2nd Annual Cloudland Canyon Group Lodge, Hiking & Adventure Weekend - Fri, Apr 15 2011

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT 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. This is a paid event with payment managed through the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for details; you will be given payment instructions after you sign up. Late payments are NOT accepted for this event, in any circumstance.



2nd Annual Cloudland Canyon Group Lodge, Hiking & Adventure Weekend


The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: NW GA near Chattanooga
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Apr 15 2011  8:00 pm >> N/A  (Carpool Departure: 6:00 pm   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Tue, Mar 15 2011 10:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, Apr 1 2011 5:00 pm
Event Duration:3 Days and 2 Nights
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
Tom H
Courtney H
Email Trip Leader(s)
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Member Cost:$52.40/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:25
Minimum Group Size:15
Number Registered So Far: 28 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

A fun-loving group of 26 of us from the AOC had a blast on this trip last April, and by popular demand we're reprising it exactly a year later!  We're proud to be able to offer this amazing trip again for a ridiculously low price that includes two nights lodging, six delicious meals and an incredible array of optional activities.  big bonus of the April 15-17 weekend is that it again this year coincides with the Park's annual "Outdoor Adventure Weekend," with all sorts of exciting and FREE adventure sports, including archery, riflery, fishing, night hikes, backpacking clinics and more!—see below. 
  
THE WONDERFUL PARK!  Known for its beautiful vistas, spectacular waterfalls and incredible hiking trails, Cloudland Canyon State Park is considered by many to be the "crown jewel" of Georgia's parks and natural areas.  Over the millennia twin canyons have been cut into the western side of Lookout Mountain by powerful streams and waterfalls.  The streams join on the valley floor in a much deeper and wider canyon that is hundreds of feet below the mesa-like mountaintop. (View from the Park's main overlook in the above photo.)

THE GROUP LODGE—EXCLUSIVELY OURS ALL WEEKEND!  A favorite destination for dozens of AOC camping and hiking trips over the years, the State Park also offers a spacious Group Lodge high atop the mountain, which can sleep more than 30 adults comfortably in its four large dorm-style bedrooms.  All of the twin beds have been recently replaced with comfortable new twin-size mattresses—just bring a pillow plus your sleeping bag—or sheets & a blanket are fine. The lodge doubles as a superb "trailhead" for hiking excursions and other exciting AOC group activity options on Saturday and Sunday.
  We'll enjoy the Lodge's fully equipped kitchen, spacious dining/living room, men's & women's restrooms with hot showers & flush toilets, and its adjoining campfire ring with picnic tables.
  We'll organize a volunteer AOC food & refreshments committee to prepare and serve SIX delicious group meals all weekend, included in our incredibly low trip price.  The Lodge's huge kitchen features a 6-burner propane stove with double oven and built-in griddle, two refrigerators, a freezer, dishwasher, coffeemaker, microwave, and a complete assortment of kitchenware, dishes, glasses, silverware, trays, etc.

EXCITING OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES & ADVENTURES!  Just relax at the Lodge all weekend if you prefer, but we hope everyone will take part in some of the numerous adventure options that are available all weekend. Our "headliner" AOC group activity will be a scenic Waterfalls & Canyon Rim Hike (led by Charlie and other experienced AOCers) departing from the Lodge at 10:00 Sat AM and returning about 2:00.  This group hike will be moderate in difficulty and pace, with an optional early return after the waterfalls portion.
  As mentioned above, the State Park ranger-naturalists and various invited clubs and outfitters are also offering specially guided and hosted adventures in the Park all weekend, including:  FREE Night Hikes, Fishing, Riflery, Archery, Orienteering, an AT Thru-Hiking Backpacking Seminar, and just $5 for Cave Exploring, Climbing Wall or Disc Golf.  (I regret to have learned that Rappelling is temporarily off the agenda for this year.) We'll have details of the schedule and locations of these optional Park adventures in the few days prior to the trip.  Beginning at 10:00 Saturday morning we can register for selected adventures at the Park Office. (Most are available on a simple walk-up basis without registration

"YZARC PARTY!"  Saturday night after dinner we'll let our hair down by the campfire with a wacky Party—in case you haven't noticed, "YZARC" is "CRAZY" spelled backward!  Wear some sort of crazy or retro clothing or costume (+ perhaps bring inventive props, libations, etc.) and we'll award prizes for the "YZARC-iest" girl and guy!

"PRE-TRIP PLANNING HAPPY HOUR & MEETING" prior to the regular APRIL AOC SOCIAL at "TACO MAC" in the PRADO, TUE APR 12, 6:30 till ~7:30 PM :  If your schedule permits, please plan to drop in and join us for this informal "pre-Social" happy-hour planning meeting in the rear of the covered outside area of the restaurant (Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, just 1/4 mile south of the I-285 Roswell Rd Exit). We'll introduce everyone, prearrange some of our "custom carpooling" groups, discuss directions, gear, meals & activities, and address all of your questions and suggestions about the trip.

MORE ON CARPOOLING: As we did last year we'll facilitate the planning of "Custom Carpool Groups" to depart metro Atlanta from various times and places that are convenient to each party and that hopefully can avoid the Friday rush-hour traffic. Driving up and back ALONE at your own convenience is also perfectly good option (only about 2 hours each way using the easy directions below) although we always encourage max sharing of vehicles. The 6:00 PM Friday carpool from the Busbee Park & Ride described below should be considered to be a "default" time and place for any in the group who have difficulty prearranging a custom carpool and prefer not driving alone.

FOR MORE ON CLOUDLAND CANYON
 go to:   
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloudland_Canyon_State_Park


For dozens of great Cloudland Canyon photos use this long Internet link:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=%22cloudland+canyon%22+photos&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=o4R-S7z-PJPflAe4ouTEDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQsAQwAA


Required Items to Bring:
For Sleeping: Pillow + Sleeping bag (or twin-size sheets & blanket) for your bunk.
For Hiking & Excursions: Comfortable clothing & hiking shoes, cap, emergency raingear, daypack or fannypack, water bottles or "Camelbak-style" hydration system, trekking poles if you have a pair (or hiking stick).
Other Personal Items: A few toiletries, towel & washcloth, camera, headlamp or flashlight,iced-down cooler with your favorite beverages (they tell me the Lodge's ICE MACHINE isn't working this year) and a personal insulated drinking mug. For our Sat night "YZARC" Party bring a little crazy clothing of your choice!  If a couple of you have a good-quality portable CD Player/ Boom Box + a few good party CDs, please bring them if it's convenient to liven up the party!
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

If you have spare cut Firewood on hand at home and a little extra room in your vehicle, please consider bringing a few sticks for our nightly campfires!

How to Get There:
Event Directions:


DIRECTIONS TO VISITOR CENTER CHECK-IN and thence to GROUP LODGE in CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK:
From I-75/I-285 INTERCHANGE in NW ATLANTA about 110 miles total:

1) Take I-75 North about 60 miles to I-75 Exit #320, "GA Hwy 136."

2) Turn Left onto GA-136 West and carefully follow the GA-136 signs about 50 miles (through several sharp turns) to the Cloudland Canyon State Park entrance on your right.  The Park entrance is on GA-136 about 0.8 mile beyond its junction with GA-189, the "Lookout Mtn Pkwy."
Along the way via GA-136 you will have passed through the towns of Villanow, Lafayette, and Cooper Heights, GA and climbed up the steep eastern slope of Lookout Mtn.  Be esp. vigilant for the GA-136 signs when bypassing Lafayette:  There's a hard Right turn onto the bypass (concurrent with 4-lane US-27) then another hard Right followed by a hard Left to stay on GA-136 (leaving US-27) just 3 miles north of Lafayette!


3) CHECK-IN:  After entering the Park take your first Right to the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center (which doubles as the Park Store and Office) expects to be open Friday Apr 15 from 8:00 AM until about 7:00 PM or perhaps a bit later.  (It's OK to check in Sat AM if you arrive after closing on Fri.)  Tell them that you're an AOC Group Lodge guest, and pay the $5 all-weekend parking fee for your special 3-day "lodge guest" parking pass which you'll hang from your rear-view mirror.  (Some of you may have a current "Annual GA State Parks Parking Pass" which is valid in lieu of our $5 weekend parking fee.)

4) ON TOWARD THE LODGE: From the short Park Visitor Center loop, reenter the main entrance road, drive about 1 more mile (northward) into the Park, and turn Right at the sign for the Group Lodge. (This turn is just before the large parking area for general Park visitors.
  PARK GATE ADVISORY: The main Park gate (about ½ mile up the entrance road from the Visitor Center) is usually locked between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM.  If you must arrive late on Friday (or in the wee hours Saturday) let us know and we can likely call you on your cell phone to give you a special digital "Gate Code" for entry.

5)  FINAL APPROACH TO LODGE, and PARKING: After you see the "Group Lodge" directional sign, bear Right around the curve and drive up the hill (southward) about 1/4 mile further to the Lodge (large 1-story building on your Left, after a leftward curve in the road).  When parking be sure to leave plenty of room for all other vehicles to get in and out, and avoid parking directly by the campfire ring.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):200Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 6:00 pm
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $80.00 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:

In case your loved ones need to reach you over the weekend and you're out of cell phone range, they may be able to get a message to you by calling the Cloudland Canyon State Emergency Number at 706-657-6442. Normal office hours at the Park Office/Store/Visitor Center are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but with the special "Adventure Weekend" that weekend, they expect to remain open at least until 7:00 PM. Their main daytime State Park phone number at the Park Office is 706-657-4050.


Important information for paid events in which payment is managed through the AOC:

     - Payment must be received by the payment due date and prior to participation in the event.

     - Some paid events require a minimum number of registered participants. If that number is not met, the event will be canceled and refunds will be issued to those who have already paid.

     - Third-party vendors often require damage deposits. Each registrant agrees to be liable for and required to reimburse the Atlanta Outdoor Club for any withheld deposits due to the actions of or damages caused by that registrant.

     - No partial payments. All registrants must pay the posted Member Cost regardless of any agreement you may have with any party involved in the event.

     - Read the event description carefully for additional information, and contact the trip leader(s) with any questions.


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

Cost & Payment:
Member Cost:$52.40/Person
Cost Includes:Two nights Accommodations, dormitory style.  We have exclusive use of the entire Cloudland Canyon Group Lodge, with its hot showers, flush toilets, big fire ring & picnic area, and fully equipped kitchen with refrigerators, freezer and dishwasher. 
Six delicious Meals!  Fri & Sat Dinners, Sat & Sun Breakfasts, and Sat & Sun Lunches.
• Beautiful Saturday Canyon Rim & Waterfalls Hike led by our experienced AOC hike leaders, 
• Optional FREE Rappelling, Archery, Virtual Target Shooting, Fishing, Orienteering, AT Thru-Hiking Seminar and Ranger-led Night Hikes,
• Optional for a mere $5 fee: Cave Exploring, Climbing Wall, Frisbee Disc Golf and more!
Payment Cut Off:Payment must be received by the AOC on Fri, Apr 1 2011.
Make a Payment:Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note: If you cancel on or before April 1, full payment is refundable less a $5 administrative fee. No refund after April 1 unless someone from the waitlist replaces you and pays in full. In that case, you are eligible for a full refund less the $5 administrative fee.

Please allow two days for processing a PayPal transaction, and allow seven days (from mailing date) for a check to be processed. So both should be sent well in advance of payment cut off date. 

Event is rain or shine, however the trip leader may cancel if extreme weather conditions, etc. are forecast, in which case full refunds would be issued.