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Afternoon Hike at East Palisades on the Chattahoochee


The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: CRNRA Parking Lot off Whitewater Creek Rd in NW Atlanta
Date(s) & Time:Sun, Feb 6 2011  2:00 pm >> N/A
Registration Opens: Thu, Feb 3 2011 2:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Sun, Feb 6 2011 1:00 pm
Event Duration:About 2 hours
Difficulty Rating:D3: Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
James Mitchell
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:15
Minimum Group Size:2
Number Registered So Far: 16 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

It's expected to be beautiful again this Sunday, so let's get out and enjoy this rare winter weather.  The latest forecast (as of 1PM Fri) calls for sunny skies and temperatures in the low- to mid-50s throughout our event!  As you probably know, the ruggedly scenic East Palisades trail system offers great hiking right here in NW Atlanta. The East Palisades is a valuable part of our Chattachoochee River Nat'l Recreation Area (CRNRA) and its "sister unit," the West Palisades across the river, is also a popular AOC hiking destination.

We will meet at the East Palisades CRNRA parking lot, just off Whitewater Creek Road in NW Atlanta—see my detailed directions below via I-75 or I-285.  There's a $3 parking fee per vehicle (payable in cash in a self-serve envelopes with tear-off rear-view-mirror receipt) unless you have a valid annual Nat'l Parks parking pass.

Note that we'll meet for the hike at 2:00 PM -- please be on time! After introductions and AOC waiver form signing we'd like to begin hiking by 2:15. We'd like to set a fairly quick pace but will stop periodically to make sure no one gets left behind. Feel free to bring your camera as there are lots of scenic photo ops!  The trails are a bit rough and steep in a few places—consider using a hiking stick or trekking poles to improve your stability, esp. if you haven't had lots of previous hiking experience.

We'll begin on the lower-elevation trails that parallel the Chattahoochee near the parking lot.  We'll stop briefly at an overlook beside the river briefly for hydration and photos, then make our way further along the trail and river, eventually leading to a climb to a scenic overlook high on a ridge.


Required Items to Bring:

• Comfortable hiking Shoes or Boots with preferably NON-cotton Socks.

• Comfortable Clothing layers—no "long johns" since it will be in the 50s!

• About 1 Quart of water in plastic bottles or "Camelbak-style" hydration system (+ perhaps a light snack item)

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


• Consider bringing and using your Trekking Poles if you have a pair and like to use them—also a simple Hiking Stick works well in the Palisades for extra stability.  Both are good for taking a little weight off your legs and knees and transferring it to your arms and shoulders.

• Consider bringing your Camera.  Lots of nice photo-ops!


How to Get There:
Event Directions:
DETAILED DIRECTIONS are GIVEN BELOW VIA I-75 (preferred!) and via I-285, but if you'd like to print up custom directions from your point of departure (e.g. with Google.com.maps) —or if you'd like to use your vehicle's onboard GPS Navigation system:
 The destination "Lat/Lon" of the CRNRA parking lot entrance road is: 33.876722,-84.438
 The parking lot's destination "dummy address" is  "Pumping Station Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30327"

FROM DOWNTOWN ATLANTA via I-75 NORTH
1) Take Exit #256, "Mt. Paran Road."
2) Right onto Mt. Paran Road and 0.5 mile to first traffic light at Harris Trail.
3) Left onto Harris Trail and 0.6 mile to Whitewater Creek Road.
4) Left onto Whitewater Creek Rd and look for CRNRA Parking Lot entrance 0.1 mile ahead on your right.

FROM MARIETTA, etc. via I-75 SOUTH
1) Take Exit #256, "Mt. Paran Road."
2) Left onto Mt. Paran Road and 0.6 mile to traffic light at Harris Trail.
3) Left onto Harris Trail and 0.6 mile to Whitewater Creek Road.
4) Left onto Whitewater Creek Rd and look for CRNRA Parking Lot entrance 0.1 mile ahead on your right.

FROM NW ATLANTA via I -285 EAST: (from I-75 Interchange, etc.)
1) Take Exit #22, "Northside Drive, New Northside Drive, Powers Ferry Road."
2) Right onto Northside Drive and 1.6 miles to caution light at Harris Trail (passing Powers Ferry Rd en route).
3) Right onto Harris Trail and 0.9 mile to Whitewater Creek Road.
4) Right onto Whitewater Creek Rd and look for CRNRA Parking Lot entrance 0.1 mile ahead on your right.

FROM NE ATLANTA via I-285 WEST (from Spaghetti Jcn, Doraville,etc.)
1) Take Exit #22, "Northside Drive, New Northside Drive, Powers Ferry Road."
2) Left onto New Northside Drive and go about 1.8 miles to caution light at Harris Trail (passing Powers Ferry Rd and merging to become Northside Drive en route).
3) Right onto Harris Trail and 0.9 mile to Whitewater Creek Road.
4) Right onto Whitewater Creek Rd and look for CRNRA Parking Lot entrance 0.1 mile ahead on your right. 

Notes:
As noted above there is a $3 cash parking fee per vehicle payable in a self-service envelope with its tear-off rear-view-mirror receipt. 


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


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