Carpe Diem - February Edition at Stone Mountain

We will meet in front of the restrooms near the Historical & Environmental Education Center a few minutes before 2:00pm for brief introductions before we head 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 our starting point. We will complete the full Cherokee Trail including a steep climb across exposed granite near the end.

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. February themes are especially encouraged (think Valentine's Day, mid-winter, President's Day, etc.). We shall seize the day before returning to our cars.

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. 

Park at Stone Mountain Park ($20 per vehicle or an annual pass that can be purchased at the gate for $40) or in Stone Mountain Village. 

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 HISTORICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER 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 Historical and Environmnetla Education 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 the Historical and Environmental Education Center).

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 Historical and Environmental Education Center parking lot on your left.