New Years Day Follow-the-Hare Hike & Party - Fri, Jan 1 2010

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. This is a paid event with payment managed by the trip leader(s) and NOT the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for payment details and instructions.



New Years Day Follow-the-Hare Hike & Party


The Basics:
Event Type:Party
Event Location: K-Mart parking lot on Buford Hwy just N of I-285 Exit
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Jan 1 2010  1:30 pm >> N/A
Registration Opens: Mon, Dec 14 2009 10:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Thu, Dec 31 2009 5:00 pm
Event Duration:4 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
Marty
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Member Cost:$10.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:20
Minimum Group Size:5
Number Registered So Far: 21 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
We had a blast at this wacko annual event last January 1st and look forward to getting another AOC group together to ring in 2010 with our Hash House Harrier friends!

OVERVIEW: Are you looking for something festive and wildly different—but with just enough outdoor exercise to keep “resolution guilt” from kicking in as you ease out of that New Years Eve hangover?!  If so, the Atlanta Hash House Harriers & Harriettes’ (AH4's) 21st Annual New Years Day “Cheddarhead” bash should fill the bill.  No funds are collected by the AOC for this event, but if you decide to take part, bring $10 to chip in to the AH4 registration volunteer for your fair share of the bountiful refreshments, food & door prizes that will be our reward for helping one another follow the trail left by the "hare."

WHEN & WHERE? At 1:30 PM our AOC subgroup will join a large crowd of other New Years Day partiers in the parking lot of the Doraville K-Mart (Buford Hwy, just outside I-285—see directions below).

BRRR!  IT'S GONNA BE COLD, SO BUNDLE UP!  Friday afternoon is expected to be a bit colder than average for New Year's Day:  in the low 40s with 20-mph winds, so be prepared for the near-freezing chill factor.  I suggest that you wear insulated underwear under your long exercise pants, two or three warm layers on top, woolen socks in well-broken-in athletic shoes, warm gloves, and a cap.  Also as discussed in the AOC article, consider bringing a compact folding CHAIR and a small DUFFEL containing:
1) A change of shoes and warm socks in case your feet get wet during the hike, and
2) A few extra warm garments and perhaps a muffler and extra warm cap for the outdoor party.
Our duffels and chairs will be transported for us from the K-Mart lot to the "mystery-location" party venue during the hike (and taken back in our individual free shuttle rides to the K-Mart afterward).  The current Nat'l Weather Svc. forecast for Friday PM calls for only about a 10% chance of rain and about 50% "sky cover" (cloudiness), but check the forecast again on Friday and adjust accordingly!
 
EVENT PLAN:   Between 1:30 and 2:00 Look for me (Charlie, a.k.a. "Dirty Limerick") wearing a white Atlanta Outdoor Club T-Shirt and green baseball cap in the area where everyone is checking in.  My co-leader Marty Lavine and I will have you sign our AOC waiver form and help you get registered for the event with the AH4 volunteer ($10 in cash, please, to cover your share of the bountiful refreshments & food).
  A bit after 2:00 PM, after a brief ceremony including mass recitation of the solemn "Cheddarhead Creed" our 200+ harriers (a.k.a. “hounds” or “hashers”) will take off together at an easy fast walk or jogging pace and help one another follow the flour-splotched trail left earlier in the day by the “hare”—yelling “On-On!” when we think we’re still on the trail.    If you like, feel free to walk/jog with me or Marty during the "follow-the-hare" part of the festivities—most of us "hashers" will be taking a leisurely pace with a rest stop or two along the way.  The hare's trail will take us through a creative sequence of sidewalks, asphalted neighborhood streets, and likely a forested or kudzu-infested trail or two.
 After an hour or so (~2 to 3 miles of walking & jogging with a likely refreshment stop along the way) we’ll arrive at the “On-In” party area—usually the large backyard of one of the hashers.

"CHEDDARHEAD" BACKGROUND: The event gets its name from the fact that its founder, a veteran AH4 hasher known as “Public Enema,” and his partners in crime are from Wisconsin. At the big party they provide delicious Wisconsin-style food and refreshments, including charbroiled bratwurst, blackeyed peas & rice, salad, beer & soft drinks, plentiful munchies—and you’ll love their fresh cheese curds, breaded and deep-fried outdoors at the party! Along with the great picnic-style food & drink, there’s lots of friendly socializing plus door prizes, bawdy drinking songs, and an obligatory “down-down” of beer for “notables” such as the hare, newcomers, or “rule violators.” Please plan to imbibe in moderation, esp. if you’re driving.

POST-PARTY FREE SHUTTLE: At about 5:30 PM there will be complimentary car shuttle rides back to our nearby K-Mart parking area.
After we reach our own vehicles it will be appreciated if several of us can take the time to provide the same shuttle ride to the lot for a few other partiers.

OPTIONAL EARLY-EVENING BOWLING PARTY: After the afternoon excitement, feel free to re-group with some of our AH4 Cheddarhead hosts at about 6:00 PM at "AMF Lanes 300" at 2175 Savoy Drive (I-285 Access Rd near North Peachtree Rd exit) for a few friendly games—$5 per game and $8 for shoe rental if you decide to take part.

FOR MORE on the “AH4” go to their AtlantaHash.com website or to its “2010 Cheddarhead Hash” webpage:
   http://www.atlantahash.com/?page=events&n=1490
• For links to the numerous Hash House Harrier groups in GA go to:
   http://www.onin.com/hhh/#georgia_hashes
• For more on the history and worldwide popularity of the sport go to:
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_House_Harriers

Required Items to Bring:
• Wear comfortable well-broken-in jogging shoes or hiking boots, insulated exercise pants, long-sleeved shirt, sweater, jacket, and cap appropriate for the brrr...COLD & WINDY New Years Day 2010 afternoon forecast.

• A “bag vehicle” and AH4 volunteer driver will be available to carry a few personal items from the start area to the backyard party venue during our fun hike. Consider bringing a small duffel bag or daypack with extra warm dry clothing including dry socks & shoes in case your feet get wet—also perhaps a light portable chair—one that folds compactly into its own small duffel is appropriate. 

• As mentioned above, bring $10 in cash to give the AH4 registration volunteer in the parking lot Start Area.		Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:OUR 1:30 PM MEETING PLACE is the K-Mart parking lot at 5597 Buford Hwy, Doraville, GA, 30340 just outside I-285, near "Spaghetti Junction. We can park there for free during the entire event. If you'd like custom directions from your point of origin go to Google.com/Maps and input the above address as your destination.

EASY DIRECTIONS from the I-285/I-85 "Spaghetti Junction" interchange in NE Atlanta:
1) Take I-285 westward just 0.5 mile and get off immediately to your right at the "Buford Hwy" exit, Exit #32.
2) Turn Right (northward, away from Atlanta) onto Buford Hwy and turn Right again almost immediately into the large K-Mart parking lot.  Look for "harriers" wearing festive garb, "cheese-wedge" headgear, old running shoes, etc. and park in that part of the lot.

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

Cost & Payment:
Member Cost:$10.00/Person
Non-Member Cost:$10.00/Person
Cost Includes:Pay $10 in cash to the AH4 registrar at the check-in area of the parking lot to cover food, refreshments & door prizes.
Make a Payment:Although there is a cost for this event, you do not pay through the AOC. Please review the event details carefully for information about how/where to make your payment.

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