Wednesday Kennesaw Mountain Power Hike - Wed, Sep 15 2010

REGISTRATION 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.



Wednesday Kennesaw Mountain Power Hike


The Basics:
Event Type:Hike
Event Location: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Date(s) & Time:Wed, Sep 15 2010  6:00 pm >> N/A
Registration Opens: Wed, Sep 8 2010 10:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Wed, Sep 15 2010 3:00 pm
Event Duration:2.25 hours max
Difficulty Rating:D4: Moderate to Difficult
Trip Leader(s):
Chris L
Email Trip Leader(s)
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:16
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 12 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: Yes

Itinerary:

Power hiking is walking with a destination in mind.  In this case the destination is Burnt Hickory Road for the first phase, and then the visitors center for the second phase.  You do not tarry much as you head towards your destination when power hiking: You mean business!  This is a fast paced group trying to get back and forth across the mountains before the park closes.  We go three miles in the first hour and three miles in the second hour.  It's a very hard hike that would be a D5 if it were just a little bit longer!

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a fantastic and very strenuous area for intown hiking and training.  Start out your evening with a power hike over the Kennesaw Mountain range and back.  We will start at the visitors center.  Don't park in the visitors center parking lot or your car could get locked in! Also, please look over the directions below to possibly save yourself some time getting there.  After introductions and a quick briefing we will hike the 1.2 miles to the 1808 foot top of Big Kennesaw Mountain which is a climb of 657 feet. From there we will drop down about 500 feet to the gap between Big Kennesaw and Little Kennesaw Mountain, up and over the hump in the middle which is about a 20 foot climb heading towards Little Kennesaw and about a 50 foot climb heading back, then down to the base of Little Kennesaw.  From there it's about a 300 foot climb to the top of Little Kennesaw at 1601 feet.  Then we'll head down the other side of Little Kennesaw to Burnt Hickory for a short break.  After that we'll head back the same way we came.

The total hiking distance is about 6 miles, and we'll be hiking at roughly a 3.0 mph pace or more.  The sun goes down quickly so again we don't tarry much.  This is not a stroll in the woods. It is strenuous and heart pumping and is intended to be a midweek workout to keep in shape for D5 weekend trips.  It has more of a bootcamp feel to it than it does a hike.  Some may pop into trail-running mode on the downhill sections.


Required Items to Bring:
Plenty of water or Gatorade
Good hiking shoes
Snack (if you think you'll have time :-)
Rain gear (Just in case. Rain alone will not force a cancellation of this hike)
Can do attitude!		Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:1) I-75 North to exit 267B Hwy 5 Canton Road Connector

2) If you are not heading west after getting off of the Interstate you are going the wrong way.  You should be heading towards US 41 and downtown Marietta after getting off of I-75 onto the Canton Road Connector and see Kennesaw Mountain on your right.

3) You will be tempted to take the first exit off of the Canton Road Connector which is US 41, but do not take it.  Proceed over US 41 on a bridge staying on the Canton Road Connector.

4) After crossing US 41 take a right at the first redlight which is Church Street Extension.

5) You should cross railroad tracks soon.

6) Take a left onto Old 41 at the second redlight.  If you get to US 41 again, you have missed the turn onto Old 41 so turn around.

7) Stay on Old US 41 until you pass in front of the mountain and park on the right-hand side of the road after passing the redlight for Stilesboro Road.

FYI: The new parking lot - approximately 270 spaces, was set to open mid-August. Once opened, all parking on Old Highway 41 will be closed. In addition a new paved path will lead from the parking lot to the Visitor Center.  Let's keep parking by Old Highway 41 until they make us move.

8) Last resort / panic mode / all available parking spaces have been taken:  When this happens, here is where to park - Turn around and head back in front of the mountain on Old 41.  Take the first left which is White Circle Road.  Take the first right which is White Road Court.  Park on the side of the road.

Meet prior to 6:00 PM at the cannon outside the main entrance of the visitor's center or just inside the lobby.  Call the trip leader if you are running late, but please note that we won't wait on you.  You will have to try and catch up with the group if you arrive late.

Notes:
VERY IMPORTANT NOTES:

1) The hike will start as close to on time as possible, so please plan on meeting prior to the start time to sign in.

2) You must park in the area on Old US Hwy 41 to prevent being locked in the main parking lot by the ranger.  The gate could be locked at the end of our hike so you cannot park in the parking lot.

3) Allow 5 minutes to walk from old US 41 to the visitors center.

4) Account for potentially bad traffic.

5) No need to call if it rains.  This hike will proceed in the pouring rain and will only ever be cancelled due to weather at hike time.
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:No cost.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note: This is a rain or shine hike - we will hike regardless of the weather - except for thunder, tornadoes or earthquakes...