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Jacks River Falls




The Basics:
Event Type:Backpacking
Event Location: Jack’s River
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Aug 7 2010  9:00 am >> N/A  (Carpool Departure: 7:00 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Wed, Jul 14 2010 9:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Thu, Aug 5 2010 11:55 pm
Event Duration:2 days
Difficulty Rating:D5: Difficult
Trip Leader(s):
Bob Bunner
Michael Johnson
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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:2
Number Registered So Far: 12 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
If you're looking for a great backpacking trip in the summer, come join us for a weekend in the Cohutta Wilderness and one of the great river hikes in the Southeast.  We'll be doing a 16 mile backpacking loop, beginning at Dally Gap and hiking down the Jacks River trail.  This trip is for moderate paced hikers.  If you're "slow," please do not sign up for this trip.

The trail will meander across the Jacks River a total of 18 times.  With summer temperatures soaring, the river crossings are a welcome relief.  We will camp about a mile beyond the intersection of Jacks River Trail and the Penitentiary Trail. From there, it's only about a mile to the infamous Jacks River Falls and one of the best (and unfortunately discovered) swimming holes in all of Georgia.  We'll probably spend all afternoon at the falls, so bring your bathing suit and your sun screen.  We will hike out the next day onto the Penitentiary Trail, turn right on Hemp Top Trail and follow the trail down to Dally Gap to complete our loop.

This trip is rated a D5 because the hike out on Penitentiary trail is virtually all uphill for 3.6 miles.  You will need to be fit to do this portion of the hike at a moderate pace.  Also, we highly recommend that you bring dry hiking shoes/boots for the return hike to the trailhead, which you can put on after the first river crossing.  The trail home does not have any water, and it will be hot (remember, this is August), so you'll need to bring about 3 liters of water to get yourself to the parking lot without running dry.
 
Finally, I did this trip over the 4th of July weekend and I saw two black bear cubs.  I talked to other people who were in the area and some saw as many as four bears.  They are skittish and run away when they see you.  But make sure you bring something to hang your food in  at night.  We don't want the bears to start looking to get food from the humans. 

Required Items to Bring:
Tent
Sleeping bag
Meals (Sat lunch and dinner, Sun breakfast and lunch)
Hiking poles (you will fall on your ass and possibly hurt yourself when crossing the river, so don't show up without them).		Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
Some type of water shoe or sandals for the river crossings. We also recommend that you wear socks with your water shoes because gravel tends to get into your shoes and the socks tend to prevent chaffing.  Also, bring a swim suit, bug spray, sun screen and rain gear.  I would also highly recommend bringing some hiking shoes for the way out.  After the initial water crossing, it's a lengthy uphill section with no water crossings. You will probably need 3 liters of water for the hike out, so be prepared.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:Cohutta Wilderness Area, Chatsworth, GA Park-n-Ride on Busbee Drive at 7:00 am off Chastain Drive (exit 271 off I-75 North) We will go back to Chastain Drive and turn right and go to I 575 where we will go north which will turn into Hwy 515. We will take a rest stop at McDonalds. Then we will go Right out of McDonalds on Hwy 5 for 3.7 miles turn left on old Hwy 2 continue on this road for 10.5 miles payment ends at mile 9. At Watson Gap make hard right on FS 22 for 3.6 miles to Dally Gap.
Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):100Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 7:00 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $40.00 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:

Are Dogs Permitted? No, b/c of the large number of water crossings and swift water.

Will this event occur rain or shine? Yes, but not in extremely poor conditions or following several days of heavy rain.

NOTE: Please be considerate of others. If you sign-up and cannot attend, please e-mail the event leader, so others that may be on a waiting list may attend. E-mail the event leader to be put on a waiting list if the trip is at the max number of attendees.
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:Share gas expense with carpool driver

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