AtlantaOutdoorClub
sponsor
Print-Friendly Version
Add this event to your calendar (Outlook, iCalendar)
Add REGISTRATION REMINDER to your calendar


REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.



Mason Mill & Medlock Sunset Hike + optional Pizza Buffet & Stargazing!




The Basics:
Event Type:Urban Hike
Event Location: NE Atlanta near Clairmont Rd & I-85   Urban Hike: Mason Mill & Medlock Sunset Hike + optional Pizza Buffet & Stargazing!  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Sun, Nov 20 2011  3:00 pm >> Sun, Nov 20 2011 6:00 pm
Registration Opens: Wed, Nov 16 2011 8:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Sun, Nov 20 2011 1:00 pm
Event Duration:3 Hours
Difficulty Rating:D2: Easy to Moderate
Distance:4 Miles
Pace:Moderate
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.
Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:20
Minimum Group Size:2
Number Registered So Far: 17 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:
EVENT PLAN:  Beautiful fall weather is expected for this Sunday afternoon with highs in the mid-60s, hardly any wind, and virtually no chance of rain.
  We'll meet at 3:00 in Mason Mill Park's free parking lot—see detailed directions below.  After introductions we'll hike together via the pretty trail system to Medlock Park, stopping often to regroup and enjoy the scenery.  Our total distance will be about 4 miles with just a few steep sections.  By about 6:00 we should be back at Mason Mill Park.
  After the hike all who are interested can caravan with me a couple of miles eastward on N. Druid Hills Road where we can enjoy the Pizza Buffet at Cici's (just $5 or so for their all-you-can-eat buffet that includes salad and dessert).

OPTIONAL DARK-SKY OBSERVING:  After dinner, I encourage all who can stick around a little longer to return to the Park with me for some stargazing from a high dark-sky public boardwalk near the parking lot. I'll bring my telescope and some star charts and, weather permitting, we can observe Jupiter and its Galilean moons, the North Star, the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, Taurus and the Pleiades, and other nice fall constellations.  [Addendum from Charlie, Fri 3PM:  Although the expected amount of Sun PM cloud cover has increased since I posted this event on Wed, hopefully we can still get in some stargazing for all who would like to join me after dinner for that.  In any case, I'll be glad to offer a brief observing "tutorial" with my constellation maps (and your i-Phone sky apps?) and discuss the above interesting objects and how to find them overhead this month.]

MORE ON THE PARKS & TRAILS:  Mason Mill and Medlock Parks are two adjoining DeKalb County parks just east of Clairmont Road that are connected via a network of scenic shady hiking/biking trails and boardwalks.  The mile-long South Peachtree Creek Trail is the main trail linking the two parks.  Much like the Silver Comet, it features a half-mile raised wooden deck through the forest canopy above the creek. Another high wooden walkway crosses the railroad tracks and gives hikers nice views of historic early-20th-Century waterworks ruins.
   A group of my AOC hikers and I discovered a couple of months ago that the highest point in the walkway is a great spot for urban stargazing, since there are no glaring streetlights, etc. nearby.

Required Items to Bring:

• Wear comfortable well-broken-in Athletic Shoes or Hiking Boots and comfortable Lightweight Clothing appropriate for the weather.  If you have a pair of Trekking Poles, consider bringing them since part of our route will be a bit steep.  A simple Hiking Stick works about as well.

• Hydrate in advance and carry in your Daypack or Fanny Pack a filled Water Bottle or your "Camelbak" or other hydration system.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
  • Consider bringing your Camera. Lots of nice photo-ops!
  • If you'd like to join me for the Cici's Pizza Buffet after the hike bring your Credit Card or a few dollars Cash.

• If you'd like to observe with me after the pizza buffet, bring your Binoculars and/or small Telescope, and if any of you have i-Phones with the cool "pointable" GPS Sky Chart app, we've found that to be a great "tutorial tool" for learning the stars, constellations & planets while observing the night sky.


How to Get There:
Event Directions:FROM the "SPAGHETTI JUNCTION" I-85 / I-285 INTERCHANGE in NE METRO ATLANTA:

1) Take I-85 South toward Atlanta about 4 miles and get off at Exit #91 "Clairmont Road."

2) Turn Left onto Clairmont Road (US-23 southward toward Decatur) and go about 2.3 miles to the traffic light at McConnell Drive. (This is the first light south of the much busier junction and light at North Druid Hills Road).

3) Turn Left onto McConnell Drive, go 0.1 mile ahead and turn Right at the stop sign to stay on McConnell (following signs toward Mason Mill Park and DeKalb Tennis Center).

4) About another 0.1 mile ahead, look for the Mason Mill Park sign on your left and turn Left into the large free parking lot.  We'll gather between 2:45 and 3:00 PM by the stone restroom building.

FOR A MAP or CUSTOM DIRECTIONS from your specific point of departure: Go to Google.com/maps and input as your destination the following "dummy address" of the Mason Mill Park parking lot:
  1280 McConnell Drive, Decatur, GA 30033

Lat/Lon Coordinates of Mason Mill Park parking lot entrance:  33.8083,-84.3078
These may be useful as your entered destination for GPS navigation or for Google.com/maps.


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

Cost Includes:Free Event with Free Parking!

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