Map & Compass Hike at Pickett's Mill Battlefield near Lake Allatoona - Sat, Dec 4 2010

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Map & Compass Hike at Pickett's Mill Battlefield near Lake Allatoona


The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: Pickett's Mill State Historic Site, 20 mi NW of Atlanta
Date(s) & Time:Sat, Dec 4 2010  10:00 am >> N/A  (Carpool Departure: 9:15 am   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Tue, Nov 30 2010 4:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Fri, Dec 3 2010 10:00 pm
Event Duration:4.5 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
Larry Cooper
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:17
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 16 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

OVERVIEW:  This hiking adventure and map & compass learning experience will be held in conjunction with the "Orienteering Meet" this Saturday at beautiful Pickett's Mill Battlefield Historic Site, hosted by Charlie's friends in the GA Orienteering Club.  Several dozen other participants will be there from the "O Club" and from the public at large.  The event should be fun for hikers and map/compass aficionados of all experience levels.  Our "wayfaring O hike" will be at an easy to moderate pace and less than 4 miles in length.
  The 765-acre Pickett's Mill park boasts about 8 miles of well maintained scenic wooded trails and a wide variety of terrain.  Located about 5 miles south of Lake Allatoona, Pickett's Mill was the site of an important Civil War battle just one month prior to the epic June 1864 battle at nearby Kennesaw Mountain.
 

EVENT PLAN:  After we introduce one another we'll conduct a brief refresher for our AOC "subgroup" in the basics of how to use a compass in conjunction with a topographic map.  We'll also discuss the basics of the sport of Orienteering and sign up as a "wayfaring group" to take part in the "O Meet."—see more below.
  We AOCers will then set off together on the “Yellow” O course, (suitable for both experienced and beginner "O hikers") practicing our map & compass skills to locate about ten partially hidden “control flags” whose locations are shown on our topo map.  After reaching each flag we’ll take a look at our map and "clue sheet" and discuss appropriate “attack strategies” to find the next flag in the course’s sequence.
  We’ll share several copies of the GAOC's Pickett's Mill topo map specially marked for the Yellow course. Bring your own compass if you have one – otherwise you may use one of our free “loaner” compasses. We plan to take a relaxed “wayfaring” pace, although many O Meet competitors that day will be trying for max. speed between control flags.
  Our "O hike" is expected to last about 2 hours after which you're welcome to try part of another more advanced course if you like.
 

OPTIONAL POST-HIKE GROUP LUNCH (About 1:00 PM):  After the event feel free to join me (Charlie) for lunch and refreshments at a nearby restaurant (separate checks).  The place I suggest is "Los Magueyz" Mexican restaurant
at 8774 Dallas-Acworth Hwy, Dallas, GA (770-966-8600) about 3 miles along our route back toward the Busbee Park & Ride lot and Atlanta.

WHAT IS ORIENTEERING?  It’s a sport that blends the fun of a scavenger hunt with the adventure of navigating between flagged checkpoints in unfamiliar natural terrain. We “orienteer” using a detailed topographic map, a simple compass, and our judgment as to which route to take between partially hidden white & orange control flags whose positions and surrounding land & water features are shown on the map. Before tackling an O course we’re also usually given a "clue sheet" that describes the main topographic features in the immediate vicinity where each flag is hung.
  We’re fortunate to have in Atlanta a very active and friendly not-for-profit “O” club. GA Orienteering Club volunteers organize year-round “O Meets” and “O” education programs at parks and wilderness preserves throughout north Georgia.  The general public is welcome to participate in GAOC events without formal membership.  Membership dues are only $8 per year (or $12 per couple, $15 per family).

For more on the GA Orienteering Club go to:
http://gaorienteering.org

The O Club has an excellent online "Tutorial" for beginners at:
http://gaorienteering.org/Education/BeginnerGuide/introduction.htm

For more on Pickett's Mill State Historic Site go to:
http://www.gastateparks.org/PickettsMillBattlefield


Required Items to Bring:


• Comfortable broken-in Athletic Shoes or Hiking Boots with wool-blend or synthetic Socks.  Avoid 100% cotton. 
• Lightweight comfortable Clothing layers appropriate for the weather.  Long Pants are suggested, since we’ll be occasionally walking off-trail through the forest.
• Compass if you have one. (A simple "protractor-type" compass on a clear plastic rectangular base. They're available for about $10 or less at Wal-Mart, Sports Authority, REI, etc.  We'll have several "loaner" compasses on hand for you to share if it's inconvenient for you to bring one.
• Water: About 1 Quart, in “Camelbak” or bottles inside a small daypack/fanny pack.
• $3.25 in Cash for Historic Site Group-rate Admission Fee  (Parking is free.) 

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

• Consider carrying a Light Daypack for stashing unneeded layers as you warm up and for your water bottle, camera, snack, emergency rain gear, etc.
• Optional: Trekking Pole(s) or Hiking Stick.
• Optional: Your Camera!


How to Get There:
Event Directions:


DIRECTIONS to EVENT at PICKETT'S MILL STATE HISTORIC SITE VISITOR CENTER:

From I-75/ I-285 INTERCHANGE on NW SIDE OF ATLANTA:

1) Take I-75 North about 18 miles and exit to your right at Exit #277 "GA-92 Acworth/ Woodstock." (This exit is 6 miles beyond our optional Carpool meeting point exit near I-75 Exit #271.)
2) Turn Left onto GA-92 (crossing the Interstate toward Acworth) and go about 0.3 mile to the next traffic light.
3) Turn Right to stay on GA-92 and go about 3.8 miles to Cobb Parkway.
4) Turn Right to stay on GA-92 (concurrent here w/ US-41/Cobb Pkwy) and go 1.5 miles.
5) Turn Left onto GA-92/Dallas-Acworth Hwy and go STRAIGHT AHEAD 6.3 miles (southwestward AVOIDING L turn of GA-92) to Mt. Tabor Church Rd.
6) Turn Left onto Mt Tabor Church Rd and follow it about 0.9 mile to the Pickett's Mill State Historic Site park entrance on your left.
7) Our AOC "subgroup" will gather at 10:00 AM at the GAOC O Meet "Start" near the park Visitor Center.  Look for Charlie wearing a white Atlanta Outdoor Club T-Shirt.

The Pickett's Mill Visitor Center address is:
4432 Mt. Tabor Church Rd, Dallas , GA 30157

The above destination address may be useful for preparing custom directions from your point of departure or for use with your vehicle's onboard GPS navigation system.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):40Mile(s)
Carpool Departure Time: 9:15 am
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $16.00 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:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:Pickett's Mill Historic Site has a $3.25 per person Group-rate Admission Fee (for groups of 10 or more such as ours) payable individually at the Visitor Center when we arrive.  Otherwise this is a Free Event with several shared Maps and our O Meet Registration provided by the AOC Event Leader.  Parking at the Historic Site is Free.

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