I'm IN

I'm out of town for this date, but I would like to post this to the atlanta hikers couchsurfing group :
www.couchsurfing.com/group.html
I really appreciate that this is happening, and though i can't participate i'd love to spread the word and get people out there honoring Meredith. is it okay to repost?

will there be biscuits and punch?? jk yeah sounds awesome hope i can make it. my reason is to get away.

Here's the question: should we meet at Neal's Gap (using the parking lot a quarter mile north on the left) or at Woody Gap?
As much as I want to, I don't think I can spend the night on the mountain :(
That means I can offer a ride . . .
Which raises another question . . . where to meet for an HOV positive experience?

weather looks good for Blairsville for Saturday: cloudy, but highs near 60; at elevation we can expect temperatures 6 - 9 degrees less, about 3 degrees F for every 1,000 feet of elevation . . . good for hiking, but you'll need something warm to put on when we stop for a rest and chat and chai . . . and please don't wear it while hiking! I made that mistake once: it'll fill up with vapor from your sweat and condense into water as it escapes, leaving you really cold if you've got nothing dry to put on and warm you up . . . Sunday the forecast is colder and rain . . .

Hoopla, the loops there are pretty long and I think this crowd would like to amble off the trail a bit and sit down and enjoy the scenery and chat a bit . . . I'd recommend a yoyo from the parking lot north of Neal's Gap, but back to the store at Neal's and then down the road back to the parking lot; or, we could leave a shuttle at Vogel and hike down to the park . . . there's a bit of an uphill early in the hike, not nearly so steep as climbing up to the summit at Blood Mountain, and then it's all down hill to Vogel, I'm not certain of my memory on the mileage . . . but there are some nice overlooks on the way down to the park . . . We could plan to do either, actually: hike to the right around the mountain and find a spot to enjoy and decide later whether to go back to Neal's or hike onward to Vogel . . . that northern side of Blood Mountain tends to be the less traveled side in my experience. There's a risk of missing the shorter turn off to Vogel unless they've put up a sign since I was last there . . . but I'll bring maps: going straight (after turning right off the AT before the real climb to the summit starts) will still take you to Vogel, but its way too long for a day hike (for me!) . . .

OK... I think I've got a full car load on the carpooling deal.

I've never been to this park before so I'm gonna' try to get there a little early but am planning on meeting everyone at 11:00 a.m.

PLEASE take my number 770 - 314 - 2918 and call me Saturday morning if you get to the park and don't see anyone.

Looking very forward to it everyone - thanks so much for joining in!

:~D