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Past Outings -2008

In addition to our regularly scheduled monthly hikes, this 2008 year we introduced part II of our series of outings called "Where the Water Goes." In this series of hikes and other activities, we went west and followed the water from the headwaters of the Chattahoochee to Utoy Creek with the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance. We then hiked the forest along the Ocoee River and later went White Water rafting on that river. We next hiked the Lionel Hampton Beecher Hills Nature Preserve and went canoeing on the Flint River. Our final hike and outing in the " Where the Water Goes" series will be a 3 day weekend Sept 20, 2008 on Cape San Blas.

January
Desoto Falls Hike, Chattahoochee National Forest, with Bridgette Peterson.

February
Long Creek Falls Hike, Chattahoochee National Forest, with Georgia ForestWatch.

March
Where the Water Goes I - Headwaters of the Chattahoochee, with Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. Moved to April because of the weather

Arabia Mountain Walk & Wonderland Gardens Tour, DeKalb County, with Sheldon Fleming.

April
Newman Wetlands Center Birding Tour, with Atlanta Audubon Society.

Dave Butler, of the Atlanta Audubon Society, hosted a birding tour at the Newman Wetlands Center, an award-winning wastewater treatment plant just south of Atlanta in Clayton County that has become important habitat for resident and migratory birds.

Where the Water Goes II -Atlanta's Chattahoochee Watershed, with West Atlanta Water Alliance.

May 3, 2008 - Where the Water Goes II - This hike through the Lionel Hampton Beecher Hills Nature Preserve, traverses one of Atlanta's largest tracts of greenspace. The 220 acre park adjacent to the 600 + acre Westview Cemetery is a significant wildlife habitat and riparian buffer of Utoy Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River. The hike will follow the concrete (PATH), as well as gravel and natural surface (dirt) trails over rolling hills to stream side bluffs highlighting the challenges and successes of one of metro Atlanta's cleanest waterways. This hike is offered in partnership with Bruce Morton and the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance (WAWA). No trip fee.

May 17, 2008 - Sweetwater Creek State Park - Nature enthusiast and experienced leader Angela Peterson led a tour along the river trail at Sweetwater Creek State Park. Hikers walked through beautiful woods and passed by the historic ruins of a 19th century textile mill and enjoyed dramatic overlooks of Sweetwater Creek shoals and falls.

May 31, 2008 - Forest Ecology Walk & White Water Rafting -We have combined two great activities for this outing to the Ocoee River, on the border of Georgia and Tennessee - you may choose one or both!

From 10:00am - noon, renowned ecologist and historian Quentin Bass, with the US Forest Service, will show you how to read the clues to the dynamic, ever-changing story of the forest. From the heavily disturbed parking area at the Ocoee Whitewater Center, through the recovering forest along the river, to an ancient undisturbed cove with 400 year-old trees, Quentin shows how trees and forest plants interact with each other and cope with geological conditions and the impacts of man. Wildflowers likely in bloom along the trail include various species of Trillium, Bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit and others. Colorful migratory songbirds will have just returned to claim good spring nesting sites. Bring binoculars. This hike is handicapped accessible and will take approx. 2 hrs. covering approx. 2 miles.

We will break for lunch, and those who have reserved spaces will go whitewater rafting on the Ocoee, site of 1996 Olympic white water events.
Trip fee applies for whitewater rafting activity only.

June 13 -15, 2008- Ossabaw Island Weekend - Spend the weekend learning about the natural and cultural history of one of Georgia' largest and most naturally preserved barrier islands! Jim Bitler, of The Ossabaw Island Foundation, will guide our group on educational tours of the island. Natural History topics include: Barrier island formation, tides, beach ecology, marsh ecology, forest ecology, birding, and sea turtles. Cultural History topics include: Native American history, Colonial and Antebellum Ossabaw 1700-1860, processing indigo, sweet grass basket making, The Gilded Age on Ossabaw 1926-1960, Ossabaw as a Heritage Preserve 1978-present.

Our group of up to 20 people will stay in the Clubhouse (originally a hunting lodge) in bunkhouse style accommodations. Trip fees apply for this weekend outing. FULL ( waiting list available)

July 12 - Where the Water Goes, III : Flint River Canoeing and Horace King Covered Bridge Tour

The Flint River runs though west-central Georgia, eventually joining the Chattahoochee River. The Flint is one of the most naturally flowing of Georgia's major Piedmont Rivers there is little industry and no dams along it's course. On this all -day trip we will first drive an hour south of Atlanta and visit one of the few remaining covered bridges in Georgia built over Red Oak Creek, a tributary of the Flint. Dan White, will educate us about its architect, Horace King, an African American builder who secured his freedom before the Civil War, went into the bridge-building business in partnership with his former master, and built many bridges throughout Georgia and Alabama. Built in the late 1800's, the Red Oak Creek Bridge has the longest span of any covered bridge in Georgia, is one of the last remaining examples of King's masterful lattice construction work -- and it's still in use today! We'll also visit President Franklin Delanor Roosevelt's favorite fishing spot along the Flint at nearby Flat Shoals.

We'll then drive to Spruill Bluff State Park on the Flint in time for lunch. After lunch those canoeing will embark from the park traveling several scenic river miles downstream to the take out point at the Flint River Outdoor Center. Those not canoeing may hike in the park or just sit by the river, swimming and enjoying afternoon. There is a rental fee for canoes, or bring your own.

Where the Water Goes IV - Lower Chattahoochee River/Providence Canyon Overnight


August
16th - Snorkeling in the Conasauga River

Georgia Forestwatch hosted this trip with aquatics biologist Jim Herrig, of the Cherokee National Forest. The Conasauga River, located in north central Georgia, is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in the world. Over 90 species of fish, endangered freshwater mussels and other aquatic species call this river home. We explored riffles and pools just as the river exits the Cohutta - - North Georgia's premier Wilderness. In one large pool aquatic biologists have discovered over 45 species of fish, many of which exhibit brilliant colors, particularly during mating season.

OUTINGS - 2006-2007

October 2006 - Appalachian Trail Hike

November 2006 - Newman Wetlands Center

December 2006 - Sweetwater Creek State Park

January 2007 - Old Growth Forest Hike

February 2007 - Where the Water Goes Part 1: Atlanta

March 2007 - Where the Water Goes Part 2: Canoeing the Ocmulgee River

April 2007 - Where the Water Goes Part 3: Canoeing and Camping on the Altamaha River

May 2007 - Wild and Scenic Chattooga River Hike

June 2007 - Where the Water Goes Part 4: Sapelo Island Weekend

July 2007 - Canoeing the Chattahoochee River

August 2007 - Snorkeling in the Conasauga River

September 2007 - Ecology in the City Walk

September 2007 - Cloudland Canyon State Park

October 2007 - Appalachian Trail Hike

November 10, 2007 - Panola Mountain State Park

December 1, 2007 - Cochran Mill Nature Center and Park

 

112 Krog St., Suite 26, Atlanta, GA 30307 - 404-872-9453 ext. 13 - keeping_it_wild@tws.org