Snow days at the End of the
Pavement
1978 - 2009
By Janice Boling
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Snow days at the End of the Pavement
Snow in the mountains meant sledding, caravans through Coopers Creek, snowball fights, and sitting indoors by the wood heater.
Snowy day at the End of the Pavement
Snow days at the End of the Pavement were usually quiet but sometimes a crowd showed up. There were two times that I remember going to the End of the Pavement in the snow -- once to go sledding and once to ride in a caravan.
Cold beer in the snow
It was easy to keep cold beer in the winter -- we just sat it outside. Union County got more snow than other parts of Georgia since it was up in the mountains. In winter we did not have to buy a lot of ice.
Let it snow
Burrrrrr, it was cold on this winter day. Everyone was bundled up and getting ready to take a caravan through Cooper's Creek.
Look at all the campers. I see at least three not counting Gwen's trailer. I don't know if it was hunting season or what but the End of the Pavement looked like a RV park that day.
Jerry and Richard ready for caravan
Jerry E. and Richard look like they need a hot toddy -- but they are just waiting to see if Gomer and Gwen are going to join the caravan. For some reason, Gomer did not want to go.
Jerry is all decked out in racer's stripes -- he was a big Nascar fan. Richard had on that old puffy green coat. He wore that thing forever until he finally burnt a big hole in it with a cigarette and the stuffing fell out.
I think Jerry and Richard both drove a vehicle in the caravan -- you had to have a 4-wheel drive to even consider it.
I forget how many went on the trip, but there were a bunch of us. We went prepared with wenches, chains, blankets, coolers, thermoses full of hot coffee, snacks, and cameras.
Matt throws a snowball at me.
Matt was one of the kids that visited the End of the Pavement on weekends. He was a handsome young man, with nice teeth and a big grin. Jerry would bring his two boys up to hang out every chance he got. They grew up running around with Brad, Little Eddie, James, and all the other young men at the End of the Pavement.
After this picture was taken, Shawn, better known as Porky, slid off the mountain with Matt riding shotgun. It took a bunch of men to get them back on the road.
I think a fifth of tequila was involved in that mishap. We live and learn.
The Caravan stops for a break
Every so often, we stopped to admire the scenery, to socialize, to stretch our legs, and to pee. I usually stayed home when it snowed because I hated to drive in winter weather but Richard got me out that day. I am so glad he made me go.
An even dozen
Miss Hockey, Matt and Jill, Jerry, Larry, Jinger, Phil, Teresa, Shawn, Richard, Carol, and Roy. I guess the photographer made 13.
Phil and Teresa
Phil and Teresa enjoyed the day.
Jan with camera
I took a bunch of pictures during the caravan but who took this one? Maybe someone took all of these pictures and gave me copies. Maybe my film was defective. That happened once or twice. I have no idea but I bet Teresa or Miss Hockey knows.
Snow on the dirt road
I usually stayed home on snow and ice days. I got enough of slippery roads to last me a life time living in New Hampshire but on this day I am out and about. Probably with Richard -- he drove pretty good for a California boy.
Ann and Bill in the snow
Ann and Bill enjoyed a snow day at the End of the Pavement.
Snowball fight in 1996
There was lots of sticky snow but it wasn't very cold. Perfect for playing in a winter wonderland.
Rhonda and Brian in 1996
Rhonda, Brian, Billy, and I had a snowball fight in 1996. Brian was freezing his butt off. I have no idea where his coat was at -- he probably put it on a kid or loaned it out to someone. Brian would give you the shirt off his back but I bet he didn't give any more clothes away that day.
Rhonda was a fun-loving lady. I always hoped she would get with Brian for the long haul but it never happened. At least not yet anyway.
Tony on Mulky Gap
To play in the snow, we piled on the layers -- and hoped our faces would not freeze. Some people had snow suits and coveralls. I had a long, wool coat. One unusually frigid day, we drug out boggins, gloves, and scarves that hadn't been used in years.
This is the first and only time I went sledding off of Mulky. Once was enough for me. Some of the more energetic people did it three or four times. If I remember right, we had a truck pulling the sleds back up the mountain.
When we took off from the top, we had to lean into the curves and use any means possible to steer our sleds. It was risky business. There were a few skinned up people before the day was over but no broken bones.
Diane, Marie, Darlene, and Debbie
I think all the grown-ups were hesitant to sled down the mountain but we did it anyway! I will never forget flying down that road on a sled. It was like being in the winter olympics!
I have no idea who rode with me or even if I sat in the front or the back but I do remember digging in my heels to help stop the thing. The snow was on top of a thick sheet of ice and I did not want to pile up in it. It was not a soft snow.
Fixing to take off
That was Debbie in the front. She was preparing for take off. I wonder if she was as scared as i was. The snow was frozen with sharp ice crystals -- dry as a bone.
I think that was her husband in the back and Kevin helping them to get going. Kevin ran around all day helping everyone.
Hitching a ride up the mountain
Marie and Diane were prepared for the cold weather. Look at Diane in that ski mask!
When I snapped this photo, I was riding in the back of a pickup truck while it pulled the sled up the mountain. Why walk when you could catch a ride? At least back then, we did not have to worry about traffic.
Snow at Trout Camp
Sometimes it snowed on us at Trout Camp. Richard was probably working on a propane tank, trying to get someone's heater to work.
It was always chilly in March so we took coats and blankets. We were prepared.
We also had big campfires - sometimes five or six going at one time. We cleaned up all the dead wood for a mile around.
When it was this cold, a camper with heat felt like a five star hotel. Most of us slept in tents or in our cars making do with body heat.
See more photos of camping by the river during Trout Camp.