KW Baker

Currahee Mountain

photo © kw baker (click to enlarge)

Currahee Mountain, located in Stephens County, Georgia, is believed to derive its name from a Cherokee word meaning "stand alone." It has historical significance as a training site for American paratroopers during World War II and is featured in the miniseries "Band of Brothers," where it became associated with the motto "Three miles up, three miles down." It stands at an elevation of 1,735 feet (529 meters) and is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The name "Currahee" is believed to derive from a Cherokee word meaning "stand alone." The mountain is a prominent landmark in the region and is visible for many miles on clear days.

Currahee Mountain has a rich history tied to Native American culture. The Cherokee people, who inhabited the area, used the mountain as a landmark. The name reflects their connection to the land, although interpretations of its meaning vary.

During the Civil War, Currahee Mountain was the site of the Battle of the Narrows, where Confederate troops defeated Union forces in 1864. Later, in World War II, it became significant as the training ground for the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Camp Toccoa. The rigorous training included running up and down the mountain, which led to the motto "Currahee," symbolizing the soldiers' resilience.

Currahee Mountain gained international fame through the miniseries "Band of Brothers," which depicted the experiences of paratroopers during WWII. The mountain's legacy continues with events like the annual Currahee Challenge, a race that celebrates its historical significance.

Today, Currahee Mountain is a popular destination for outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and rappelling. The Colonel Robert F. Sink memorial trail leads to its summit, honoring the military history associated with the mountain.

via https://stephenscountyga.gov/curahee-mountain/ :

A favorite attraction in Toccoa is Currahee Mountain, the last mountain of the Blue Ridge chain that rises more than 1,700 feet about sea level. According to legend, Cherokee Native Americans named the mountain Currahee quu-wa-hi, meaning “stands alone.”

Technically part of the Georgia Piedmont or foothill province, Currahee Mountain rises abruptly about 800 vertical feet above the local topography and is the highest peak in Stephens County. Part of the mountain is in the Chattahoochee National Forest. On clear days, the peak’s 1,735-foot summit is visible for many miles and is a prominent landmark to the southeast of Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountain crest.

During the Indian Wars, the famous Indian fighter Andrew Jackson engaged the Indians at Fort Hill, which was near Currahee Mountain in the “Battle of Currahee.” During World War II, the mountain again became part of a war; the U.S. Army selected Currahee as the site for its first Parachute Infantry Training Center, Camp Toccoa.

The mountain was made famous internationally by Tom Hanks’s and Steven Spielberg’s television miniseries Band of Brothers, in which it was featured as a training site of the American Paratroopers where they ran up and down Currahee. The name of the mountain became the motto for these paratroopers including the famous mantra: “Three Miles up, Three Miles down”.

Currahee is a popular destination for rock climbing and rappelling and is the site of the annual Currahee Challenge, a three and six mile race on the mountain each fall. Hiking and mountain biking trail maps available at the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce in the Historic Train Depot in Downtown Toccoa.

One of the radio towers at the top holds NOAA Weather Radio station WWH24, serving parts of Northeast Georgia and Upstate South Carolina from NWS Greer.

TL;DR

Currahee Mountain, Georgia

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