Stone Mountain Thu Midday Adventure Hike: Meet OUTSIDE Park.

OVERVIEW:    Seven of us AOCers had fun with this excitingly different Stone Mountain experience on Oct 1, so I thought I'd offer it again. The beautiful fall weather this week should be perfect for this midday "scramble" (i.e. a mostly off-trail adventure hike) at the park—it's expected to be about 70 degrees during the hike with blue skies and just a light breeze.
   As on all AOC events, we intend to obey all posted park rules and of course to be very respectful of the environment.  Although not considered dangerous, this event is intended primarily for experienced adventurers who are comfortable on rugged rocky inclines of up to 30 degrees from the horizontal and occasionally climbing over boulders.  We'll plan to take a moderate pace, stopping often to regroup and to observe and photograph the craggy scenery, wild critters and flowering plants.  Despite the casual pace we'll still at times get in a good aerobic workout on the uphill climbs.
   AOCers will be introduced to some of the scenic "wilder" parts of the Park, which should be fun for those who have hiked thus far only on its marked trails.  Our expected total hike distance will be about 6 miles, with elevation gains in our uphill portions totaling perhaps 800 feet.
   I suggest that before joining us you have a light lunch and hydrate well.  Bring at least one liter of water with you for the hike and perhaps a couple of light snack items to munch on at our various stops.
   We'll have FREE parking in the Village of Stone Mountain (see below) and FREE entrance into the Park via the quarter-mile "PATH" entrance Trail, similar to the Silver Comet.

WHERE & WHEN:  We’ll gather at 12:00 NOON at the "RED CABOOSE" Welcome Center, OUTSIDE THE PARK! in the Village of Stone Mountain—detailed directions below.  Look for me (Charlie) near my motorcycle.

HIKE PLAN:  After introducing one another and signing our AOC waiver forms, we’ll depart the "Red Caboose" at about 12:15 PM and initially hike eastward into the Park via the half-mile paved "PATH" spur trail.  Places we plan to explore include an imposing granite cliff on the shoulder of the mountain near the Walk-Up trail, a rugged old quarry area near the railroad.tracks, and several other lovely spots.
  Along the way we intend to avoid disturbing the flora or fauna and to leave the mountain and its surrounding terrain in even better shape than we find it by picking up and carrying out some of the debris left by previous hikers.  I'll bring several grocery bags along for this worthy AOC "spruce-up" effort.
  We'll target getting back to our vehicles at the "Caboose" by about 3:00 PM.

EVENT OPTIONS:  Feel free to split from the group whenever you like, but please let Charlie know if and when you're splitting.  If you'd like a more strenuous workout feel free to stick around and do perhaps the Walk-Up Trail, the Cherokee Trail around the mountain, or the Songbird Habitat Trail. 
   If there's enough interest after the group "scramble" we may rendezvous for refreshments at a spot near the Caboose on Main Street or at the "Village Corner German Restaurant, Bakery & Tavern" in Stone Mtn Village (corner of Main St. and Memorial Drive).

FOR MORE ON STONE MOUNTAIN PARK here are a couple of nice links:
http://www.StoneMountainPark.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Mountain
Perhaps too often we Georgians "take Stone Mountain for granite!"  It rivals almost any other natural area in the country with its spectacular rock formations, beautiful lakes, rare native plants, and abundant birds & wildlife.  The mountain has a fascinating human history as well, of which its gigantic memorial carving is but one part. 

DIRECTIONS TO OUR 12:00 NOON MEETING PLACE:  The "Red Caboose" Welcome Center OUTSIDE the Park in the Village of Stone Mountain:

1) From "Spaghetti Junction" (the I-285/I-85 interchange in NE Atlanta) take "I-285 East" (actually southward) toward Augusta about 4.7 miles.

2) Take I-285 Exit #39B (bearing Right in a clockwise loop).  Merge onto Stone Mountain Pkwy/US-78 E (toward Snellville/Athens), and go about 5.9 miles.

3) At Exit #5 bear Right onto the Memorial Drive/Stone Mountain Bypass, and go only about 0.6 mile-- then bear Right again at your first opportunity up the E. Ponce de Leon Ave. access ramp.

4) Turn Left onto E. Ponce de Leon Ave. and go 0.5 mile to the first traffic light.

5) Continue straight ahead at the light onto Main Street and go southward here for about 0.5 mile (through Stone Mtn village) to the "Red Caboose" Welcome Center and parking lot on your Left, just beyond the RR track crossing and traffic light at Mimosa Drive.
   
6)  Free parking is available by the Caboose, and in the unlikely event that these spaces are filled there is a free "MARTA Park & Ride" lot two blocks away in Stone Mtn Village.

NEED MAP or CUSTOM DIRECTIONS? If you'd like a map or directions from your specific point of departure, go to Google.com/maps and in the "Search Maps" window enter:

   891 Main Street, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

Then click on "Search Maps," "Get Directions," enter your personal "Start Address, and click the grey "Get Directions" box.

Free Event with Free Parking!