Backpacking: Cumberland, Full-Island Tour

This will be a two-night backpack of the Cumberland Island seashore, exploring the length of the island and most of the major sites. This should be a great time to visit. Average highs are in the 70s and average lows in the 50s this time of the year.

About the island: 

"Welcome to Georgia's largest barrier island and one of the most spectacular natural habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. The greatest and most lasting value of the Island is its ability to change us. It is a place of transformation. It is this intangible feature that seems to be the most important benefit which Cumberland Island has for its guests. This spiritual quality is what, year after year, its visitors, residents, and Park Service employees seem to believe is its most important contribution to our people." (http://cumberlandisland.com/)

March 18 (8 miles)

The drive to St Mary's will take approximately 5 hours. After arriving we will park the cars and check-in for the ferry which departs at 11:45, and arrives and Sea Camp ferry dock around 12:30.  We will leave our packs at the visitor's center and hike down the river trail to visit the ice-house museum and Dungeness, returning by the main road to complete a 2.5 mile loop. Then head back to the ferry dock to retrive our packs before hiking 5.5 miles to our campsite at Hickory Hill.

March 19 (9.5 - 12miles)

There will be an optional early-morning hike to the beach to watch the sunrise. We will depart at 6:45am to see the sunrise at 7:30 (1.3 miles).  This is an incredible spectacle when the weather is clear. There should also be many potential animal sightings at this time of the day, horses, turkey, deer, pigs. etc...

We will break camp and plan to the leave by 9:45am to attend the 11am tour of the Plum orchard planation (2.4miles). Built in 1898, Plum Orchard is an 20,000 square foot, Georgian Revival mansion. Built by Lucy Carnegie for her son, George and his wife, Margaret Thaw.

After the tour and a lunch-break, we will proceed an additional (4.2 miles) up the coast via Table Point Road, Kings Bottom trail, Rayfield Trail, and the main road to reach our second camp at Brickhill Bluff.

After setting up camp, we will continue to hike up the the north end of the island to visit the settlement, First Church and Alberty house (7 miles round trip).

March 20 (13) miles

We hike back down the length of the island, via the Rollercoaster and Lost Trails, to catch the ferry from Sea Camp Dock at 2:45pm. If we move quickly enough, there will be an opportunity for showers at Sea camp. We will arrive back at the carpool  in Atlanta around 9pm.

 A summary of points of interest in the park: https://www.nps.gov/cuis/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm

Maps of the park. (I recommend printing and bringing a copy of the trail map):

https://www.nps.gov/cuis/planyourvisit/maps.htm

Since this is a Winter/Early Spring trip, please be prepared in case of cool wet weather. Fleece and rainjacket are required.

Since this is a D5 Difficult backpack, this event is not recommended for people who have not completed D4/D5 backpacks in the past. The event leader reserves the right to remove anyone who they feel does not have sufficient experience to participate.

The Trip Leader(s) for this event has (have) elected either to personally collect the funds that event participants are required to pay, or to require participants to pay funds directly to a third party. No funds will be paid to the Atlanta Outdoor Club for this event. Therefore, by registering for this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following: (1) the monies paid by registrants will not be monitored, managed, or otherwise accounted for by the Atlanta Outdoor Club; (2) that the Atlanta Outdoor Club bears no financial responsibility for this event; and (3) you waive any and all claims against the Atlanta Outdoor Club, and hold the Atlanta Outdoor Club harmless for the loss of any monies you paid for this event.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any paying registrant may request directly from the Trip Leader, prior to the event, a breakdown of funds collected, estimated expenses, and deposits made in anticipation of the event. Following the event, the Trip Leader must complete his or her financial accounting for the event, with supporting documentation, within 30 days of the completion of the event, and a paid registrant may request a breakdown of funds collected, money spent and supporting documentation after that time. If you are unable to obtain requested documentation, please contact the Director of Paid Events.

Summary of costs:

• Ferry Tickets - $30 (tax incl)

• Camping fees - $4

• Park Pass - $7

• Adminstrative fees - $2

Please do not remit payment to the club. Payments will be made directly to the trip leader. An invoice and payment instructions will be provided to you within 48 hours of registration.

In the case that a participant cancels, and they are replaced by a member on the waitlist, then a refund will be issued regardless of drop-date. The refund will be issued after the new participant pays. Refund will be minus the $2 adminstrative fee (Refund = $41).

If the cancellations made 12 days or more before event, even if the slot is not taken by another participant, then a refund will be issued minus the and administration fee .  (Refund = $41.) 

If the minimum registration number has not been reached by the cut-off date, any paid fees will be refunded minus the administrative fees  (Refund amount = $41).

For any cancellations made within 12 days of the event, where there is no replacement participant, there will be no refund issued for the ferry tickets. Only the park pass and camping fees may be refunded after this point. (Refund = $13).

This event will run rain or shine, and will only be cancelled in the case of truly dangerous conditions (i.e. Hurricaines).