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Perseid meteor shower at Brasstown Bald + Dukes Creek Falls




The Basics:
Event Type:Adventure
Event Location: North GA
Date(s) & Time:Thu, Aug 12 2010  3:45 pm >> N/A  (Carpool Departure: 4:00 pm   *log in for location*)
Registration Opens: Sun, Aug 1 2010 9:15 pm
Registration Cut Off: Wed, Aug 11 2010 10:00 pm
Event Duration:per itinerary
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Garret
Tony C
Larry Cooper
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:20
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 15 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
Note:  Apparently Anna Ruby Falls access will be closed due to road work on this date, so we changed the first hike to Dukes Creek Falls.

Ok the AOC has had a lot of interest in these Perseid related events and we don't want anyone to miss out on the once a year show.  Jay posted a great Yonah hike and Larry is leading this second group to Brasstown Bald.  Unlike the first group, where there is limited parking at Bell Knob, there is plenty of parking on this one, so the group size can be larger.

The Perseids are one of the best meteor showers of the year. Peak rates often top 60 per hour. Four our purposes in the Southeast, this year's shower should peak in the early morning hours of Aug 13. The thin, crescent moon will be out of the way early, setting the stage for a potentially spectacular show. For best viewing, look to the northeast after midnight.

And being the highest mtn in GA, Brasstown Bald is naturally an ideal location to view the celestial display.  Last year, even with interference from the moonlight, it was still very impressive.  So if we get lucky with some clear skies this time around, it should be all the better.

There should be some other fun AOC events over the weekend focusing on the Persieds, which have a fairly wide viewing window and should be very active for a few days before and after the 12th/13th.  But we will hit the peak night with this event...and if the weather does not cooperate, there are still a few more days when one could give it another try.

To add a little extra fun to the day, we are going to stop at Dukes Creek Falls on the drive up.  It is just a short 1mi hike out to the falls...with about 375' elevation gain on the way back.



After that, we can grab a bite to eat in Helen if there is time or else just head to Brasstown Bald for the sunset.  Sunset is at 8:27 PM and we can enjoy the fading light as we already start to look for some shooting stars in the skies above.  

It is a good little walk up the Brasstown Bald paved trail from the parking lot to the summit..about 1/2 mile and gains 450 feet.   You can stay in the parking lot if you'd like and watch from there...the views are just about as good...but it's fun to walk up to the very top, so most will probably choose to do this..or you can do both as we will be there awhile.

You can bring a lawn chair or sleeping pad to sit on or a blanket to lay on..  Also bring some extra layers as it can get rather chilly up there in the early morning hours, even in August.

What time we head down will depend on the weather and our mood, but should be about 2-3am at the latest.  

Summary-
Dukes Creek Falls - 2.0 mi 375' ascent
Brasstown Bald- 0.8 mi, 450' ascent

Total: 2.8 mi, ~825' ascent

Required Items to Bring:
  • Water or sports drink
  • Trail Snacks
  • Good hiking shoes/boots
  • Jacket or extra layers
    		• Recommended Items to Bring:
    Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
  • Camera
  • Hat and/or gloves if you get cold easily
  • Headlamp with red light (so as to not hurt our night vision)

    • How to Get There:
    Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):178Mile(s)
    Carpool Departure Time: 4:00 pm
    Carpool Location:   Log in for location
    Carpool Directions:   Log in for directions
    Carpool Cost: Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $71.20 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:


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