2022-06-19: Cooper’s Furnace & Pine Mountain Summit - Sun, Jun 19 2022

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.



2022-06-19: Cooper’s Furnace & Pine Mountain Summit


The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: West Loop Trailhead, Pine Mountain Recreational Area, Cartersville GA   Hike: 2022-06-19: Cooper’s Furnace & Pine Mountain Summit   National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sun, Jun 19 2022  8:00 am >> Sun, Jun 19 2022 12:30 pm
Registration Opens: Mon, Jun 13 2022 7:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Sat, Jun 18 2022 7:00 pm
Event Duration:4 Hours 30 Minutes
Difficulty Rating:D4: Moderate to Difficult (Exploratory)
Distance:9 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Lisa
Ron Ramspeck
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:8
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 8 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

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:

Please join us for some exercise with a scenic and historical hike as we trek the trails at the Pine Mountain Recreational Area.

This hike is a solid D4 hike; a total distance of approximately 9 miles with a total of 1750 ft elevation gain.  There are two separate approximate one-mile climbs with elevation gains ranging from 600 feet to 650 feet.  We will average a 2.5 mph pace increasing to 3+ mph on flat sections. If the group gets separated on the climbs, we will regroup at each peak.  In addition, we will regroup at all intersections if needed. We will stop for brunch, water breaks, scenic and historical sites and any other amazing thing that nature has to offer.

This hike contains two loops; the West Loop and the East Loop divided by Pine Mountain Summit. Instead of doing each loop separately we will traverse half of each loop on the way to our farthest destination; the Lake Allatoona Dam and then complete the second half of each loop on our way back. Therefore, we will create a mega loop hiking in the clockwise direction.  Please click on the hyperlink below at the bottom of the page for a map of our journey.

The trek starts at West Loop trail head. With fresh legs we will hike 1.0 mile clockwise on the West Loop Trail (WLT). We will maintain our clockwise direction until we veer off onto the Summit Overlook Path (SOP) for another 0.2 miles to hit our first destination of interest; the Pine Mountain Summit at 1513 Ft elevation.  We will be rewarded with a beautiful view and time to enjoy our accomplishment with time for our photos and hydration.

Next up on the itinerary is the second destination and brunch. We head back down SOP, and merge onto the East Loop Trail (ELT) maintaining our clockwise direction.  We will hike on the ELT for approximately 2.3 miles before merging onto the Cooper’s Furnace Trail (CFT) bearing right. We will hike another 1.5 miles passing Coopers Furnace in order to enjoy our break and brunch as well as a breathtaking view at the Lake Allatoona Dam.  After brunch, as we backtrack approximately 0.5 miles, we will stop at Cooper’s Furnace to enjoy some history and a clean restroom with real plumbing!  After Cooper’s Furnace we will proceed on the CFT until we intersect the ELT again, maintaining our clockwise mega loop.  This starts our last major climb; a 650 ft elevation climb in a little over a mile. The culmination of our climb will be another view of the Pine Mountain Summit. We then will start our 1.2-mile descent back on the WLT until we hit the parking lot.

Previous D4 or higher AOC experience is required.  If your hiking experience is not from the AOC, please indicate it in the note section upon registering.  Failure to do so will result in being moved to the waiting list until suitability is provided.  A good in-town gauge for an AOC D4 hike is completing the round-trip hike from Kennesaw Mountain Visitor Center to Burnt Hickory Road in 2 - 2.5 hours. 


Required Items to Bring:

Water or hydrating beverage - 2 liters minimum

Lunch/snack

Boots/trail shoes

Positive Attitude

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

Camera

Hiking poles

Sun hat

Sunscreen

Bug spray

Sense of humor


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

 

Here is the location on Google Maps of the West trailhead parking lot at Komatsu Dr SE, Cartersville, GA 30121


Notes:

Trail Information:

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/pine-mountain-east-and-west-loop-trail-1a996ec--2


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


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