Halloween Weekend at Cumberland Island National Seashore! Camping and Improving its Beautiful Trails - Thu, Oct 29 2015

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Halloween Weekend at Cumberland Island National Seashore! Camping and Improving its Beautiful Trails


The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: Near St. Marys in SE corner of GA   Adventure: Halloween Weekend at Cumberland Island National Seashore! Camping and Improving its Beautiful Trails  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Thu, Oct 29 2015  11:00 am >> Sun, Nov 1 2015 4:00 pm  (Carpool Departure: 5:00 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Thu, Sep 10 2015 9:30 pm
Registration Cut Off: Tue, Oct 27 2015 9:30 pm
Event Duration:4 Days and 3 Nights
Difficulty Rating:D4: Moderate to Difficult
Distance:5 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
Lisa Maldonado
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:25
Minimum Group Size:5
Number Registered So Far: 15 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

Special Update for Confirmees, added Oct 28 at 10:30 PM :  The weather forecast for the trip is still looking fantastic!  Mostly clear skies all weekend in the 70s each day and 60s each night, with virtually no chance of rain or any strong winds. We've recently added new info below, so please reread everything including the Directions and What to Bring!  Note esp. that in St. Marys at 11:00 AM Thursday we LOAD & BOARD the FERRY at the USUAL DOCK by the VISITOR CENTER. -Charlie

WANTED! ...Twenty-five cheerful able-bodied AOC adventurers for an excitingly different Cumberland Island experience!  Our friends in the Georgia Conservancy and the National Park Service have invited us to "give back" to this 10,000-acre crown jewel of Georgia's barrier islands by partnering with them to improve its backcountry trail system.  Our main mission on this unique 4-day 3-night trip will be to work with them to complete about 16 hours of much-needed trail maintenance & construction, new signage, and GPS data collection. See more details below.

There'll also be plenty of leisure hours for relaxation and optional activities.  (We'll actually have almost 75 total hours on the Island counting our EXTRA FREE HOUR of sleep Sunday AM due to the "fall-back" switch from DST to EST!)  Late October is an ideal time for camping, hiking, colorful sunsets, nightly campfires and festive group meals.  Our friendly hosts have arranged for us to camp all 3 nights (Thu, Fri & Sat, at no charge) in the beautiful "Hunt Camp" group site located directly beside the historic Plum Orchard mansion.  Boasting the "best sunset on the Island" it has excellent facilities and is conveniently located near the center of the Island's lovely trail network.  Our hosts are also kindly arranging free transportation for our group - via Ferry between St. Marys, GA and Sea Camp Dock and via Van between Sea Camp Dock and Hunt Camp.
  Be prepared for some amazing photo ops!  including the island's famous wild horses, its unspoiled beaches with their high sea-oat-capped dunes, other gorgeous native flora & fauna and picturesque remnants of its fascinating human history.  Our Halloween festivities will feature an eerie moonlight beach hike and sharing in the carving of a scary Jack-o'-Lantern as our "camp mascot."

HUNT CAMP AMENITIES & SUGGESTED CAMPING STYLE:   Lisa & I and our Island hosts encourage you to bring, as we do, "family-style" camping gear, food, refreshments & supplies (as we would on a "car-camping trip")  including large  iced-down coolers with cold beverages & fresh food - also large or small propane stoves (and/or electric cooking gear), medium-to-large-size covered pots & pans, roomy tents, comfortable sleeping pads, etc.  (Lisa suggests that I actually bring a compact Microwave Oven for the group to use, which I intend to do!)  There's no need to think of this trip as "backpacking" since we never have to walk more than a few yards with our camping gear & supplies,  (On the other hand, if you prefer bringing only lightweight backpacking-style gear, that's OK but "unnecessarily spartan.")  See below a list of suggested Clothing, Gear & Supplies to bring.
  Lisa was there volunteering at Hunt Camp recently and confirms that it indeed has  safe potable running water,  HOT showers, a hot-water dishwashing sink, electric power outlets  flush toilets and even an indoor food-prep area with a large refrigerator and ice machine - but normally NO STOVES.  Hunt Camp has acres of shady level tent space and lots of open- air picnic tables - also we're welcome to enjoy the nearby covered porch of Plum Orchard mansion as a dining or picnicking spot.
  BTW, please help us avoid using an excess of disposable plastic or paper dinnerware, esp. since we can each easily bring a lightweight personal cup, plate, bowl, knife-fork- spoon, etc. and wash & reuse them.

TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS and our ALL-IMPORTANT GROUP FERRY SCHEDULE:  For our ferry trip to the Island our AOC group will gather at 11:00 AM Thursday in St. Marys, GA at the Cumberland Island Visitor Center Ferry Dock" discussed in detail in the Directions below.  After a Nat'l Park Service safety briefing, gear loading, boarding, etc. the ferry will depart promptly at 11:45 AM. (See detailed Directions and What to Bring below.)
  The dock is about a 6-hour 350-mile drive from Atlanta.  We'll facilitate the formation of "custom carpool groups" for the trip down and back.  One option is to depart Atlanta no later than about 4:30 AM Thursday morning (or by ~5:00 AM from our suggested optional I-75/Stockbridge Rd south-side carpool meetup spot).  We also suggest that if your work schedule permits, consider  driving down on Wednesday and spending the night in the St. Marys area.  (Here's a Wed. lodging suggestion:  The Magnolia Inn near St. Marys at our "Kingsland" I-95 Exit #3  has inexpensive rooms available.  Ken Parker and I have booked one of their rooms to share for only $48.28 total including Taxes and free Breakfast - via Expedia.com.  We plan to drive down and back together departing at 2PM Wed from the Park & Ride lot on Atlanta's south side suggested below.)

TWO RETURN FERRY OPTIONS on SUNDAY: 10:15 AM or 2:45 PM:    We'll have Sunday AM van transportation from Hunt Camp back to Sea Camp dock, and expect to be there with all our gear by about 9:30 AM (new Eastern Std. Time, so extra hour of sleep or packing time!).  Esp. if you haven't visited Cumberland Island before we suggest that you plan to take the 2:45 PM ferry.  If so you're welcome to join me (Charlie) on a guided loop hike around  the lovely south end including the ruins of the Carnegie "Dungeness" 1880s mansion, estate & free museum, Sea Camp beach & campground, etc. (Or feel free to do your own thing if you prefer.)  We can safely leave our bulky gear at the Sea Camp visitor center by the dock and can easily be back by about 2:00 PM in time for the 2:45 ferry.   Please let me know (Charlie) by 11:30 AM on Thursday which return ferry you prefer so we can have the Nat'l Park Service make our formal bookings.  (Despite this formality we will in fact be allowed to delay our individual decision until Sun AM. and take either return ferry.)   Both ferries normally take about 45 minutes to reach the St. Marys mainland dock.

FOR ONLINE CUMBERLAND ISLAND INFO & PHOTOS click these links:
Nat'l Park Service Website: http://www.nps.gov/cuis
Wikipedia Article: https:/ /en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumberland_Island
Nature Conservancy Members' Stories & Photos from past volunteering trips: http://bittersoutherner.com/folklore- project/cumberland-island
Plum Orchard Mansion history: https://en.w ikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Orchard
Photos, Maps & other Images: http s://www.google.com/#q=cumberland+island+photos

MANY THANKS to our friend LAURA BUCKMASTER, the GA Conservancy's "Cumberland Island Trail Restoration Fellow," for inviting the Atlanta Outdoor Club to participate in this service trip and for overseeing its complex logistics.  Below are more important details and thoughtful suggestions that Laura has kindly provided:

Cumberland Island Service Trip Details and Suggestions from
      Laura Buckmaster, our Georgia Conservancy Host:

The National Park Service and the Georgia Conservancy have worked together to identify critical areas on Cumberland Island that are in desperate need of trail work by dedicated volunteers such as yourself! We offer the unique chance for groups to do crucial service work on Cumberland Island’s extensive network of trails that helps increase the accessibility of remote wilderness areas. We are counting on passionate volunteer groups who are looking to dedicate at least 2 full days of hardcore trail restoration work!

What kind of work will we be doing as volunteers?
1. Trail maintenance: Intensive and advanced trail engineering on Willow Pond, Stafford Beach, Roller Coaster, Terrapin Point and Bunkley Trails. There will be tools and transportation to these areas provided for your group.  [The October AOC Volunteer group will likely focus primarily on improving the Roller Coaster trail.]
2. Signage: Assist with improved interpretive and informative signage at trailheads not located within Cumberland’s backcountry and wilderness.
3. GPS Data Collection: We will be assisting with the creation of the first ever wilderness and backcountry map of Cumberland Island. During our trail work, volunteers will be inputting data into Garmin GPS units which will detail waypoints, features, attractions, signs, changes in surface cover, and more.

Where will we stay?
Volunteers will stay at Hunt Camp which is centrally located on the marsh side of the island in the shadow of the historic Plum Orchard mansion.  Hunt Camp provides campers with electricity, showers, bathrooms, an ice machine, a microwave, a small refrigerator, a ranger station with running water, and the best sunset on Cumberland Island. In order for volunteers to stay at Hunt Camp and enjoy all these great amenities, the NPS asks that volunteers participate in 8 hours of service work a day (on Friday and Saturday during this trip).

Are there any recreation opportunities for our group?
This is definitely a service-work-first trip and there is limited time for exploration since we will spend 8 hours a day doing trail work, however there's a plethora of both natural beauty as well as historic sites to see during down time. The scenic trails of Cumberland Island offer some of the best hiking in Georgia. Because most of Cumberland Island is designated wilderness, there is no commercial recreation on the island (biking, kayaking, etc.). If you would like me to organize a hike for your group or give you pointers on fun things to see, let me know and I would be happy to help.

Arrival/Departure:
Volunteer service groups have the added benefit of having their ferry fees waived. All Group Leaders will need to check in at the Cumberland Island Visitor Center to let the desk ranger know that you and your volunteers are present and accounted for and to reverify that reservations have already been arranged for your group by the GA Conservancy. If the group is riding the ferry you will submit a final group roster at the Visitor Center and Ferry in lieu of obtaining actual tickets.. If you have reservations you will need to check in no later than 30 minutes before ferry departure time or your reservation will be canceled. Upon reaching the Island ou will debark from the ferry at the Sea Camp Ranger Station and meet your NPS contact there.
  We will most likely take the ferry over, but if it is an exceptionally busy weekend then we will arrange a Nat'l Park Service boat for your group on a case by case basis. If you are riding a NPS work boat you will still need to check in at the Visitor Center to let the ranger know that your group is present and accounted for. In cases where we will be loading vehicles your arrival time is tide dependent.
  Go ahead and plan on taking the scheduled public "concession ferry" to Cumberland at 11:45 a.m. on your arrival day. Groups must arrive 30 minutes before the ferry departs, so make sure all your group members gather there at about 11:00  AM, so each driving party should plan on departing from home with plenty of time to spare.  Another option is to travel down the night before and camp nearby at Crooked River State Park. This is a 20 minute drive from the dock, just north of St. Marys.

Logistics, Proper Packing, etc: Everything about the island is all about logistics. Please think strategically when you pack your food, personal items and camping gear. Everything traveling to the island will be moved no less than four times and may be moved more. Plastic grocery bags don’t hold up well to multiple moves to and from boats and to and from vehicles. All items have to be carried up and down dock walkways also, so think about packing items inside containers, soft luggage with sturdy handles, etc. Backpacks work very well and duffle bags work better than rolling suitcases.
  If you have non-perishable food left over at the end of your service week and do not wish to take it home with you, please set it aside at hunt camp for donation to the Camden County food bank. This is a great way to continue your service to our area!

Ground Transportation and Vehicles:  Volunteers and gear will be transported from Sea Camp Dock to Hunt Camp (and back) in a National Park Service pickup Truck and a large Van which belong to the NPS. The Van will be checked out to Hunt Camp for the week. It is to be used only for travel to and from work sites and for weekly trash runs to the dumpsters on the south end of the island. It is not to be used for after-hours recreation nor is it to be used for exploratory travel on the island.

In the event of Injuries:  If at any time a person is injured, please contact the nearest ranger for medical treatment. Pauline Wentworth will also need to be contacted so the appropriate documentation can be collected. Law Enforcement rangers are available to respond to emergencies after hours. In an emergency, call 9-1-1 on cell phones. Emergency radios are located on the porch at the Sea Camp dock and east of the Plum Orchard mansion on Table Point Road.

For Questions regarding the Service Trip that aren't already answered in this article please contact Charlie Cottingham, the Atlanta Outdoor Club trip Co- Leader, at Cott4Treks@aoc.com  or via his Cell Phone, 404-921-4622  or Home/Office Phone, 404-321-3230.
  If Charlie can't answer your question feel free to contact me, Laura Buckmaster, at  lbuckmaster@georgiaconservancy.org  or by phone at 770-490-0600 . We look forward to working with your AOC group and can’t wait to host y’all for an incredible service trip on Cumberland Island.
 
Oct 13 Pre-Trip Planning Meeting for our Confirmees and still-undecided Members:    Please try to attend our October AOC Social, Tue Oct 13  at the "Taco Mac Prado!"  At any time between about 7:30 until 9:00 PM look for us at a table on the covered porch where we can introduce one another, enjoy a few drinks & FREE! appetizers, and address your remaining questions and suggestions about the trip  - also we can discuss the following options:  1) Carpooling down & back with others, 2) Spending Wed night in St. Marys, 3) "F amily-style" Group Dinners & Breakfasts, etc.  I'll have some Cumberland Island maps & handouts for each of you.  The address of the Taco Mac Prado is 5600 Roswell Rd Suite M-003, Atlanta, Georgia 30342.  It's in the Prado Shopping Center, ~1/4 mile south of the I-285 "Roswell Rd" exit in Sandy Springs.  Click here for details about this Social, its free appetizers, drink specials, etc: http://www.atlantaoutdoorclub.com/events/detail s.asp?eventid=11086

Required Items to Bring:
• Camping Gear:  Tent, Sleeping Pad, Sleeping Bag, Hammock, etc.
• Food, Refreshments and Cooking/Dining Gear.  Hunt Camp is very conducive to the enjoyment of "Group Family-style Meals." If you have a large (or small) camp stove - please bring it, plus some "family-size" cooking gear & utensils to share.  A well-iced-down cooler is appropriate for your personal beverages, perishable food, etc.  I suggest that while at the campsite we have Breakfast & Dinner each day "family potluck style," with each AOCer who chooses to participate in a meal simply providing one or two items that you personally enjoy, in lieu of bringing everything for yourself.  No need to contribute more than about 5 servings of your item(s) for each of these group meals - otherwise we'll have an excess of leftovers!
• Appropriate Clothing & Personal Gear:  All volunteers need to be equipped with work clothes— long pants, long-sleeve shirts, closed-toed shoes, a hat and individual water bottles. Shorts, T-shirts, sandals, and other casual clothing are great for after work and while in camp but do not promote a safe work environment.
• Base layers + light jacket + extra layers in the event of cold weather.  The Island's daily high temperatures in late Oct average about 75 degrees and nightly lows about 55.
• Rain jacket, poncho and/or other waterproof gear in case of inclement weather.
• Insect repellent, sunscreen and a hat are a must!
• A rugged lightweight DayPack or Fanny Pack is suggested for carrying your lunch, snacks, water and other small personal items while hiking on the island and while traveling between our campsite and our service project areas. 
• Swimsuit if you're feeling adventurous!  The late-October seawater temperature will likely be about 75 degrees.
• Anything else of a personal nature that you expect to find useful, educational or entertaining on this uniquely special weekend on the island - e.g., Hammock, Compact Folding Chair, Guidebooks & Maps, Binoculars, Musical Instruments - plus Halloween celebration items!
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:

DIRECTIONS to ALL-IMPORTANT 11:00 AM THU FERRY LOCATION in ST. MARYS, GA:  Our AOC group will gather in St. Marys, GA at 11:00 AM Thursday at the Cumberland Island Visitor Center Ferry Dock with all our securely-packed trip gear and supplies. This is usually about a 6- hour 350-mile drive from Atlanta (allowing for a couple of stops en route) so be sure to allow ample time considering the likelihood of a few traffic problems, etc. en route.  For a zoomable Map or Satellite view of our precise meetup spot click the square blue & green "Event Location" icon near the top of this article.

DIRECTIONS from ATLANTA to CUMBERLAND ISLAND VISITOR CENTER FERRY DOCK in ST. MARYS, GA:

1.  From metro Atlanta take I-75 South about 80 miles to the Macon, GA vicinity.  When you see "I-475" signs AVOID it by to bearing Leftward to stay on I-75, and continue about 10 more miles.
2.  Bear leftward at I-75 Exit #165 to get onto I-16 East toward Savannah.
3.  Stay on I-16 East for about 156 miles and look for the I-95 South exit.
4.  Bear Right at I-16 Exit #157A onto I-95 South toward Jacksonville.
5.  Stay on I-95 South for about 95 miles and get off at Exit #3, "GA- 40, St. Marys."
6.  Turn Left onto GA-40 and go 9.3 miles to its end at its junction with St. Marys Street on the waterfront in St. Marys, GA. (Note that GA-40 is also called "Osborne Street" near the waterfront.)
 7.  When you reach the waterfront you'll notice the Cumberland Island Visitor Center about 100 yards to your right.  Our AOC group will gather there between about 10:45 and 11:15 AM on Thu.  We'll unload our gear at the Visitor Center's adjoining Ferry Dock and consolidate there all our bulky gear except for valuable small personal items.  Our drivers will park all weekend (at no charge) in the shaded parking lot for Cumberland Island visitors which is about 1 block beyond the Visitor Center - on the Right side of St. Marys Street WEST.
8.  We won't need individual Ferry Tickets, since I'll be checking in for our entire AOC group at the Visitor Center. Between our initial AOC gathering and our 11:45 AM SHARP scheduled ferry departure we'll take the time to introduce one another and help each other load everything onto the ferry (as soon as returning passengers from the island have finished debarking) .  Just before departure we're also all required to attend an 11:30 AM ferry safety briefing on the breezeway below the Visitor Center, hosted by the Nat'l Park Service. During our 45-minute Ferry trip to Sea Camp Dock Lisa and I will ask each of you to complete and sign a GA Conservancy Waiver of Liability form.

GPS and MAPS.GOOGLE.COM USERS:  Feel free to augment the above directions by entering as your destination either of the following:
LAT/LON Coordinates of our 11:00 AM Meetup Spot: 30.72011,-81.54738
Approx. Street Address near Meetup Spot:  111 St. Marys Street East, St. Marys, GA

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):680Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 5:00 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $272.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

No charge for this amazing trip!  Just bring your own camping gear, food, refreshments, a cheerful disposition, and vim, vigor & vitality!


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.