Free Class at REI: Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail in GA

IN A NUTSHELL:  Our four Metro Atlanta REI stores offer a wide variety of excellent FREE classes, seminars and talks on topics including hiking, backpacking, camping, bicycling, paddling, skiing, climbing & mountaineering—also first-hand accounts of exotic adventures and favorite wilderness destinations.  Each session is presented by an invited guest speaker who is an expert in their field or by an REI employee who specializes in the featured topic.  In the interest of our members who would like to learn more about hiking the Appalachian Trail I've obtained confirmed reservations for an AOC subgroup of 12 AOC members to attend this indoor REI class this Thursday evening, August 9th at the REI "Perimeter Store" in north metro Atlanta—see easy directions below.  

MEETING & SEATING:  Our AOC subgroup will first gather at 6:40 PM just inside the store entrance where we'll introduce one another and "take roll."  Then a few minutes before 7:00 PM we'll find seating together in the designated room where we'll meet the featured speaker(s) and other clinic attendees.  If you have to arrive late, you can likely still be seated - just ask an REI employee to direct you to the class (usually in the "warehouse" in the rear of the Perimeter store near the customer service desk).

Here is the recent REI.com promotional material for this interesting and informative class:

"Section Hiking the Appalachian Trail in GA:"

Want to spend some time on the Appalachian Trail but don't have six months for a thru-hike? Did you know you can hike the Georgia portion (75.6 miles) one section at a time? Join REI's section hiking experts to learn how to plan your section hikes. Get an introduction to all the logistics, gear, nutrition and training necessary for the trail!

WHY an AOC "SUBGROUP" for this FREE REI CLASS?  Several good reasons:
- AOC members can conveniently register to attend simply by clicking below, and may not be aware that the class is available without having seen this AtlantaOutdoorClub.com announcement.
- Upcoming AOC events and specialty gear that relate to the class topic can be discussed in conjunction with the REI gathering.
- The AOC subgroup can browse the store together before or after the class to compare various examples of the relevant gear.

P.S.  OTHER REI CLASSES - HOW to make RESERVATIONS ON YOUR OWN:  You can check the various REI stores' class offerings and space availability as follows, and reserve spot(s) for yourself and friends for any class that interests you:
1. Go to REI.com
2. Click on "Store Locator" in the upper right corner of the home page and choose your Store of interest from the pop-up menus that appear.
3. Click on the free Class or Seminar of interest. (Note that numerous fee-based classes are also available.)
4. Fill in the online Reservation form and submit (may require your REI member number—costs only $20 for a lifetime membership).
5. If you fail to make a formal reservation, keep in mind that walk-ins at these events are usually acceptable, but only on a space-available or standing-room-only basis.

THE REI "PERIMETER STORE" is at 1165 Perimeter Center West, Atlanta, GA 30338, conveniently near the Abernathy Road exit of GA-400 - see directions below.  You GPS or Google.com/maps users may also find its Lat/Lon coordinates handy as your entered destination: 33.9299,-84.3487.  The store's phone number is 770-901-9200.

EASY DIRECTIONS FROM the GA-400/ I-285 INTERCHANGE in N ATLANTA:
1. From the interchange at I-285 take GA-400 North just 1 mile and exit toward your right at your first opportunity (eastward) onto Abernathy Rd, Exit #5.
2.  Follow Abernathy Road (which becomes "Perimeter Ctr West") straight ahead about 0.5 mile (through a couple of traffic lights) to the REI store on your right, by the Good Will and Honey Baked Ham stores.  The REI parking lot entrance is the 2nd right past the Mt. Vernon Road traffic light.

Free Event with Free Parking!