Chattooga River Hiking, Swimming and Waterfalls - Sat, Jul 23 2016

REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.



Chattooga River Hiking, Swimming and Waterfalls


The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: NW corner of SC: Trailhead just S of Russell Bridge on Hwy 28   Hike: Chattooga  River Hiking, Swimming and Waterfalls  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Jul 23 2016  8:00 am >> Sat, Jul 23 2016 7:00 pm  (Carpool Departure: 8:00 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Wed, Jul 13 2016 7:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, Jul 22 2016 7:00 pm
Event Duration:11 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D3: Moderate (Exploratory)
Distance:7 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
greg
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 10 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: Yes

Note: This is an "EXPLORATORY" trip. This means that there are parts of this trip, or perhaps the whole trip, that is new to your Trip Leader(s). However, they are confident that this will not be an issue.
This note is here so that you can make an informed decision. When a Trip Leader isn't personally familiar with a trip, there is an increased chance of things not going as planned and you need to be prepared. The Trip Leader may have additional details in the itinerary.

Itinerary:

Join me for a rewarding day on shady mountain trails beside the Chattooga River, about 100 miles NE of Atlanta.  Famous as the site of the movie "Deliverance," the Chattooga is known for its gnarly rapids and forms much of the border between SC and GA.  We'll explore a side creek or two and take the time to relax, swim, have lunch together and visit a couple of nice waterfalls.

For those in our group who choose the carpooling option we'll depart the Indian Trail park-and-ride promptly at 8:00 AM - see Carpool Directions below. Please plan on arriving there 5 or 10 minutes early for introductions, vehicle assignments and a discussion of the driving route. (See those main Directions also below.) On our way up we'll stop in Clayton, GA at about 10:00 AM to regroup and take a bathroom break. We'll then caravan in our vehicles to the riverside trailhead/parking lot where we'll all gather for the hike at about 10:30 AM.

Our hike route will take us northeastward from the cars about 3.5 milesvia SC's Chattooga River Trail to Licklog Creek and back, mostly along the riverbank with a few gentle inclines and declines - nothing too strenuous. At Licklog Creek we can have lunch at Licklog Falls or nearby Pigpen Falls and may spend up to 2 or 3 hours swimming, relaxing, etc., but if the group wants to head back sooner, no problem. We'll hike back to the cars via essentially the same 3.5-mile route.

Last year we encountered a yellow jacket nest on this trail with several people getting stung. Lightweight long pants and shirts are recommended, but not required. Bring plenty of water; it is July in Georgia.

We will allow up to three more well-behaved dogs in addition to my golden retriever, Jake. You must be in control of your dog at all times. We will plan to do the hike if the weather is typical afternoon summer thunderstorms, but may cancel the event if severe weather or a rainout is forecast.\

HANDY LINKS to ONLINE TRAIL MAPS, etc. for this HIKE:
- Overview Trail Map of Chattooga River Trail in SC: http:// www.sctrails.net/trails/MAPS/Chattoogatrl%20map.html
- Annotated Topo Map of Hike from Russell Bridge to Licklog Falls and Back:  http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php? trip_id=1603789


Required Items to Bring:

- 2 liters or more of Water
- Picnic Lunch to carry in your DayPack or Fanny Pack
- Comfortable Hiking Shoes or Boots
- Swimsuit & lightweight Towel (if you wish to swim)
- Sunblock
A willingness to allow nature to make a difference in your life.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

- Consider wearing long Pants & long sleeve Shirt to protect from stinging insects, etc.
- SmartPhone and/or Camera for our numerous photo-ops.
- Any Medications that you may need for bee stings, headache, sore muscles, etc.
- Consider bringing a dry Change of Clothing to leave in the car during the hike,
    plus 2 or 3 plastic bags for any wet garments, car seat protection, etc.


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

From the Indian Trail Park-and-Ride Lot at I-85 Exit 101 it's about 105 miles to our Trailhead/ Parking Lot in SC by the Chattooga River, as follows:

- Take I-85 North and bear leftward onto I-985 North (bypassing Gainesville, GA) then continue straight ahead via US-23 North and US-441 North to Clayton, GA (about 90 miles total from the Indian Trail Park & Ride).
- Our carpoolers will regroup in Clayton in the INGLES parking lot.  This large supermarket is on the right side of US-441 just 0.1 mile north of its junction with Warwoman Road. 
After a bathroom break, etc. we'll caravan in our vehicles from the Ingles to the trailhead as follows:
- Take Warwoman Road eastward for about 14 miles to its junction with Hwy 28.
- Bear Right onto Hwy 28 (a.k.a. the "HIghlands Hwy" ) and go about 2.3 miles to our gravel; parking area and trailhead for the hike on the Left side of the highway.  (It's in SC, about 0.1 mile beyond Russell Bridge, which crosses the Chattooga here from GA into SC). The parking area is known among locals as "Ridley Fields" and is the main trailhead for the Chattooga River Trail from Russell Bridge northward toward Licklog Creek & Falls.

GPS and Maps.Google.com USERS:  Feel free to augment the above verbal directions to our trailhead/ parking area by entering as your destination its approx. Lat/Lon coordinates:   34.9173, -83.1673

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):210Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 8:00 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $84.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

No Charge!  Free event with free parking.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:

The trip will be canceled if there is a rainout for the day or severe weather.