Sat, Jun 3 2017 - Amicalola Falls and its lovely trails: Helping, while Hiking! - on National Trails Day (View Original Event Details)
| Trip Leader(s): |  |
Charlie Cottingham
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| Participants: | | Marina, Michael Johnson, Debbie S., Sakthivel Thangaswamy, Ed, Melissa M, Gayle M., Charlie Cottingham, Nelli, Paula Schubert |
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Write Up:Eleven enthusiastic AOC participants were among the hard-working throng of about 75 volunteers today at Amicalola Falls State Park and in the lovely adjoining Chattahoochee Nat'l Forest. Our volunteers took pride in continuing the AOC's fine tradition of supporting National Trails Day (the first Sat in June) by taking part in this worthy "work day" - one of hundreds of NTD projects throughout America. We gathered in the shady picnicking area overlooking the State Park Lodge and enjoyed partnering with the friendly event organizers from REI and the GA Appalachian Trail Club. We learned a lot from them while pitching in with much-needed trail work on the AT Approach Trail and Hike Inn Trail.
It was fun having new member Debbie Smith with us on her first event with the AOC - also a real treat to have our good friends Paula Schubert and Charles Williams working with us and joining us for the delicious picnic lunch that REI provided. Paula is a past President of our amazing Club and over the past decade has spearheaded dozens of AOC "give-back" events including our participation last year in the big Nat'l Trails Day project at Kennesaw. Kudos to Nelli Vergilis, a last-minute registrant for the event who sadly failed to connect with our main AOC "subgroup" but told me later how much she enjoyed working near us with a friendly AT Trail Club crew!
After lunch six of us - Michael, Marina, Debbie, Sakti, Melissa and I - enjoyed hiking from the top of Amicalola Falls down the steep "Staircase" to the reflecting pool at the base of the Falls. For the return climb Michael & Marina ascended via the same route while we other four "looped clockwise" back up via the Creek Trail, Mtn Laurel Trail, Spring Trail, West Ridge Trail, Falls Staircase, and Lodge trail. En route were treated to an exciting view of a large female black bear and her cub in the rugged forest slopes just west of the falls. It was the first time in 5 or 6 years that I've personally had the "pleasure" of a wild bear encounter in Georgia. Another really cool critter that we encountered en route back up the "staircase" was a fearless little grey squirrel that eagerly ate sunflower seeds out of the open hands of us climbers.
I look forward to sharing here some of the many colorful photos that were taken during this very memorable Nat'l Trails Day and encourage our volunteers to email me some of their favorite shots and/or links to them!
- Submitted by Charlie, Sat June 3rd, 2017 - National Trails Day!
June 5: Thanks to Melissa Millen for sharing this photo of the Bear & Cub!
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