Sun, Nov 2 2014 - For the most Gorge-ous Fall Colors in Georgia...Hike Cloudland Canyon! (View Original Event Details)
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Despite our group numbering THIRTEEN, we all felt very LUCKY to spend the day together in such a beautiful place. The blue-sky weather and brilliant reds, oranges and yellows of the leaves added much to the experience. For more than half our group this was the first-ever visit to Cloudland Canyon State Park, and on our series of four hikes we made sure that everyone got to enjoy many of its most amazing places and scenic views.
During our "Overview" hike of the canyon rim we took panoramic group photos and had spendid views from high overlooks in the central portion of the Park near the main parking lot. On Hike #2 we descended Daniel Creek via its steep stairway-boardwalk system and spent "quality time" at each of its four lovely waterfalls including "Hemlock" and "Cherokee" Falls (both only recently named in a Park-sponsored contest). On Hike #3 we hiked most of the craggy West Rim Loop and stopped for a delightful lunch in the warm sunshine atop huge flat boulders high above Daniel Creek. We then wrapped up the day with Hike #4 on the newly reopened Orange-blazed Backcountry Trail that descends from near the Group Lodge about 800 vertical feet to amazing rocky overhangs in the area where hikers can ford Bear Creek.
Before continuing home Joyce, Stephen, Jean and I enjoyed spending about half an hour at the Park's 2nd Annual "Arts & Crafts & Music Celebration" where we chowed down on caramel corn, boiled peanuts and ice cream sandwiches and chatted with many of the folksy artists. As we exited the parking lot we opened the car window to thank one of the "Friends of Cloudland" volunteers and lo and behold, it was none other than "Rhonda," a good friend and career companion of our President Michele Spence.. Small world!
Thanks esp, to my good friend, Joyce Taaffe, who enhanced our enjoyment of the trip in two especially nice ways: She volunteered to stay with and assist one of our hikers who began feeling ill. Joyce also did a fine job with her camera capturing Cloudland Canyon's amazing sights and the fun we had all along the way! Here's her e-note and link to her album. Enjoy! "Hi, Charlie. Thanks so much for a wonderful day at Cloudland Canyon! I just added my photos to your write-up, so if you send an email to the participants, they'll get access to the photos": https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153485967570260&type=1&l=94ef930f85
- Submitted by Charlie, 7PM Sun evening, with final paragraph added Monday.
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