Sunday AM Kennesaw Mountain

This is a go at your own pace hike. If you are faster or slower than the majority of the group you may be hiking alone. Please be sure you know your way over to Burnt Hickory and back.

Please note that this write up is a copy of Bill's write up based on Danny's original.  I thank them both for allowing me to plagiarize.

Join me for a Sunday morning hike at Kennesaw Mountain! We will meet at the visitor center and start promptly at 8:00am. Our plan is to maintain a moderate to fast pace, so run or walk, but enjoy the morning. Then finish up and get on to the rest of your day.

After introductions (if you are new) and a quick briefing (e.g. Go to Burnt Hickory and back, perhaps) we will ascend the 1.2 miles to the 1808 foot top of Big Kennesaw Mountain which is a climb of 657 feet. From there we will drop down about 500 feet to the gap between Big Kennesaw and Little Kennesaw Mountain, up and over the hump in the middle which is about a 20 foot climb heading towards Little Kennesaw and about a 50 foot climb heading back, then down to the base of Little Kennesaw.  From there it's about a 300 foot climb to the top of Little Kennesaw at 1601 feet.  Then we'll head down the other side of Little Kennesaw to Burnt Hickory for a short break (5 seconds maybe).  After that we'll head back the same way we came.

The total distance is ~6.0 miles if you count to and from the Visitors Center. The faster you do this hike the more strenuous and heart pumping it becomes. So make it a moderate paced hike or run if you desire.

 We'll be going from the Visitor Center to Burnt Hickory Road on what is called the West Trail (the mountains kind of run southwest to northeast.  The West Trail (the one on the west) goes over the mountains.  The East Trail (the one on the east) goes around the mountains).  At every fork in the trail on the way over, choose right and you'll be alright.  Does anyone read the event descriptions? Haha.

Image courtesy of Daryl Clark (https://www.flickr.com/photos/61754865@N05/). Licensed under Creative Commons

1) I-75 North to exit 267B Hwy 5 Canton Road Connector

2) If you are not heading west after getting off of the Interstate you are going the wrong way.  You should be heading towards US 41 and downtown Marietta after getting off of I-75 onto the Canton Road Connector and see Kennesaw Mountain on your right.

3) You will be tempted to take the first exit off of the Canton Road Connector which is US 41, but do not take it.  Proceed over US 41 on a bridge staying on the Canton Road Connector.

4) After crossing US 41 take a right at the first redlight which is Church Street Extension.

5) You should cross railroad tracks soon.

6) Take a left onto Old 41 at the second redlight.  If you get to US 41 again, you have missed the turn onto Old 41 so turn around.

7) Stay on Old US 41 until you pass in front of the mountain then turn left at the redlight and park in the main visitor center lot if you can.  If full head back out to Old 41, take a left and park in the overflow parking lot farther down the road on the left.

Meet prior to 8:00am at the cannon outside the main entrance of the visitor's center or just inside the lobby.  Call the trip leader if you are running late, but please note that we won't wait on you.  You will have to try and catch up with the group if you arrive late.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTES:

1) The hike will start as close to on time as possible, so please plan on meeting prior to the start time to sign in.

2) Allow 5 - 10 minutes to walk from the new parking lot to the visitors center in the event that the main parking lot is full.

3) Account for potentially bad traffic.  This bites people every time and makes them late.

No cost.

This is a rain or shine hike - we will hike regardless of the weather - except for thunder, tornadoes or earthquakes.  No need to call or text me to see if it will be canceled.  It won't be canceled due to weather for the most part.  I like to hike in the rain but it seldom rains on my hikes.