Georgia Adventurers Group

Halloween Camping Trip

This is an overnight camping trip off the AT right beside an old GRAVEYARD !

Are you daring... ? Have you ever seen a ghost ? Heard a ghost moan....? Seen weird things in the darkness ....? Heard strange noises ....?

This will basically be a car camping trip... but .. We'll be deep in the woods, where NO ONE will hear you scream in the night. No one will be there to rescue you....

Those hiker's you've heard stories about ....lost on the AT... never seen again...heard of again... we may meet a few of them on this trip.

Would like everyone to unload vehicles….and park vehicles as far away from picnic area as possible. Place tents around the picnic area. There is a fire pit, so don’t put your tent close to where fire will be. Check wind direction, before tenting close to bathrooms…

We'll have plenty of space. A covered picnic pavilion, several picnic tables... a building with bathrooms, but use at your own risk ! LOL... No Water, no showers. Our camp site is perhaps 1000 ft off the AT.... and still within a mile of Long Creek Falls.

Driving Directions : Option #1 Best Way from east Atlanta

Directions from Walmart to Hickery Flatt Cemetery

From Walmart in Dahlonega…. Go about 2 ¾ miles north , Turn LEFT onto Hwy 60 (North Grove St.). There is a sign for Camp Merrill here.

Go over 2 miles, then at a few stores, Turn RIGHT onto Camp Wahsega Road.

Keep straight on Camp Wahsega Road for almost 8 ½ miles, Do NOT hit concrete barricades…. At the gate into Camp Merrill.

Turn RIGHT at entrance to Camp Merrill, this is Coopers Gap Road. Drive 2.8 miles, then Turn a sharp LEFT, this is FS-42.

Stay straight on FS-42… there are a lot of roads that connect to FS-42. Go for 7.8 miles, then you will be at Winding Stair Gap. This is the intersection where most people get lost. There is a National Forest Sign board there, turn RIGHT.

Last time I was there, the sign I placed last year showing FS-58 was still there. You drive for 1.9 miles… BEWARE there are some oil pan busting rocks in the middle of this road.

Turn RIGHT, go through yellow metal gate, this is FS-251. Drive for 2.1 miles then Turn Left, you will see Cemetery sign on tree on left side. Probably see the campsite from here too.
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From East Ellijay, Georgia, best way for west side Atlanta

Turn right onto GA-52 E/52 East, go 5.3 mi

Turn left onto Big Creek Rd, go 8.5 mi

Continue STRAIGHT on Doublehead Gap Rd, 6.8 mi

Just past Fellowship Primitive Church on your left, Turn RIGHT onto Forest Rd FS-58, 3.1 mi

You will drive past AT crossing and Long Creek Falls parking.

Turns a very sharp left onto Forest Rd FS-251, 2.2 mi

Hickory Flats Cemetery, Blue Ridge, GA 30513

GAG Donations: https://www.meetup.com/georgiaadventurersgroup/events/312226259/?eventOrigin=group_calendar

Please read all info below if you are new to this hike. This week we'll do Bowman's Island which is about 4.8 miles with some hill climbing, so not an easy or beginner hike. There is a fee to park, payable at Kiosk at park entrance, if you don't have an annual pass. Restroom at lot. Optional lunch afterwards at our group favorite BBQ restaurant, Cue's:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cue+Barbecue/@34.1711953,-84.1448114,15.25z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x88f59aeaa220c50d:0x161585ab36218518!8m2!3d34.1679899!4d-84.1235961!16s%2Fg%2F1tf669tl?hl=en&entry=ttu

Key Hike info and Policies:

Prompt Departure Policy: Out of respect for the majority of people who arrive on time, we will leave promptly at the designated time, allowing 1-2 minutes of "grace period". If you arrive late, please text or call me at 770-875-4493 and I will let you know where we are on the trail so you can catch up to the group.

What: A moderate-pace hike of about 4 to 5.5 miles, in about 2 hours, with 2-4 short (2-3 mins) rest stops.

When: Every Wednesday at 11AM.

Where: We semi-rotate around to various locations within about 1 hour of Atlanta. Current venues include Red Top Mountain state park (Homestead and Iron Hill trails); Jones Bridge (Johns Creek); Bowman's Island (Buford), Laurel Ridge (Buford), Sawnee Preserve (Cumming), Vickery Creek (Roswell), and Kennesaw Mountain park (a couple of different trails) (Marietta). Additional venues may be added in the future.

Who: Usually about 15-20 people attend each hike, though we've had as many as 30+. We are a friendly group and do our best to make newcomers feel welcome.

Difficulty/Fitness-level: First of all, If you are looking for a fast-paced workout hike, THIS IS NOT THE HIKE FOR YOU. When hiking our pace is generally 2.7mph, though on some flat stretches we might be going as much as 2.9mph. Second, most of our hikes have at least some hill climbing involved, so these are NOT Easy or Beginner hikes.

Please be prepared to abide by these Polices:

1: You need to keep up with the group, meaning if you are hiking in the back you need to keep in sight of the main group. No individually stopping for 5 minutes to take pictures or sight see. We hike as a group.

2: If for any reason you have to leave the group, you need to let me know in advance (in person or via phone/text), and then message me when you are back to the parking lot so we know you are safe.

3: We leave on time (see policy details above)

4: Meetup is not a pickup dating site. Continually bothering/harassing people for dates, phone numbers, etc. will not be tolerated (it's also illegal).

5: This group is friendly and social, and lots of good conversations take place, which is great and encouraged. However, I would ask you to please be careful about sensitive subjects (politics, religion, etc) as not everyone agrees with you and wants to hear that stuff on the trail. Be considerate of people with whom you are conversing, and also those within earshot.

6: Dogs are welcome everywhere we hike except Sawnee Preserve and Laurel Ridge, but are required to be on a leash, and under control, at all times.

7: Please keep your event RSVP up to date. I do not have limits on attendee numbers, so you can add or remove your name from the attendee list as you wish without needing to be concerned about getting or keeping a spot. You can add your name at the last minute if necessary, or remove it the morning of the hike if your plans change. But please don't leave your name on the list and then be a no show - this is inconsiderate and unnecessary on this hike, and against GAG policy.

Please remember to contribute to the funding of GAG :
https://www.meetup.com/georgiaadventurersgroup/events/297772095/