

Camping Around Helen

Low Gap Creek and Andrews Cove



Visitors start flocking to the Helen, Georgia area this month as the weather improves and the kids get out of school. Helen has good restaurants, bars, shopping for the adults and amusement parks, tubing on the 'hooch, and a variety of other activities for the kids. Plenty of lodging accommodations are available throughout the area for whatever taste and budget you desire. The main attraction here is the beautiful setting in the Chattahoochee valley of the North Georgia Mountains, and there is no better way to enjoy the mountains than camping. All the campgrounds in the area will be open in May, and like other overnight opportunities, there is something for everyone. We decided to focus on some "real" camping this month-tent and small RV camping at Low Gap Creek Campground in the Mark Trail Wilderness, and Andrews Cove Campground just north of Helen on GA 75.


Low Gap Creek Campround


Waterfront Campsite on Low Gap Creek



Only about 5 miles from Helen, but a world away in the wilderness, Low Gap Creek Campground is a real jewel. 13 spacious campsites lie either next or adjacent to Low Gap Creek as it tumbles down to meet the Chattahoochee. This is "real" camping..no electricity, one water source, no showers. There are chemical restroom facilities on site. The sites here are certainly large enough for a big pop up camper to medium sized RV, but most of what I've seen here is tent camping.



Low Gap Creek


Low Gap Creek itself is a pretty good trout stream, and fishermen use the area as well as hikers setting out for Low Gap Falls upstream. Access is easy from Poplar Stump Rd. just west of the Chattahoochee off Alt 75 in Robertstown-across from Cool River Tubing and the Helen Flea Market. Poplar Stump Rd. turns into Forestry Rd. 44 (well maintained gravel) that will lead you to the campground. The fee for camping is $10 per night. The bathrooms and campsites are wheelchair accessible.



Andrews Cove Campground



Entrance to Andrews Cove Campground



Consisting of 10 padded sites along Andrews Creek and situated just off GA 75 a few miles north of Helen, Andrews Cove is a bit more known and popular than Low Gap Creek. Also the beginning of the Andrews Cove Trail, which leads 2 miles to the Appalachian Trail, this campground is a good jumping off point for many mountain activities. Amenities are very similar to Low Gap-chemical toilets, limited water water source and no electricity. These campsites are not RV friendly at all, anything larger than a pop up would have trouble with the fit and negotiating the roadway. For folks with larger campers I would suggest checking out Unicoi State Park, Moccasin Creek State Park, or Yonah Mountain Campground which is a privately owned campground about 4 miles south of Helen. The nightly fee for Andrews Cove is $10 per night, first come first serve.
If you would like to plan a camping trip to the Helen area..or anywhere in the North Georgia Mountains... don't hesitate to email us if you have any questions we can help with -editor@mountainfreak.net. We have a good deal of experience in the area, and if we don't know the answer to your question it is very likely that we know someone who does. If you have a camping experience or advice you would like to share with our readers, use the same email link and let us know about it so we can share

Mountainfreak Music Review-John Sosebee

Mountainfreak Review:


John Sosebee


John Sosebee says that he first heard Jimi Hendrix at age 14 and decided then he wanted to play the guitar for a living. John has reached back into the roots of Hendrix and countless others to the native American blues of Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson in his one man show I recently took in at Wylie's in Dahlonega.
Armed with 3 guitars, a foot drum and a tambourine, the Jasper, Georgia native puts on a good show of delta based blues. He combines excellent finger picking and slide work with a voice made for singing the blues. This isn't "blues fusion" or some modern take on old standards, this is American music at it's very core.
Sosebee is also a member of the band Dripping Theater, where he says he does venture out into other musical areas. Check out John's MySpace page for more background, history, songs and information-and keep checking with Mountainfreak Music for upcoming dates so you can get out to see John either solo or with his band.

S.W.

Big weekend May 24-25..Eco Music Festival and BBQ..

Mountainfreak.net has finalized plans to attend the 1st annual Horsin' Around Barbecue Showdown in Hiawassee and the Eco Music Festival near Dawsonville. We will have reports from both in the June issue. Links with information about both events can be found in the May issue of Mountainfreak.net

Follow up on The BBQ Place in Dahlonega...

I was by there a few days ago and it looks like The BBQ Place is no more. Totally cleaned out and up for rent. That's too bad-N Georgia needs more good BBQ joints and The BBQ Place had a chance to be pretty good with a few changes here and there. We are trying to get up to Blairsville this month to check out a new BBQ joint there that comes with some pretty good recommendations..stay tuned!