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Tue, Feb 1 2022 - Warm Afternoon Hike at Mason Mill Park & adjoining Emory Trails (View Original Event Details)

Trip Leader(s): Charlie Cottingham
Participants:Charlie Cottingham, Martha Mock, Gloria Colley, Stacey Sapp, Fran, Huiling, Tanya H, Shelley, Amy, Hannah

Write Up:
It was fun getting together on such a nice day to explore these interconnecting nature preserves just north of Decatur.  The outing underlined the diverse beauty of these parks, with their towering boardwalks, intimate creek-side pathways, and bountiful wild flora & fauna - not to mention the small "carbon footprint" left by each Atlanta hiker who learns to appreciate such local trails as an alternative to much longer road trips to the mountains, etc. 
  After introductions at Mason Mill we headed southward to Emory University's "Lullwater Preserve" via a million-dollar PATH spur trail & canopy boardwalk with its convenient Clairmont Road underpass. During this segment it was fun having my friend Jantzen Kendall of the DeKalb Parks & Recreation Dept join us, and also got to introduce "Ranger Jonah"* to the group - see more below.   A longtime friend of the AOC, Jonah is well known as a popular "nature storyteller" and as the author of Atlanta-area hiking guidebooks.
  While in Emory's vast shady "Lullwater Preserve" parklands we first explored the terrain surrounding the southern side of Candler Lake where were treated to a great blue heron and a huge white egret taking off in tandem from the lake, just a few yards from the trail.   After a leisurely stop at the waterfall and old stone hydro-power tower below the historic Emory president's mansion ("Lullwater House") we hiked across the mansion's sprawling grassy hilltop and then back to Mason Mill via the historic DeKalb Waterworks with its own towering PATH boardwalk and its adjoining paths through the woods and wildflowers.   - Submitted by Charlie, Wed Feb 2nd
  p.s. *Many of us nature lovers have enjoyed getting to know DeKalb County's professional naturalist Jonah McDonald.  Headquartered at Mason Mill Park, he's an amazingly likeable and knowledgeable guy. He offers a wonderful variety of year-round guided nature & history walks, wildlife encounters, volunteer programs, etc. suitable for all ages. To have him add you to his mailing list, email jpmcdonald@dekalbcountyga.gov or call/text him at 404-491-3670.