Lake Lanier Islands - Night Owl Hike

What? Yes, I thought it would be cool to be a "Night Owl" and start a hike really late and then go to Waffle House (optional) afterwards. We all know there is no better time than the middle of the night to go to Waffle House. The moon will be half full, the temps should be a lot cooler and it will be late at night. 

This is a pretty loose itinerary and I just want to go out and have fun and be a kid again by staying out late. This Island is used for meetings and weddings. There could be a small section of it that is hosting a wedding (there's a pavilion) but the rest of the Island is ours. There's a golf course out there and the trails run through it, by the water and some through the woods. It's all asphault paved making it very easy to hike at night. With the half moon, we may not even need artificial light. We will hike about 4 miles on the the PineIsle Push trail and the Blue Sky Stroll trails. We do have to stick fairly close together for safety reasons. Bring a small flashlight if you would like. I would say a headlamp is overkill.

Email me if you have a glow in the dark frisbee or ball or something cool we can do/play with as we're going around the Island. This is about getting out there and blowing off steam while recharging our batteries. Let's be like kids again (and then go to Waffle House and eat).

This is listed as an Exploratory hike as your Trip Leader has not done this particular trail before. I have a map and we're on an island - we aren't going to get lost. Just please bear with me as I learn these trails. Also, as with all exploratory hikes or events, please keep an open mind and be prepared to hike a slightly further distance if needed. I do not know all of the terrain we will encounter and as such I ask you to be a solid D3 hiker. I do know there are definitely some heart pumping hills. It's not flat. This is not a hike for beginners.

Description from the website on the Blue Sky Stroll and PineIsle Push:

Blue Sky Stroll

This .08 mile stroll is perfect for a quick break from your meeting at PineIsle Center, featuring a smooth, flat pathway on paved roads. Energize yourself and your team in less than one mile and return to your meeting with a crisp, clear focus for the remainder of the day.

PineIsle Push

PineIsle Push will take your fitness journey to the next level. With varying levels of elevation and natural barriers that create their own obstacles, this 1.2 to 3.3 mile path is quite a push! This path is also smoothly paved, making it great for a challenging run or bike ride.

Trail map:

http://www.lakelanierislands.com/cms/pressroom/llir_trailmaps.pdf

There is a $10 per car fee to enter the Islands. We will meet at Publix close by (see below) and take a few vehicles on to the Island. Please bring $4 per person to put towards the entry fee.  The drivers do not pay anything towards the entry costs, only the passengers - this is in lieu of them driving the 10 or so miles round trip from Publix to the Island and collecting carpool money. I'll use the pooled funds to get the parking passes to get us on the Island. Anything left over I will donate to AOC.

**There is no meet at event option**

Carpool leaves at 10:45PM sharp. Please arrive a few minutes early to check in.

The Waffle House is directly across the street from our carpool location. We'll go eat there afterwards but will drop everyone off at their cars first. You are welcome to stay for Waffle House or head directly home.

Timing (this is our best estimate but please be a little bit flexible):

Carpool leaves 10:45PM

In park, paid and starting hike 11:15PM

Hike/play/soak in the sights 1:45 mins until 1AM

Back to car at Publix 1:15AM

Afterwards is optional Waffle House

At carpool