Mason Mill Park Sunset Hike + Optional Moonwatch & Stargazing

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Mason Mill Park Sunset Hike + Optional Moonwatch & Stargazing

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

NE Atlanta near Clairmont Rd & I-85

Hike: Mason Mill Park Sunset Hike + Optional Moonwatch & Stargazing

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Apr 7 2012 6:00 pm >> Sat, Apr 7 2012 9:00 pm

Registration Opens:

Fri, Apr 6 2012 8:40 am

Registration Cut Off:

Sat, Apr 7 2012 4:00 pm

Event Duration:

3 Hours

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Distance:

4 Miles

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Charlie Cottingham

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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:

10 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Yes

Itinerary:

EVENT PLAN:  Beautiful spring weather with a clear sky is expected Saturday evening, with temperatures in the low 70s at hike time and falling into the 60s after dark. Hope you can join us for this scenic 2-hour hike with a nice bonus just afterward: Sunset + Stargazing + Moonrise from a high dark-sky boardwalk!
  We'll meet at 6:00 PM 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 and back, stopping often to regroup and enjoy the scenery. Our total distance will be about 4 miles with just a few steep sections, and by dusk at about 8:00 we should be back at our cars. At this time all are encouraged to stick around an extra hour, till about 9:00 for some nice views of the stars, planets and the rising moon - see more below.
Bring your well-behaved dog if you like, but please make sure that he or she is leashed and under your control at all times.

ABOUT the PARKS & TRAILS: Mason Mill and Medlock are two adjoining DeKalb County parks just east of Clairmont Road that are conveniently connected via a network of scenic shady hiking/biking trails and boardwalks. The mile-long South Peachtree Creek Trail is the main trail that links them, and like the "Silver Comet" was designed and built to the high standards of the "PATH Foundation." It features a half-mile-long raised wooden deck through the forest canopy above the creek. Another recently completed portion of this trail is an amazing high wooden walkway and deck that cross the railroad tracks and give hikers nice views of ruins of the early-20th-Century "Decatur Waterworks."

STARGAZING BONUS!  My AOC hikers and I discovered last year that the highest point in Mason Mill Park's huge railroad overpass deck is a great spot for urban Stargazing, since there are few glaring streetlights, etc. nearby. It's also quite close to where we park our cars. At the end of this hike we'll include optional stargazing and telescopic & binocular observing from that high deck and I'll have my green laser pointer along for pointing out the lovely spring constellations plus Venus, Mars. Just our expected hike wrap-up time the big bright moon rising in the east from atop the platform (8:29 PM, 99% full moon)!

FOR a COLOR MAP of SOUTH PEACHTREE CK TRAIL and its adjoining Mason Mill & Medlock parklands, etc. click on this link: http://pathfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/south-peachtree-creek-trail.pdf

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!

-Consider bringing a Snack or light Picnic Dinner in your fanny pack or daypack. We can enjoy these at a couple of scenic stops along the way and share any extra food or refreshment items.

-For our 8PM-9PM optional Stargazing bring a pair of Binoculars and/or a portable Telescope if you have them - otherwise you're welcome to use the equipment Charlie brings along. The free downloadable i-Phone Sky Map apps are great too for observing and studying 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 by the stone Restroom building.

STREET ADDRESS and LAT/LON COORDINATES of the Mason Mill Park parking lot where we meet:
1322 McConnell Drive, Decatur, GA 30033
33.8079,-84.3066
May be useful in conjunction with the above Directions. Enter one or the other as your destination for GPS or Google.com/maps. The McConnell Drive address is a "virtual address" that pinpoints the parking lot entrance gate.

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.