**Meet the Officers Newcomer Hike at Island Ford

Come and meet your AOC Officers for 2015 - - Joyce, John, and Aaron - - while we walk the beautiful trails of Island Ford. This is your opportunity to see what the AOC is all about and to ask questions in a friendly environment.  The hike will be restricted to members who have 5 or fewer hikes . . .  true newcomers to the club.  You need have no fear that you will be the only one whose hiking boots are still "green!"  We will be there to give you tips on the AOC and to answer all of the questions you might have about our group. And you'll make friends with some wonderful members with whom to share future hikes!

We'll walk at a leisurely pace so that we can talk and easily move back and forth among the group.  We'll stop to see points of interest and allow photo opportunities for those with cameras. 

Registration for this hike will be different from customary registrations. We'll open registration immediately, and close it a week before the hike. All registrants (except the officers) will automatically be placed on the waiting list.  This is so that we can assure that only newcomers make the active list. The weekend before the hike, the top 17 newcomers with 5 events or fewer will be moved to the active list. We will send a confirmation email to those who made the hike.  (If newcomers drop during the week after the list becomes active, we'll add additional newcomers in the order of their registration.) 

We'll gather in the first parking lot past the Island Ford entrance - - immediately on the left.  We'll start the hike at 10 am, so please arrive at least 10 minutes early to buy a parking pass, meet the other members, and pose for a group photo before we start.

There's a $3 parking fee required for each car.  Parking permits can be purchased at the parking lot kiosk. If you think you might be hiking more than just a few times during the year, consider purchasing an annual pass ($35) at the Visitor Center, about a mile down the road.  (Be aware, the 25 mph speed limit is strictly enforced!)  If you buy a $3 permit and then decide to get an annual pass after the hike, your three dollar fee will be applied to your annual pass purchase.

1906 Island Ford Pkwy, Sandy Springs, GA

From northbound US 19 and GA 400
- Take exit #6 (Northridge Road).
- Coming off the exit, stay in the right lane, cross over GA 400, and turn right onto Dunwoody Place.
- Go 0.5 miles to Roberts Drive.
- Turn right and proceed 0.7 miles to the park entrance on your right.

From southbound US 19 and GA 400
- Take exit #6 (Northridge Road)
- Continue straight ahead at the traffic light onto Dunwoody Place.
- Go 0.5 miles to Roberts Drive.
- Turn right and proceed 0.7 miles to the park entrance on your right.

Turn left just after passing through the gates.  

http: //www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/upload/ TrailMapIslandFord.pdf

Trail Map - http: //www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/upload/ TrailMapIslandFord.pdf

Don't forget to bring $3 cash for a parking ticket;  change is not available.

There is a restroom in the Visitor Center.  Allow an extra 15 minutes to drive there and get back to the starting parking lot on time.

Trails can be muddy if there has been recent rain.  Be sure to have shoes with good tread that you don't mind getting dirty.  Waterproof shoes help, too!