This blog is designed to help members of the Pathfinders growth group at The Bridge Church in Cleveland Ga communicate and share information and trip stories.
Ah yes, stories of adventure. Where to begin? The 43 mile two day hike from Franklin NC to Hiawassee Ga? Or the one where one guy showed up in jeans and another with a pack full of celery? Or perhaps the one about the ride home in a squad car with a carsick partner? Hmmm. This deserves some thought.
Or you know, maybe I should save some of these stories for upcoming trips. Every good adventurer has them, stories of trips that are funny now, but maybe not so much at the time. And if you don't have one, I'm sure we can help with that. You see, my goal here is not to put together simple trail hikes or a tubing trip thru Helen with 200 other people. I want to push ourselves a little bit. Not so far that anyone comes home with new scars or tattoos, but maybe something that challenges us a little and gets the blood pumping. Adam suggested we introduce the first trip by letting everyone know that they will need to grab their parachute and a ping pong padel and follow us. That's kind of the spirit here, although maybe not quite that extreme.
We're getting a bit of a late start on this group, but that is because it has gotten a lot more response than we originally thought it would. It seems there are a lot of people seeking a bit of adventure, and we're happy to see that. However don't expect Adam and I to be the ones putting all these trips together. This is an interactive group. If you have something you would like to do (a fishing trip, perhaps, or a kayak trip) bring it up here. We're trying to put together a calendar page on which we can post all of the activities, since not everybody will be interested in every trip. By "we", of course, I mean Adam. I'm nearly computer illiterate and wouldn't have a clue how to do that. It took me 3 tries to find this place.
What I do know quite a bit about is hiking and camping. Others here most certainly have other areas of expertise and I'm looking forward to trying out some new things myself. We've heard some great ideas and as the weather improves there are going to be some interesting events. There is talk of a tubing trip in somewhat larger water than the Hooch in Helen that involves kayak paddles. I'm currently looking for a place we can go for a shooting day (because nothing says "Georgia" like a couple dozen people in a church group and a bunch of guns), preferably on private property so we don't have to pay range fees.
We're also looking to have a "gear list" where we can post what kind of equipment we have that we can share for some of these adventures. This should allow up to try some new things with minimal expense. For instance, I have lived in Georgia for nearly 10 years and don't own either a mountain bike or a kayak. I do however have 4 backpacks and 3 sets of hiking sticks along with a couple of tents, 3 camp stoves, two sleeping bags and a couple of good maps and a compass. Remember those? It's what we used to use to figure out where we were before we had GPS on our cell phones.
So that gives you the basic idea. I think this group is going to be a lot of fun. What we'd like to see is the group "growing legs" in that it doesn't stick to the semester plan most of the other groups have, but just takes on a life of it's own and continues to grow. There will be opportunies to try new things, push your limits, and even to lead. So welcome to Pathfinders! This is the starting point, where we go from here is entirely up to you. What do you say we start with some introductions, and maybe a story or two? Let's start with one of yours.
Richard and I are really looking forward to this group! (I tried posting something last night and not sure why it didn't pop up as a thread.) We love to ride motorcycles and would be interested in trying to organize some kind of adventure doing that if there are enough people interested. Maybe an overnight campout with it? Maybe sometime in May before it gets too hot? Also, we love to shoot and are totally there for the gun fun and all the other cool stuff you guys have mentioned! We have several tents, camp stoves, lanterns, and other camping equipment. Would also like to do some geocaching in the area. There are tons of them around this area.
I'm working on a trip for mid March to coincide with the start of the thru hiker season. The trip will consist of two parts: The first being an overnight camp near Springer Mountain on a Friday night for those equipt to do that. The second is a hike staring Saturday morning. The campers and day hikers will meet at the Springer Mountain parking area to begin the 8.8 mile hike down to Amicolola Park.
A little background:
College spring breakers and many others begin their attempt at a thru hike at the Amicalola Approach Trail. This is a very difficult climb up the back side of Springer Mountain where the AT actually begins. Many would be thru hikers start here with a huge brand new pack full of way too much gear they have never used. Due to the difficulty of the climb, many will begin to doubt themselves and their aspirations, and it is common for them to stop and begin discarding items they decide they do not want to carry along the sides of the trail. Many just give up and go home earning this trail the name "The Quitter's Stretch".
We will be doing this stretch the easy way, from the top down. So even though it is not a particularly difficult hike, it is nearly 9 miles, so you should be prepared for that. The idea is that we will begin with nearly empty packs, carrying little more than water and lunch while we share stories of past adventures and pick up the plethera of discarded gear. It's a great way to suppliment your equipment with anything from cook sets and bed rolls to other silly items such as (in Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods") a case of cream soda. I've seen some really interesting items on the trail, ranging from cast iron skillets to full sized (usually still in the original package) camping tents, neither of which anyone in their right mind would be willing to carry all the way to Maine.
Things you will need:
A good pair of boots ALREADY BROKEN IN. I can not stress this enough. Tennis shoes will not offer the needed ankle support and the tops are low enough to collect rocks and twigs that will rub your feet raw. If you are going to hike, get boots. Seriously. And wear them for a while before you hit the trail. I have no interest in carrying anyone out of the woods.
A Backpack. If you do not have one, don't worry, there are plenty of us who have extras. I have 4 of them in various sizes. Jeff Shelnut probably has twice that. No need to go out and buy one yet, as you always buy your pack LAST after you know how much stuff you intend to carry.
Clothing. As we get closer to the trip we will get an idea of what the conditions will be. Layers work best as they are adaptable. I go with a thermal shirt (UnderArmor is great, but regular thermal shirts you can pick up at WallyWorld will work just fine. I wear a T-shirt over that, and a water resistant wind breaker over that. NO JEANS. Jeans are like sandpaper on a hike, and when they get wet they take forever to dry. My favorite hiking pants are convertible cargo pants. I have UnderArmor pants as well, but any kind of close fitting leggings are fine. I have a light pair I used to wear on the bike. As far as rain gear goes, we'll just have to wait and see if it will be needed or not.
I'll get more details together soon, and propt Adam about the calendar page.
Just saw a sign at duncan Bridge and Hwy 255 today for ziplining. Anyone else seen it? If anyone is interested, please get some information on it. I am unfortunately (or not, depends how you look at it) overbooked and understaffed at the shop rght now, so I have very little time to look in to it. any help would be appreciated.
A couple of other things, the Appleseed shoot http://eventful.com/toccoa/events/toccoa-ga-appleseed-april-23-2011-/E0-001-036681314-5 has been postponed until April 2-3. This is a family event centered around .22 rifles and includes Revolutionary War history stuff as well. A good time, and cheap to boot. If you are interesting in shooting (especially if you want to involve your kids) check this out.
Also, a local group is organizing a Wilderness First Responder course for the week of spring break here in White County. This will be a 4-5 day intensive course that will end with nationally recognized certification as a Wilderness First Responder. I'm taking the course (good skills to have, especially for some of the things we will be doing in this group) and if we can get 20 people to do it the total cost will be $200 each. That's an incredible deal for what we will be learning. Last I heard there were 12 confirmed for the course, let me know ASAP if you would like to participate.
Ah yes, stories of adventure. Where to begin? The 43 mile two day hike from Franklin NC to Hiawassee Ga? Or the one where one guy showed up in jeans and another with a pack full of celery? Or perhaps the one about the ride home in a squad car with a carsick partner? Hmmm. This deserves some thought.
ReplyDeleteOr you know, maybe I should save some of these stories for upcoming trips. Every good adventurer has them, stories of trips that are funny now, but maybe not so much at the time. And if you don't have one, I'm sure we can help with that. You see, my goal here is not to put together simple trail hikes or a tubing trip thru Helen with 200 other people. I want to push ourselves a little bit. Not so far that anyone comes home with new scars or tattoos, but maybe something that challenges us a little and gets the blood pumping. Adam suggested we introduce the first trip by letting everyone know that they will need to grab their parachute and a ping pong padel and follow us. That's kind of the spirit here, although maybe not quite that extreme.
We're getting a bit of a late start on this group, but that is because it has gotten a lot more response than we originally thought it would. It seems there are a lot of people seeking a bit of adventure, and we're happy to see that. However don't expect Adam and I to be the ones putting all these trips together. This is an interactive group. If you have something you would like to do (a fishing trip, perhaps, or a kayak trip) bring it up here. We're trying to put together a calendar page on which we can post all of the activities, since not everybody will be interested in every trip. By "we", of course, I mean Adam. I'm nearly computer illiterate and wouldn't have a clue how to do that. It took me 3 tries to find this place.
What I do know quite a bit about is hiking and camping. Others here most certainly have other areas of expertise and I'm looking forward to trying out some new things myself. We've heard some great ideas and as the weather improves there are going to be some interesting events. There is talk of a tubing trip in somewhat larger water than the Hooch in Helen that involves kayak paddles. I'm currently looking for a place we can go for a shooting day (because nothing says "Georgia" like a couple dozen people in a church group and a bunch of guns), preferably on private property so we don't have to pay range fees.
We're also looking to have a "gear list" where we can post what kind of equipment we have that we can share for some of these adventures. This should allow up to try some new things with minimal expense. For instance, I have lived in Georgia for nearly 10 years and don't own either a mountain bike or a kayak. I do however have 4 backpacks and 3 sets of hiking sticks along with a couple of tents, 3 camp stoves, two sleeping bags and a couple of good maps and a compass. Remember those? It's what we used to use to figure out where we were before we had GPS on our cell phones.
So that gives you the basic idea. I think this group is going to be a lot of fun. What we'd like to see is the group "growing legs" in that it doesn't stick to the semester plan most of the other groups have, but just takes on a life of it's own and continues to grow. There will be opportunies to try new things, push your limits, and even to lead. So welcome to Pathfinders! This is the starting point, where we go from here is entirely up to you. What do you say we start with some introductions, and maybe a story or two? Let's start with one of yours.
i'm not going 43 miles but i'm ready to give Yonah a try...or rafting, or camping, or rock climbing.
ReplyDeletewhat's the schedule?
excited about this group!
Richard and I are really looking forward to this group! (I tried posting something last night and not sure why it didn't pop up as a thread.) We love to ride motorcycles and would be interested in trying to organize some kind of adventure doing that if there are enough people interested. Maybe an overnight campout with it? Maybe sometime in May before it gets too hot? Also, we love to shoot and are totally there for the gun fun and all the other cool stuff you guys have mentioned! We have several tents, camp stoves, lanterns, and other camping equipment. Would also like to do some geocaching in the area. There are tons of them around this area.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on a trip for mid March to coincide with the start of the thru hiker season. The trip will consist of two parts: The first being an overnight camp near Springer Mountain on a Friday night for those equipt to do that. The second is a hike staring Saturday morning. The campers and day hikers will meet at the Springer Mountain parking area to begin the 8.8 mile hike down to Amicolola Park.
ReplyDeleteA little background:
College spring breakers and many others begin their attempt at a thru hike at the Amicalola Approach Trail. This is a very difficult climb up the back side of Springer Mountain where the AT actually begins. Many would be thru hikers start here with a huge brand new pack full of way too much gear they have never used. Due to the difficulty of the climb, many will begin to doubt themselves and their aspirations, and it is common for them to stop and begin discarding items they decide they do not want to carry along the sides of the trail. Many just give up and go home earning this trail the name "The Quitter's Stretch".
We will be doing this stretch the easy way, from the top down. So even though it is not a particularly difficult hike, it is nearly 9 miles, so you should be prepared for that. The idea is that we will begin with nearly empty packs, carrying little more than water and lunch while we share stories of past adventures and pick up the plethera of discarded gear. It's a great way to suppliment your equipment with anything from cook sets and bed rolls to other silly items such as (in Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods") a case of cream soda. I've seen some really interesting items on the trail, ranging from cast iron skillets to full sized (usually still in the original package) camping tents, neither of which anyone in their right mind would be willing to carry all the way to Maine.
Things you will need:
A good pair of boots ALREADY BROKEN IN. I can not stress this enough. Tennis shoes will not offer the needed ankle support and the tops are low enough to collect rocks and twigs that will rub your feet raw. If you are going to hike, get boots. Seriously. And wear them for a while before you hit the trail. I have no interest in carrying anyone out of the woods.
A Backpack. If you do not have one, don't worry, there are plenty of us who have extras. I have 4 of them in various sizes. Jeff Shelnut probably has twice that. No need to go out and buy one yet, as you always buy your pack LAST after you know how much stuff you intend to carry.
Clothing. As we get closer to the trip we will get an idea of what the conditions will be. Layers work best as they are adaptable. I go with a thermal shirt (UnderArmor is great, but regular thermal shirts you can pick up at WallyWorld will work just fine. I wear a T-shirt over that, and a water resistant wind breaker over that. NO JEANS. Jeans are like sandpaper on a hike, and when they get wet they take forever to dry. My favorite hiking pants are convertible cargo pants. I have UnderArmor pants as well, but any kind of close fitting leggings are fine. I have a light pair I used to wear on the bike. As far as rain gear goes, we'll just have to wait and see if it will be needed or not.
I'll get more details together soon, and propt Adam about the calendar page.
Just saw a sign at duncan Bridge and Hwy 255 today for ziplining. Anyone else seen it? If anyone is interested, please get some information on it. I am unfortunately (or not, depends how you look at it) overbooked and understaffed at the shop rght now, so I have very little time to look in to it. any help would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteA couple of other things, the Appleseed shoot http://eventful.com/toccoa/events/toccoa-ga-appleseed-april-23-2011-/E0-001-036681314-5
has been postponed until April 2-3. This is a family event centered around .22 rifles and includes Revolutionary War history stuff as well. A good time, and cheap to boot. If you are interesting in shooting (especially if you want to involve your kids) check this out.
Also, a local group is organizing a Wilderness First Responder course for the week of spring break here in White County. This will be a 4-5 day intensive course that will end with nationally recognized certification as a Wilderness First Responder. I'm taking the course (good skills to have, especially for some of the things we will be doing in this group) and if we can get 20 people to do it the total cost will be $200 each. That's an incredible deal for what we will be learning. Last I heard there were 12 confirmed for the course, let me know ASAP if you would like to participate.