Georgia Adventurers Group

Hiking_Kennesaw Mountain Trail

The Kennesaw Visitor Center- Kennesaw Mountain Trail to the Summit and then back down Kennesaw Mountain Trail. Total 2 miles. Depending on your fitness level, this may be easy/moderate/intense. Generally, 2-3 miles per hour/expect 1 hour.

Bring water
Wear hiking shoes/boots if you have them.

Dogs on leashes are welcome. We may have our 2 wiggle-butts.

We will meet at the Visitor Center Parking Lot at 900 Kennesaw Mtn Dr.

We will leave promptly at 6:30pm; please be on time. Allow additional 5-10 minutes if you need to park in the overflow lot and walk over.

***Parking pass is required (per vehicle) for Kennesaw Mtn Parking Lots*** - more here: https://www.nps.gov/kemo/planyourvisit/fees.htm.

If you'd like to meet us ahead of time and car pool to the parking lot, coordinate at least 1 day before please.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Please Support our Club with a Donation :
https://www.meetup.com/georgiaadventurersgroup/events/297772095/

Please read all info below if you are new to this hike. This week we'll hike one of two routes I do at Kennesaw. We'll leave from the same lot we use for the Kolb's Farm loop, but instead hike the Hardage Mill and Noses Creek loops. Total distance is about 5.25 miles, with hill climbing, so not an easy or beginner hike. Optional lunch after at a Taco Mac on Dallas Hwy:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Taco+Mac+Marietta/@33.9473044,-84.6325326,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88f53e756aa86f31:0x24fbcb2811d3efd4!8m2!3d33.9473!4d-84.6299577!16s%2Fg%2F1tltn6gz?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 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 20-25 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. 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/

We will be hiking the Georgia section of the AT. This hike will start at Neels Gap and cross over to Hogpen Gap.

The people who have been actively hiking on the quest to complete the Georgia AT will be given priority RSVP's... join the Wait List, if there are openings I will allow others to join before the event date.

This hike will be a (6.9) mile This is another one of my favorite parts of the AT in Georgia. This section has several beautiful overlook views.

Dropping out of this event the week of the event will greatly affect your future hikes with me... Do NOT be a NO SHOW on events that people are on the Waiting List wanting to go. It is NOT fair to others for you to hold a spot, then decide you don't want to go for whatever reason.

This will be a VERY difficult hike, even if we go slow. If you are not capable of doing long hikes with elevation gains over 1,300 feet do NOT attempt this trip.

These will be slow hikes ( EXPECT SLOW). Our Goal is to let people that don't get to enjoy the trails, have a chance to get out and see the beauty that we enjoy.

If you are an experienced hiker, I would ask that you keep within the group to help with the new hikers. Tell your stories... talk about gear... help them figure out what it took all of us old timers years to figure out.

Bring a lunch, trail mix, snacks, and PLENTY of water or Gatorade.

Be sure to bring Hiking poles, rain gear just in case it rains never know about the weather

We're meeting at Mansell, to give people a chance to carpool, to save the expense and time. Normally the cost is computed by total mileage of trip, divided by mpg of vehicle driven and then divided between riders. Some clubs use .32 per mile, but regardless it‘s cheaper to carpool than to drive yourself. PLEASE help your driver with gas expenses on the trip. If you want to place yourself in a carpool ahead of meeting, just make a comment on this event web page, and I’m sure one of the driver’s will save a place for you. We’ve never left anyone behind due to lack of carpooling space

Please.... No political, religious or controversial topics during the hike.

Any questions, feel free to make a comment or message me