Chunky Gal Mountain, Muskrat Cove, Whiteoak Stamp, and Raven Rock Ridge.  The Roadless Area boundary is roughly that of the SPNM (Semi-Primitve Non-motorized Area), but we believe any Wilderness Area should extend northwest past Riley Knob almost to US 64.  (click on map for larger image)	Aerial view looking southeast at the Chunky Gal ridge on the left, Raven Rock Ridge on the right, Muskrat Cove in between, with Whiteoak Stamp at the head of the cove.

This area is part of the proposed SOUTHERN NANTAHALA WILDERNESS EXTENSIONS (Wayah and Tusquitee Districts), 16232 acres(includes acreage in existing wilderness, as well as outside it)

Location: Clay and Macon Counties, around periphery of the existing Southern Nantahala Wilderness

Access:  From US 64, approx.12 miles S of US 23 junction, take Cty 1448 to Standing Indian Campground at Whiteoak Bottoms and use trail system map from here.

USGS Topographic Quadrangles:  Rainbow Springs (west), Prentiss (east), Macedonia.  Best information is from 1986 FS trail map of Southern Nantahala Wilderness and Standing Indian Basin in both the Nantahala and Chattahoochee NF's.  John Ray, (author of the Bartram Trail Guide in GA and NC), and two of his pals have undertaken (as of Dec 2001) to write a guidebook to the Chunky Gal Trail and the Rim Trail, with descriptions also of the side trails that feed into them.  These trails will all be measured and mapped, and presented in much the same way as the new Bartram Trail Guides.  John Ray says his group will also do maintenance to bring all the described trails into useability.

Features/Description/Potential:  Southern Nantahala Wilderness was the NC Sierra Chapter's number one wilderness priority for the 1985 draft of the Forest Plan.  Chunky Gal spur was left out of Wilderness because local opposition was fierce in Franklin in the late 70's and early 80's, but this situation seems to have largely reversed since then.  Chunky Gal and the current S. Nantahala Wilderness are in the Tusquittee Ranger District.
Features:
- Was part of the largest roadless area in the South
- Popular Chunky Gal trail linking the AT from near Whiteoak Stamp in the S. Nantahala Wilderness to the Boteler Peak and Tusquitee Bald Wild Areas to the west.
- Some rock outcrops & heath balds at higher elevations
- Adjacent to wilderness areas in NC and GA
- Prime Black bear habitat

 Chunky Gal Mtn., a ridge which extends from White Oak Stamp on the AT NW to US 64,  is a logical addition to the wilderness.  The ridge continues NW across US 64 to the actual summit of Chunky Gal Mountain in the Boteler Peak Wild Area.
    Riley Knob, at the W end, is a 215 acre special interest management area off of US 64 and ranging in elevation from 3600 to 4400 ft.  An unusual old growth, montane white oak community grows here, influenced by amphibolite and olivine-containing bedrock, which produce a more basic pH soil than the usual acidic granitic rock of most of the forest.  Associated  associated natural communties here are cove and high elevation red oak forest.  Species of special concern, influenced by the unusual basic soils are Blue Ridge bindweed, glade spurge, and Core's starwort.
    Muskrat Cove, the S side of Chunky Gal Mt., has some very big old trees, including sugar maple, which may even be virgin timber.  Lots of 100+ year stands reported by FS NW of current wilderness.

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