Summer's-End Happy Hour on the Hooch Float! BYO Boat!
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The Basics: |
| Event Type: |  | Whitewater | |
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Event Location: | |
NW Atlanta Chattahoochee River, Johnson Ferry to US-41
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| Date(s) & Time: | | Sun, Sep 4 2011
2:00 pm >> Sun, Sep 4 2011 7:00 pm
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| Registration Opens:
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Thu, Aug 25 2011 10:00 pm
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| Registration Cut Off:
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Sat, Sep 3 2011 10:00 pm
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| Event Duration: | | 5 Hours | |
| Difficulty Rating: | | D2: Easy to Moderate | |
| Distance: | | 6 Miles | |
| Pace: | | Leisurely | |
Trip Leader(s):
| | Charlie Cottingham
Sharon H
Bobby Marie
 Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.
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| Member Cost: | | None |
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| Participant Info: |
| Who's Invited: | |
Members Only, 21 And Older Only
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| Maximum Group Size: | | 25 |
| Minimum Group Size: | | 4 |
| Number Registered So Far: | |
19 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
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| Are Dogs Permitted: | |
Yes
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| Itinerary: |
SPECIAL NOTE: If you sign up for this event you should plan to Bring Your Own Boat (kayak, canoe or inflatable)—plus your own paddle and lifejacket for each person in your boat. Some Walmarts, etc. may still have inflatable vinyl 3-person rafts suitable for this event for about $25 (although these are generally more available in the spring).
OVERVIEW: Our past AOC "Happy Hours on the Hooch" have all been a blast in flotillas of our own kayaks, canoes and inflatables. Let's celebrate Labor Day Weekend and "bid farewell to the summer heat" with this leisurely and festive 6-mile float down the Chattahoochee! The cool water from the bottom of Buford Dam at Lake Lanier is like natural air-conditioning.
We'll launch from the CRNRA (Chattahoochee River Nat'l Rec. Area) boat ramp (directions below) just upstream of the Johnson Ferry Road bridge near Sandy Springs and we'll take out at the "Paces Mill" ramp just upstream of the US-41 bridge about a mile south of Cumberland Mall.
In this part of the river there's a wilderness aura much like being in the mountains. This is "where the action was" in the legendary "Ramblin' Raft Races" of the 1970s, and it's a perfect place to kick back and enjoy a few refreshments while running the Class I and easier rapids that are suitable for beginner paddlers. Alcohol is OK, but glass containers are a strict no-no!
We consider this a "rain-or-shine" event, and intend to go ahead with it unless there's perhaps a high likelihood of severe thunderstorms.
SHUTTLE SET-UP PLAN: As usual, at the beginning of the event we'll set up a convenient vehicle shuttle system that will make it possible for most of our group to depart from the takeout area immediately after the float. We'll meet initially at 2:00 at the Johnson Ferry Road CRNRA boat launch ramp (Chattahoochee River Nat'l Rec. Area - see detailed Directions below). After introducing one another and unloading/staging our boats and gear by the ramp we'll caravan with as many empty vehicles as possible (plus Bobby's big boat trailer) to the Paces Mill take-out lot (about a 15-minute drive via Riverside Drive, I-285, and US-41). We'll leave several of our paddlers behind at Johnson Ferry to watch our boats and gear. A couple of volunteer drivers who have large vehicles will then return all those drivers back to our launch site.
After the float some of us will provide transportation back to the put-in lot for all who need rides, and Bobby Marie can haul a few boats if necessary on his boat trailer. (By the way, at about 1:20 PM Sunday Bobby can swing by the Paces Mill take-out parking lot while en route to the put-in. For up to about 5 of us who can conveniently meet him and leave our vehicles there at 1:20 PM at Paces Mill, he can give us and our boats an early shuttle ride to the put-in. Notify Bobby ASAP if this would work out better for you than meeting us in your vehicle at 2:00 at Johnson Ferry. If so, you could enjoy hiking, etc. by the river until our 3:00 launch time.)
PADDLING PLAN: After setting up our shuttle as described above we'll reconvene by the Johnson Ferry North boat launch ramp at about 2:45. We'll finish introductions and check to make sure we're all OK with our boats and gear, then launch by about 3:00 PM.
After paddling under the Johnson Ferry bridge, we'll have about 4 miles of relatively calm water (with only a few shoals and rapids) to the I-285 bridge.
In the final 2 river miles between I-285 and US-41 we'll have several nice Class I rapids. The first of these will be on "river right" by "Riverbend" condos, then we'll bear left to shoot the thrilling Class-I "Devil's Race Course" rapid.
Rocky "palisades" rise steeply a bit further downstream on both banks of the river. We'll enjoy our usual half-hour stop on the beach across from the famous "Jumping Rock," with optional swimming and leaping into the cool deep water from the rock.
After a wide shoaly section and a couple more Class-I rapids we'll pass under the I-75 bridge and take out on river right at the convenient "Paces Mill" CRNRA concrete ramp, about a quarter-mile upstream of the US-41 bridge (expected take-out time no later than about 7:00 PM).
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Required Items to Bring:
• Wear your Swimsuit, old Athletic Shoes or tight-fitting Sandals, and if you like, a synthetic-fabric Shirt. If you wear Sunglasses or glasses, be sure to attach them to a "Croakie" strap. If showers are forecast and esp. if it's cool, consider bringing lightweight Raingear and perhaps a visored Cap.
• Bring your own Boat of course plus for each person in your boat a Paddle and Coast Guard approved Lifejacket.
• If you park in either the Johnson Ferry or Paces Mill (US-41) CRNRA lot, be prepared to pay the $3 cash Parking Fee in a self-service envelope and leave the tear-off receipt on your rearview mirror. A valid annual U.S. Nat'l Parks parking pass is also OK to display if you have one.
| | Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
• Consider bringing a dry T-Shirt and pair of Shorts to change into at the US-41 takeout (plus perhaps a Towel) either left in your vehicle at the takeout or stashed in your boat in "Ziplocs." A lightweight "Draw-string Daypack" is a handy item for consolidating Ziplocs inside and tying to your boat. Things that aren't water-protected and secured may get soggy or washed overboard!
• Consider bringing a small soft-sided Cooler with a couple of Snack items, a few Beverages and perhaps a couple of pre-frozen plastic pints of water to keep things cold. A half-gallon plastic picnic jug is also a good option. Alcohol is legal on the river, but should ideally be pre-poured into a permanent-style plastic container or picnic jug. GLASS is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN on the River (carrying potentially a stiff fine) and disposable cans should also be avoided. | |
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| How to Get There: |
| Event Directions: | | TO THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER NRA "JOHNSON FERRY NORTH" GRAVEL PARKING LOT and BOAT LAUNCH RAMP (NW of Sandy Springs and just north of the Johnson Ferry Road bridge over the river.) For use with GPS navigation the Lat/Lon coordinates of our meeting point by the Launch Ramp are: 33.9458,-84.4043
1. From I-285 on Atlanta's North side get off at Exit #24, "Riverside Drive." (It's about 4 miles east of the I-285/I-75 Interchange near Cumberland Mall and about 1 mile west of the I-285 Roswell Road exit.)
2. From the exit ramp take Riverside Drive northward for about 2.2 miles (away from Atlanta; i.e. if you approached the exit going west on I-285 turn right, or if going east, turn left over the I-285 bridge).
3. Turn Left onto Johnson Ferry Road (off Riverside Dr at about the 3rd traffic light) and go just 0.2 mile to the first traffic light beyond the river bridge. (Parking lot is on your right here at the light, across from Columns Drive.)
4. Turn Right into the CRNRA Lot and pay your $3 self-serve parking fee if you don't display an annual pass. Park in the remote gravel portion of the lot as close as possible to the Boat Launch Ramp and its adjoining building. We'll meet by the Boat Ramp and assist one another in unloading and "staging" our boats and gear prior to setting up our shuttle as discussed above. | |
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| Notes: |
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| Cost Includes: | | No Charge – Free Event! with only the usual $3 CRNRA self-serve Parking Fee if you don't have an annual Nat'l Parks pass (good at multiple CRNRA lots in case you pay in one lot but park in another lot on the same day). |
Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.
*Note:
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