AtlantaOutdoorClub
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Sun, Mar 3 2013 - Stone Mtn + Arabia Mtn + Panola Mtn + Commemorative Prize! (View Original Event Details)

Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham
Participants:Charlie Cottingham, Thomas W., Danielle, Michelle C, Nancy R., Horacio *, Kimberly Estep

Write Up:

We “monadnock madmen & madwomen” had a blast with our friendly ranger-naturalist hosts on the kickoff day of Monadnock Madness, an innovative "hiking challenge" sponsored by the Davidson-Arabia Mtn Heritage Alliance, the Stone Mtn Memorial Assn and Panola Mtn State Park.  Between 10AM and 6PM we had a great time together on guided hikes to the summits of Stone Mtn, Arabia Mtn and Panola Mtn, with short carpooling legs in between.  Despite a cool & windy start to the day, we enjoyed the bright sunshine that blessed us all afternoon.
  Just east of Atlanta, the three “monadnock” mountains are geologically more than 300 million years old and boast an amazing diversity of rare plants and animals that have adapted over the eons to the harsh conditions of the rocky outcrops.  All three moderately paced hikes included numerous photo-op stops where we learned all about the fascinating geology and the wonders of "outcrop survivors" such as diamorpha, snorkelwort and prickly pear cactus.  While at the Davidson-Arabia Park Nature Center we were treated to a delightful bonus! - a cozy fireside gathering, picnic lunch and “rescued critters” program.
  Special thanks to our naturalist hosts:  Naomi who gathered and guided us at Stone Mountain, Robbie, Kimberly & Mera who (so "warmly!") welcomed us and guided us at Arabia, and Jamey who hosted us at Panola and arranged convenient lakeside parking by the mountain for our hike there.
  Other AOC members are encouraged to check out their cool new "MonadnackMadness.com" website, and if you like you can earn a nice commemorative prize/gift on your own by hiking to all three summits before the end of March!
  I welcome each Monadnock Madness participant emailing me your photos and photo album links which we can all share with one another and with Kimberly to earn our "commemorative gift."  I'll plan to add our AOC photo links below (to this permanent archive) for "posterity" to enjoy
!
  - Submitted by Charlie on Mon March 4th

p.s. THANKS to THOMAS WOLFF for sharing his great photos of the event.  Here's his recent e-note to me with links to his online Flickr photo albums:

 

FROM THOMAS on MAR 7:

 

Here is a link to my flickr album from our Stone Mtn/Arabia Mtn/Panola Mtn hikes.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasawolff/sets/72157632923136599/

Right-clicking on a pic should allow you to download it if you like.

You can also browse my other albums at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thomasawolff/sets/

There is a lo-res version of our hike on my facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/thomasawolff

Feel free to send me a friend request if we're not already connected there.

Thanks everyone for a great hike!