Part 3: Thursday WCT Backpacking Training Hike at Kennesaw Mountain

Please join me for a series of four training hike at Kennesaw Mountain in one week.  This series of training hike is for an 8-day backpacking trip on the West Coast Trail in Canada later this month.  The training hike is around 8.5 miles and I am listing this as a D3 at a moderate pace because I'll be carrying a backpack close to 50 pounds and will NOT be flying up and down KM. :)

If you want to hike around Kennesaw at a slower pace than the power hikes or you want to test out your backpacking gear over a series of days or you just want to keep me company as I do this over four days, then this might be the series of events for you! :)

From the Visitor Center, we will hike over Kennesaw Mountain, Little Kennesaw Mountain, Pigeon Hill, and continue on the other side of Burnt Hickory Road until we reach Noses Creek.  After a brief stop, we will come back to the Visitor Center via the East-West Trail for a total of about 8.5 miles going at a moderate pace.

This is a rain or shine series of event (it will give us a chance to check out our rain gear if it rains....) and the current forecast for next week is isolated or scattered thunderstorms all days of the work weeks with highs in the low 90's.

We will start the hike promptly at 5:00 pm.

Afterward, for those interested, we can go to a local eatery and have a drink or two and talk about backpacking stuff.... :)

From I-75 North
To exit 269 (Barrett Parkway). At the stoplight turn left onto Barrett Parkway. Follow Barrett Parkway for approximately 3 miles, turn left at the light, onto Old Hwy 41. Turn right at your next light, Stilesboro Rd. The visitor center will be immediately on your left. Brown and white signs located along the roads will guide you as well.

From I-75 South
To exit 269 (Barrett Parkway). At the stoplight turn right onto Barrett Parkway. Follow Barrett Parkway for approximately 3 miles, turn left at the light, onto Old Hwy 41. Turn right at your next light, Stilesboro Rd. The visitor center will be immediately on your left. Brown and white signs located along the roads will guide you as well.

From I-575 North
To exit 1 (Barrett Parkway). At the stoplight turn left onto Barrett Parkway. Follow Barrett Parkway for approximately 3.5 miles, turn left at the light, onto Old Hwy 41. Turn right at your next light, Stilesboro Rd. The visitor center will be immediately on your left. Brown and white signs located along the roads will guide you as well.

From I-575 South
To exit 1 (Barrett Parkway). At the stoplight turn right onto Barrett Parkway. Follow Barrett Parkway for approximately 3.5 miles, turn left at the light, onto Old Hwy 41. Turn right at your next light, Stilesboro Rd. The visitor center will be immediately on your left. Brown and white signs located along the roads will guide you as well.

Some information about the West Coast Trail:

http://www.westcoasttrailbc.com/trail_guidebook_map.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_Trail