Saturday Hike: Anna Ruby Falls to Helen

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Saturday Hike: Anna Ruby Falls to Helen

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Anna Ruby Falls Visitor Center

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Mar 30 2019 11:00 am >> Sat, Mar 30 2019 4:30 pm (Carpool Departure: 9:00 am *log in for location*)

Registration Opens:

Mon, Mar 25 2019 8:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Sat, Mar 30 2019 6:00 am

Event Duration:

5 Hours 30 Minutes

Difficulty Rating:

D4: Moderate to Difficult

Distance:

10.2 Miles

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Richard A. Zalik
Victor

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Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

15 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Spectacular Anna Ruby Falls lies in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The quiet coolness of the area is broken only by the thundering rush of water flowing over the rugged cliff face. Anna Ruby Falls marks the junction of Curtis and York Creeks. Both creeks begin on Tray Mountain and are fed by underground springs, rain, and snow. Curtis Creek drops 153 feet and York Creek 50 feet to form the twin waterfalls known as Anna Ruby Falls. From the falls, Smith Creek tumbles downhill to Unicoi Lake and then to the Chattahoochee River. It's journey continues south, eventually joining the Applachicola River in Florida and ending its 550-mile journey in the Gulf of Mexico.

We will leave some cars in Helen to run a shuttle and then drive up to the Ana Ruby Falls Visitor Center, where we will start our hike. We will first walk 0.4 miles up to the falls on a paved trail, and then 4.6 miles on Smith's Creek Trail to Unicoi State Park. This trail ascends a total of approximately 1000 ft and descends a total of approximately 1500 ft, in mountainous terrain. We will stop for a quick picnic lunch at the lake and then walk the Unicoi to Helen trail. This trail is three miles long and goes generally down, with a moderate climb by switchbacks near the end.The trail crosses several small streams and then intersects the Unicoi Mountain Biking Trail before reaching Unicoi Hill City Park at Helen.

Trail Maps: http://www.gastateparks.org/content/Georgia/parks/trail_maps/Unicoi-2010.pdf

Some of us may decide to go out to dinner after the hike. If you do not wish to join us, please discuss this with your carpool ahead of time.

Required Items to Bring:

Sturdy hiking shoes with good traction

Clothing appropriate for the weather - including rain gear

Water or Energy Drinks - at least 1 liter.

Trail Snacks and Lunch

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

Camera, Hiking Poles, Insect repellent

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Carpool only please, unless you already know how to get there.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

160Mile(s)

Carpool Departure Time:

9:00 am

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $64.00 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:

If you plan to meet at the trailhead try to bring at least one more event participant with you: we will have to run a shuttle from Helen and we need to make sure that we will have enough cars to transport all the drivers that left their cars back at the trailhead.

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

There is a fee of $2.00 per person for Anna Ruby Falls.

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