Fri, Nov 4 2016 - HemlockFest! Helping save our endangered Hemlock trees + Adventure, Live Music & optional Camping (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Bobby Marie, Charlie Cottingham Participants: Charlie Cottingham, Suzanne D, Greg Walling, Susan W, Joyce T., Stacey Johnson, Bobby Marie, Paula A, jim, greg, Linda A, Vicky G, Robin Walling, David Duffey, Kristi, Elvin Hilyer, Nancy Hilyer, Dirk, Peggy

We AOCers were proud to be among the hundreds of participants at the 12th annual production of this wonderful music festival.  As usual our Dahlonega area friends did a bangup job producing and hosting it and the crystal clear fall weather couldn't have been better, although a little rainfall earlier in the week would have been nice to remedy the recent drought.  All weekend there was an amazing lineup of live music acts and activity options...guided nature hikes, free canoeing on the lovely lake, free "on-rope" tree climbing, delicious food & beverage options and much more.
  As usual many of our AOC participants pitched in with various volunteer tasks at the festival.  Our hats are off to the Hilyers and other hardworking friends from the Dahlonega area for making this amazing event happen each year!  Thousands of dollars in proceeds each year from the festival go toward the fight to save our endangered Eastern Hemlock trees.  Also for the first time this year festival funding will help support American Chestnut tree research and reintroduction.  Millions of giant Chestnuts once thrived in eastern America and sadly were devastated in the early 1900s by a fungal "blight" that like the Hemlock "adelgid" insect was accidentally imported from Asia.
  - Submitted by Charlie, Sunday Nov 6th