Conservation Speakeasy
Thursday, December 4th, 5:00-7:00pm
Pendley Creek Stables, Jasper, Georgia
Overview of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Frank Wright of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC) will highlight the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and how volunteers help manage, maintain and protect the Trail. GATC helps maintain the 75 miles of trail in the Peach State and we will learn more about the work of GATC to keep the trail available for hikers everywhere.

Hike the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain
Saturday, December 13th, 8:00am – 1:30pm

Moderate hike with experienced Appalachian Trail Hike Leader, Frank Wright as we hike to the summit of Springer Mountain. The summit affords (weather permitting) a splendid view to the south and west, including a tract of land purchased by the Forest Service a few years ago to preserve the undeveloped nature of the land in the viewing foreground. Walking down, we will detour to the hiker shelter, to view the steps taken by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club to minimize the impacts of the large number of campers and backpackers on the mountain. We will visit the shelter, designated campsites, moldering privies, bear cables, and water source.

We will meet at 8:00am at the Mountain Conservation Trust of Georgia offices in downtown Jasper (104 N. Main Street) in the parking lot adjacent to the Pickens County Progress offices. We will carpool about thirty miles to the Springer Mountain parking lot located on US Forest Service Road #42 (6.5 miles on a well-maintained gravel road). After parking we will hike .9 miles to the summit of Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail.

We plan to return to Jasper about 1:00 - 1:30 PM. Bring water to drink and snacks. If you wish you may also bring a lunch, or you may elect to eat after you return. Please watch the weather report and dress accordingly. Generally it will be at least five degrees colder on the mountain and windier than in the valley.

About our speaker and hike leader:

Frank Wright is a member of the Mountain Conservation Trust of Georgia (MCTGA) and lives in Big Canoe with his wife, Jeanne. A native of South Carolina, he received a BA from Washington and Lee University and an MBA from Syracuse University. For many years, Frank was the budget officer for the Army’s largest command at Ft McPherson in Atlanta. Upon retirement, he “thru-hiked” the AT in 2000. He joined GATC the following year, and has served as Trails Supervisor (2004-2005) and President (2007-2008). As a section overseer, he maintains the first mile of the AT leading north from Springer Mountain, and will lead a MCTGA hike to the Springer summit on Dec 13.

Please call the Mountain Conservation Trust of Georgia offices at 706-253-4077 or email info@mctga.org for more information or to sign-up for these events. Directions to the MCTGA offices or Pendley Creek Stables are available on the website at www.mctga.org/events.htm.

www.mctga.org