Cloudland Canyon Group Lodge & Hiking Weekend - Fri, Apr 16 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 through the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for details; you will be given payment instructions after you sign up. Late payments are NOT accepted for this event, in any circumstance.



Cloudland Canyon Group Lodge & Hiking Weekend


The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: NW GA near Chattanooga
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Apr 16 2010  8:00 pm >> N/A  (Carpool Departure: 6:00 pm   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Mon, Mar 1 2010 10:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, Apr 2 2010 5:00 pm
Event Duration:3 Days and 2 Nights
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
Bobby Marie
Lynn
Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.
Member Cost:$49.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:30
Minimum Group Size:15
Number Registered So Far: 27 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

SPECIAL NOTE 4/15/2010:  New information added since this article was first posted is in RED TEXT below.

Known for its beautiful vistas, spectacular waterfalls and incredible hiking trails, Cloudland Canyon State Park is considered by many to be the "crown jewel" of Georgia's State Parks.  Over the millennia powerful streams flowing over the western edge of Lookout Mountain have cut twin canyons into the rocky cliffs which join on the valley floor hundreds of feet below the mesa-like mountaintop to form a single deeper and wider river canyon.
  A favorite destination for dozens of AOC camping and hiking trips over the years, the State Park offers a wonderful Group Lodge high atop the mountain, which can sleep more than 30 adults comfortably in its four large dorm-style bedrooms.  The Group Lodge will be exclusively ours to use all weekend and will double as a superb "trailhead" for hiking excursions and other exciting AOC group activity options on Saturday and Sunday.  Our "headliner" AOC group activity will be a beautiful Waterfalls & Canyon Rim Hike departing Sat AM from the Lodge at 10:00 AM and returning about 2:00.  It will be easy to moderate in difficulty with an optional early return after the waterfalls portion.  As discussed at our Pre-trip Meeting, the State Park naturalists and various invited clubs and outfitters are also offering specially guided and hosted ADVENTURES in the Park all weekend, including:  FREE Rappelling, Night Hikes, Fishing, Orienteering, and $5 Cave Exploring or a $5 Climbing Wall.  Ask about these when you check in on Friday.
  We'll enjoy the Lodge's superbly equipped kitchen & dining/living room, its men's & women's restrooms with hot showers and flush toilets, campfire ring,  picnic tables, and other amenities.  We'll organize a volunteer AOC food & refreshments committee to prepare and serve SIX delicious group meals all weekend, included in the low trip price.

"YZARC PARTY":  Saturday night after dinner we'll let our hair down with a wacky indoor/outdoor "YZARC" Party—you figure it out!
MARCH 10 EXPLANATORY NOTE:  "YZARC" is "CRAZY" spelled backward!  Wear some sort of crazy or retro clothing or costume (+ perhaps bring inventive props, libations, etc.) and we'll award prizes for the "YZARC-iest" girl and guy!

"PRE-TRIP PLANNING MEETING" prior to APRIL AOC SOCIAL at "HUDSON GRILLE", TUE APR 13, 6:00 till ~7:30 PM :  As your schedule permits, please plan to drop in and join us for this informal "pre-Social" happy-hour planning meeting in the rear of the upper group room at "Hudson Grille" (Perimeter Mall by "Goldfish," facing Ashford Dunwoody Road at its 3-way jcn with Perim. Ctr East drive).  We'll introduce everyone, prearrange some of our carpooling groups, discuss directions, gear, meals & activities, and address all of your questions and suggestions about the trip. 

FOR MORE ON CLOUDLAND CANYON go to:    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloudland_Canyon_State_Park
For dozens of great photos use this long Internet link:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=%22cloudland+canyon%22+photos&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=o4R-S7z-PJPflAe4ouTEDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQsAQwAA


Required Items to Bring:
For Sleeping: Pillow + Sleeping bag (or twin-size sheets & blanket) for bunk.
For Hiking & Excursions: Comfortable clothing & hiking shoes, cap, emergency raingear, daypack or fannypack, water bottles or "Camelbak-style" hydration system, trekking poles if you have a pair (or hiking stick).
Other Personal Items: A few toiletries, towel & washcloth, camera, headlamp or flashlight, iced-down cooler with your favorite beverages, and a little crazy clothing of your choice for our Sat night "YZARC" Party!  If a couple of you have a good-quality portable CD Player/ Boom Box + a few good party CDs, please bring them if it's convenient!		Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
If you have spare cut Firewood on hand at home and a little extra room in your vehicle, please consider bringing a few sticks for our nightly campfires!

How to Get There:
Event Directions:


DIRECTIONS TO VISITOR CENTER CHECK-IN and thence to GROUP LODGE in CLOUDLAND CANYON STATE PARK:
From I-75/I-285 INTERCHANGE in NW ATLANTA:

1) Take I-75 North about 60 miles to I-75 Exit #320, "GA Hwy 136."

2) Turn Left onto GA-136 West and carefully follow the GA-136 signs about 50 miles (through several sharp turns) to the Cloudland Canyon State Park entrance on your right.  The Park entrance is on GA-136 about 0.8 mile beyond its junction with GA-189, the "Lookout Mtn Pkwy."
Along the way via GA-136 you'll have passed through the towns of Villanow, Lafayette, and Cooper Heights, GA and climbed up the steep eastern slope of Lookout Mtn.  Be esp. vigilant for the GA-136 signs when bypassing Lafayette:  There's a hard right turn onto the bypass (concurrent with 4-lane US-27) then a hard left turn to stay on GA-136 just 3 miles north of Lafayette!

3) CHECK-IN:  After entering the Park take your first Right to the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center/Office expects to be open this Friday from 8AM until 8PM or perhaps a bit later.  Tell them that you're an AOC Group Lodge guest, and pay the $5 fee for your special 3-day "lodge guest" weekend parking pass which you'll hang from your rearview mirror.

4) ON TO THE LODGE: From the short Park Visitor Center loop, reenter the main entrance road, drive about 1 more mile (northward) into the Park, and turn Right at the sign for the Group Lodge. (This turn is just before the large parking area for general Park visitors.  WARNING: The main Park gate (about ½ mile up the entrance road from the Visitor Center) is usually locked after 10:00 PM, but if you must arrive after 10:00 they've been nice to give us the GATE CODE:  It's 7721#  (Seven-Seven-Two-One plus the "Pound" Sign).

5)  Bear Right around the curve and drive up the hill (southward) about 1/4 mile to the Lodge on your Left.  When parking by the Lodge, be sure to leave plenty of room for other vehicles to get in and out, and avoid parking by the campfire ring.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):200Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 6:00 pm
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $80.00 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:

In case your loved ones need to reach you over the weekend and you're out of cell phone range, they may be able to get a message to you by calling the Cloudland Canyon State Emergency Number at 706-657-6442. Normal Park Office/Visitor Center hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but with the special "Adventure Weekend" this weekend, they expect to remain open at least until 8:00 PM.


Important information for paid events in which payment is managed through the AOC:

     - Payment must be received by the payment due date and prior to participation in the event.

     - Some paid events require a minimum number of registered participants. If that number is not met, the event will be canceled and refunds will be issued to those who have already paid.

     - Third-party vendors often require damage deposits. Each registrant agrees to be liable for and required to reimburse the Atlanta Outdoor Club for any withheld deposits due to the actions of or damages caused by that registrant.

     - No partial payments. All registrants must pay the posted Member Cost regardless of any agreement you may have with any party involved in the event.

     - Read the event description carefully for additional information, and contact the trip leader(s) with any questions.

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

Cost & Payment:
Member Cost:$49.00/Person
Non-Member Cost:$54.00/Person
Cost Includes:Two nights accommodations at the Cloudland Canyon Group Lodge, Fri & Sat Dinners, Sat & Sun Breakfasts, and Sat & Sun Lunches.
 Optional free group activities: Leader-led Hikes (including free State Park "Night Hikes")
  Optional activities with a small fee: Frisbee Disc Golf, special State Park sponsored activities including Caving, Climbing and more!
Payment Cut Off:Payment must be received by the AOC on Fri, Apr 2 2010.
Make a Payment:Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:
  • If you cancel on or before April 2, full payment is refundable less a $5 AOC administrative fee. NO refund after April 2 unless someone from the waitlist replaces you and pays in full. At that time, you would receive full refund less the $5 administrative fee.  Any refund requests should be sent to: Treasurer@atlantaoutdoorclub.com 
     
  • Event is rain or shine, however the trip leader may cancel if extreme weather conditions, etc. are forecast, in which case full refunds would normally be issued.