Moonlight Walk around Stone Mountain + "LaserShow Spectacular!"

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Moonlight Walk around Stone Mountain + "LaserShow Spectacular!"

The Basics:

Event Type:

Urban Hike

Event Location:

Red Caboose Welcome Ctr, OUTSIDE Park in Stone Mtn Village

Urban Hike: Moonlight Walk around Stone Mountain +

Date(s) & Time:

Mon, Jun 13 2011 7:45 pm >> Mon, Jun 13 2011 11:15 pm

Registration Opens:

Sat, Jun 11 2011 7:45 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Mon, Jun 13 2011 3:00 pm

Event Duration:

3 Hours 30 Minutes

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Charlie Cottingham

Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

9 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

OVERVIEW: The weather is shaping up nicely for Monday evening with a bright 90%-full moon high in the sky, virtually no chance of showers, and temperatures dropping into the low 80s. This moonlight walk around Stone Mountain will include a fun stop just past the half-way point: We'll relax together for about an hour on the huge lawn below the giant carving to enjoy the Park's newly revamped "LaserShow Spectacular!" The show of course includes fabulous surround-sound music and concludes with an exciting fireworks finale. Everything will be FREE, including parking.
Our expected total hike distance will be about 6 miles via the mountain's surrounding forested trails and paved walkways. We'll plan to take a moderate pace (a bit faster than "leisurely") but stop often to regroup and enjoy the scenery. Elevation gains in our uphill portions will total perhaps 300 vertical feet.

WHERE & WHEN: We’ll gather at 7:45 PM on the sidewalk by the parking lot at the "Red Caboose" Welcome Center, OUTSIDE THE PARK in the Village of Stone Mountain (detailed directions below). We'll have FREE parking at the Caboose and FREE entrance into the Park via the half-mile paved quarter-mile "PATH" entrance Trail, similar to the Silver Comet.

EVENT PLAN: After introducing one another we’ll hike into the Park from the Red Caboose eastward via the PATH trail, then take the pedestrian walkways and trails counterclockwise about 3 miles around the mountain to the Carving area. We'll stake out a comfortable spot for the group on the huge lawn that will be nice both for picnicking and for a good view of the Laser Show. The big newly revamped show will begin at about 9:30 PM and last till about 10:15.
For those who wish to enjoy the 45-minute show with us (hopefully everyone!) we'll target getting back to our vehicles by about 11:15 PM. Any who need to split from the group early are welcome to do so—just let us know. It's easy and safe to return to our vehicles via the Robert E. Lee Drive sidewalk and Stone Mountain Village.

MORE ON STONE MOUNTAIN: Here are three Internet links that might be useful, esp. if you're not too familiar with the Park:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Mountain
http://www.stonemountainpark.com/faq/#Recreation
http://www.stonemountainpark.com/images/maps/hiking/smp_map_hiking_map.gif

Required Items to Bring:

1. Wear well-broken-in comfortable Athletic Shoes or Hiking Boots and preferably synthetic or wool-blend Socks.

2. Wear comfortable lightweight Clothing appropriate for the weather.

3. Hydrate well (in advance) and carry at least a Liter of Water in bottles, "Camelbak" hydration system, etc.

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

1. Consider bringing a light Daypack with a few Picnic Items and non-alcoholic Beverages of your choice. We'll take time to enjoy these at the Carving and at other scenic stops along the way.

2. The Trip Leader will carry a couple of king-size sheets for the group to sit on (on the lawn) during the Laser Show, but if you like bring your own light Towel for this.

3. Consider bringing your Camera! We should have plenty of great photo-ops including the Laser Show and its spectacular fireworks finale!

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

DIRECTIONS TO OUR 7:45 PM MEETING PLACE:
The "RED CABOOSE" WELCOME CENTER OUTSIDE the PARK in the Village of Stone Mountain. SUGGESTION: Rezero your odometer at each numbered direction and pay attention to mileages given and driven!

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 off I-285 in a clockwise loop) which merges into Stone Mountain Pkwy/US-78 E and stay on the Parkway about 5.9 miles.

3) At Exit #5 of the Parkway 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) Go straight ahead at the light (Ponce de Leon becomes "Main Street" here) and continue about 0.5 mile (through the town square of Stone Mtn village) to the "Red Caboose" Welcome Center and parking lot on your Left. (The Caboose is just beyond the "Mimosa Drive" junction and RR crossing).

6) Free parking is available by the Caboose, and if these spaces are filled there are more free spaces nearby along Main Street in Stone Mtn village, etc. We'll gather on the sidewalk by the Caboose.

NEED A MAP or CUSTOM DIRECTIONS from your point of departure? Go to Google.com/maps and in the "Search Maps" window enter the Caboose address:

891 Main Street, Stone Mountain, GA 30083

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

As a Destination for your vehicle's GPS system use the above address or the following Lat/Lon Coordinates of our "Red Caboose" meeting point and trailhead:

33.805321,-84.170047

Notes:

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

Cost Includes:

Free Event with Free Parking and Free Stone Mountain Park Entrance!

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