Outdoor Enthusiasts East of Atlanta

4.8•91 ratings

Atlanta, GA, US

637 members · Public group

What we’re about

I started this Meetup in 2022 with the intention of keeping a commitment to myself to keep moving through hiking, which improves:

Physical Health
Hiking is a cardio exercise that can:
·      reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure high cholesterol, and some cancers,
·      improve your sense of balance,
·      build stronger muscles and bones,
·      increase endurance, and
·      help with weight loss.

Mental Health
Hiking can:
·      calm the brain,
·      reduce negative thoughts,
·      increase feelings of positivity & energy,
·      reduce tension, anger, and depression,
·      improve problem-solving skills,
·      release endorphins, which can make you feel happier, and
·      exercise the parts of your brain (hippocampus and the retrosplenial cortex), that help you navigate through life.

Connect With Nature
Hiking can:
·      make you more mindful by awakening your senses to nature, and
·      enhance your mood.

All to say, this Meetup is a means to:
·      improve overall wellness,
·      join like-minded people, and is
·      NOT intended to be used as a dating site.

My hikes are typically rated easy to moderate on natural surface, that include roots, rocks, granite, length is anywhere from 3-10 miles, with an average pace of 2-2.5 mph (not a sprint, not a stroll), breaks as needed, trekking poles encouraged.

Kindly leave your furry four-legged loved ones at home.

I retired in 2023, so I’m old(er), I often schedule hikes during the week, often on Thursdays at a minimum. Start time is usually contingent on the weather: earlier during warm months, later during colder months.

I expect that when you sign up for an event, you will be considerate; in that,
·      you will arrive on time,
·      we start as a group, hike as a group, finish as a group, and
·      you keep your attendance current. If your plans change, you realize you can’t make it, you will update your status to 'not going' so I/we know not to expect you.

Sometimes others will lead, sometimes others will post events, sometimes I’ll post “FYI ONLY” events that I may not attend, but believe others would like to be made aware of.

I’m not professionally trained, I appreciate your company when/if schedules permit, join me at your own risk. By voluntarily participating in an event, you understand -- your safety is in your hands -- prior to attending, you as well as your guests are responsible for doing your own research to determine if an outdoor activity is compatible with your health and/or skillset, and you alone are responsible for discerning what items are necessary to carry with you. Organizers nor other members of the group are responsible or to be held accountable if an incident including accident or theft occurs.

Lastly, for those who don't realize, we organizers must pay to use the Meetup platform and the more members we have, the more we’re charged, so I prefer to maintain a smaller group than most. If you become inactive for more than two years, you risk being removed. If that happens, you are more that welcome to re-join... any time!

I will never ask you for monetary contributions to supplement my commitment to myself.