Free Q&A Tutorial Session: Clothing & Gear 101 for Hikers and Backpackers

IN A NUTSHELL:  This informal Q&A tutorial session is intended for the benefit of AOC members who would like to learn more about making intelligent clothing and gear choices for hiking and backpacking.  Though suitable for outdoor enthusiasts of all abilities and experience levels, it will be especially appropriate for novices - hence "101" in the title.
  The plan is to have a hands-on unbiased open discussion of the pros and cons of specific types of outdoor clothing and products and their suitability for various weather conditions and styles of hiking, backpacking and camping.  We'll focus esp. on how to use the principle of "layering," i.e. choosing appropriate light layers of clothing that can be added, removed, stashed in our packs, etc, to keep ourselves comfortable and safe in any situation.

WHERE & WHEN, ETC:  Our friends at Eddie Bauer have kindly offered to host this event at their East Cobb store between Marietta and Roswell - see detailed Directions and GPS address below.  We'll gather between 6:15 and 6:30 PM just inside the store entrance and expect to be done by 8:00 at the latest.
 The Eddie Bauer staff want us to know that they are excited about the opportunity to expose our AOC members to their excellent lines of outdoor products, and assure us that there will be no pressure to buy.  One of their hiking/backpacking experts will accompany us on a walking tour of the store as we discuss various designs of clothing (underwear and outerwear), hiking boots, packs, hydration systems, tents, sleeping bags, etc.  We want to thank our hosts in advance for offering to treat us to snacks & refreshments during our store visit.

WHY OFFER IN-STORE AOC TUTORIALS SUCH AS THIS?  We can get to know other AOCers who share our interest in the tutorial topic.  Upcoming AOC events and appropriate gear for each can be reviewed and discussed without pressure to purchase anything. As we browse the store together both during and before/after the tutorial we can inspect specific designs of clothing & gear and debate their pros and cons.

THE EDDIE BAUER "EAST COBB STORE" is located in "The Avenue" shopping mall about halfway between Marietta and Roswell, at 4475 Roswell Rd, #300, Marietta, GA 30338 - see directions from GA-400 below.  You GPS or Google.com/maps users can augment these directions by entering the store's Lat/Lon coordinates as your destination address: 33.98756,-84.42341.  For a zoomable map or satellite view of the store vicinity click on the square blue & green "Event Location" icon near the top of this article.  The store's phone number is 770-578-8792.

EASY DIRECTIONS from GA-400 on ATLANTA's NORTH SIDE:
1.  From the GA-400/ I-285 Interchange take GA-400 North about 1 mile and get off at Exit #2B "Abernathy Road," which will direct you toward Sandy Springs.
2.  Drive westward on Abernathy Road (crossing through the light at GA-9) and continue on it after it merges with Johnson Ferry Road for a total of about 6.4 miles (from the GA-400 exit) to the traffic light at GA-120.
3.  Turn Right (off Johnson Ferry Rd) onto GA-120 (a.k.a. "upper Roswell Rd"), go just 0.4 mile and look for "The Avenue" shopping mall on your left.
4.  Turn Left into the mall parking lot, then bear leftward and look for the Eddie Bauer store (beyond "Bath & Body Works").  We'll gather between 6:15 and 6:30 PM just inside the store entrance and introduce one another prior to our in-store tutorial.

Free Event with Free Parking!