Carpe Diem: Hello Spring! Up, Down and Around Cherokee Trail Hike

In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox is an astronomical phenomenon marking relatively equal amounts of daylight and darkness. It also is the first day of spring. Let's give spring a big welcoming hello by climbing Stone Mountain, hiking the Cherokee Trail, and sharing some springtime poetry.

We will meet in front of the restrooms near the Historical and Environmental Educatonal Center a few minutes before 12:00 noon for brief introductions before we start up the Walk-Up Trail to the top. We'll ascend via the main walk-up trail. Once atop, we'll rest for a moment and have a water break before moving along.

After enjoying our view from the top, we will descend most of the way back down the mountain, via a path less traveled, through the woods, and pick up the Cherokee Trail. We'll circumnavigate the mountain at a moderate to fast pace before ending back at Confederate Hall. 

Near the end of the hike... we get to the "Carpe Diem" part: At a scenic locale along the trail, we will pause for a brief rest and perhaps a snack on the rocks. "Carpe Diem" is a phrase from a Latin poem by Horace. The Roman poet Ovid used the word "carpe" in the sense of enjoy, seize, or pluck the fruit of. "Diem" refers to day. In the creative spirit of carpe diem, please bring a poem, phrase, song verse, or riddle to share with the group as we enjoy a moment of reflection in the forest. Springtime themes are especially encouraged. We shall seize the day before completing our hike.

Hiking time approx. 2 1/2 hours; Poetry time approx. 30 minutes

"I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree

A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast."

~ Joyce Kilmer, 1886-1918

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A BEGINNER HIKE. Please be prepared to keep a moderate-to-fast pace with the group, with minimal stops. The Trip Leader reserves the right to remove any registrant who cannot keep pace with the group.

FROM I-285 TO THE PARK'S "EAST GATE" ENTRANCE:

From the I-285/ US-78 interchange on the east side of town take U.S. Hwy 78 East about 7.7 miles. Bear right at Exit #8 to the Stone Mountain Park "East Gate" main entrance where you'll pay $20 for the daily parking fee if you don't display a valid annual pass. 

ONCE INSIDE PARK, DRIVE TO CONFEDERATE HALL PARKING LOT:

After entering via the East Gate, first follow Jefferson Davis Drive about a mile straight ahead to the big road fork, crossing the lake en route. Bear right onto Robert E. Lee Blvd and follow it about another mile, bearing left to avoid the West Gate exit.  Look for the spacious Confederate Hall parking lot on your left where we park during the hike.  We'll gather at our "usual AOC meetup spot," by the stone restroom building at the base of the Walk-Up Trail (about 100 yards toward the mountain from Confederate Hall). 

You can also enter through the West Gate entrance, in Stone Mountain Village. If you enter here, turn right through the gate and you're almost to the Confederate Hall parking lot on your left.

OPTIONAL FREE PARK ENTRANCE FOR PEDESTRIANS & BICYCLISTS:
There's no charge for pedestrians or bicyclists to enter Stone Mountain Park. There is usually plenty of free parking just outside the Park in the Stone Mountain Village area. The Village is near the Park's "West Gate" entrance which is quite close to Confederate Hall and the Walk-Up trailhead. You can park near the railroad tracks and walk about 1/2 mile up East Mountain Street and directly into the park, through a small gate.
Another such free parking lot is the "Red Caboose Visitor Center" lot on Main Street, which has its own paved walking/biking trail into the Park, much like the Silver Comet Trail. To drive to that lot, get off US-78 (Stone Mtn Freeway) at Exit #5, then bear right to exit again about a half mile ahead, turn left onto E. Ponce de Leon Ave, go through the first traffic light onto Main Street and continue about a half mile and look for the red caboose on your left. In about 10 minutes you can walk into the Park via the paved PATH trail, turn left on Robt. E. Lee Blvd (for ~300 yards) and join the AOC group at the Walk-Up trailhead. 
Additional directions and maps can be found at:
http://www.stonemountainpark.com/activities/map/overview. aspx