Upcoming GWS Events

Feb 13 Photography at Callaway Garden Whether if you are an aspiring professional or an absolute beginner, Callaway Gardens near Pine Mountain, GA offers lots of great opportunities for getting an interesting photo. Photographers will focus on the Butterfly House and the Sibley Horticulture Greenhouses for subjects. Of course, Callaway is a great place to hike or ride bicycles with many miles of paved trails to choose from if you aren't into photography. Meet at the Discovery Center at 10:30. And for the entire months of January and February, there is no admission fee to the Gardens! ($15 savings) For more info, click on Chris Bryson.

Feb 20 Game Night Start with a short walk around the farm at 4:00, and then join in on a potluck dinner at 5:00, followed by board games and/or cards at Rosemary and Terry Ross's home in Byron.

Mar 12-14 Satilla River Join Trish McMillan and Tom Payne on the Satilla River for a 2 night canoe/kayak trip on this south Georgia blackwater river. Vehicles will be left at a private residence near the take-out. Total length of the paddle is approximately 30 miles.

Mar 13 Stone Mountain Hike We will be hiking around the mountain's base, then possibly up to the top, followed by a meal in Stone Mountain Village. Margaret Clay is the trip leader.

Mar 14-18 Big Lagoon State Park in Florida Enjoy Florida's western most tip of the panhandle at Big Lagoon State Park while camping with friends for a few days, relaxing on the bay. The campground is located near Perdido Key on the bay, and is a very short ride from the gulf beaches. Pensacola, FL and Mobile, AL are also fairly close by. Plenty of opportunity for quiet walks, biking, photography, canoeing or kayaking the shallow bay, fishing, or just relaxing. Contact Bonnie Gehling for details

Mar 24-28 Cumberland Island Camping Spend a few days camping at Sea Camp, strolling the island trails, exploring the ruins, watching the horses, and walking the beaches. Photos from previous trip.

Ferry will leave St. Mary's on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 11:45 and return Sunday, March 28th, 2010 at 10:15 Contact Bonnie Gehling for details. At this time, the trip is full (we only have reservations for 16 people). If you want to get on the waiting list (yes, people do have to cancel sometimes), just email Bonnie.

Mar 27 - Apr 4 Buffalo River Canoe camp down the beautiful Buffalo National River in the scenic Ozarks of northern Arkansas. Canoe through pristine forests, past massive cliffs, and spot wildlife along the nation's first National River. Additional details will be posted here soon. Contact Curt Cole or Basil Youman for more info.

Apr 3 Info Booth at Dauset Trails We will once again have our info booth set up at Dauset Trails's Bluebirds and Bluegrass Festival, near Jackson. Lots of toe tapping to the music, plenty of animals to see, and the chaos of the big Easter Egg Hunt!

Apr 9 - 10 Appalachian Trail Backpacking Neel's Gap to Woody Gap (across Blood Mountain). About 5 miles each day, one night on the trail. Margaret Clay is the trip leader.

Apr 10 Lockerly Gardens Walk Enjoy a day strolling through Lockerly Arboretum in Milledgeville. Hopefully, we will hit it at the peak of azalea season! Corky Hayward will lead the trip, 478-922-3004.

Apr 16 - 18 Ogeechee River Canoe camp for one night, and because of the distance, one night of camping in nearby Magnolia Springs State Park. Trip leader is Terry Ross

Apr 24 The Flint River will be our destination for this daytrip. We will paddle from Hwy 18 to Sprewell Bluff State Park. Previous trip's photos. Trip leader is Curt Cole.

May 1 - 2 Towaliga River Canoe camp (1 night) on the Towaliga, between Hwy 42 and the town of Juliette. Niki Queen will lead. Photos from a previous trip.

May 7 - 9 Cahaba River Help us to explore this "new" river for most of us. Located in central Alabama, the Cahaba is well known for the shoal lilies. Contact Basil Youman for more info

May 14 - 16 Pine Mountain Trail Camp at the pioneer group site and there will be two dayhikes, each about 11 miles long, which will allow hikers to do the entire Pine Mountain Trail at FDR State Park. Tom Payne and Margaret Clay are the trip co-leaders. Previous trip's photos.

May 29 - 30 Chattahoochee River Exact section to be announced. Probably car camping and paddling on both days. Trip leader is Curt Cole.

June 2-13 Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive, & Washington DC Join us for the whole trip or just a portion as we travel, camp, hike, and photograph the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway (celebrating it's 75th year in 2010), then onto Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive, culminating with a daytrip or two to the nation's capital for a whirlwind tour of the sites in Washington DC (most are free). Make your own reservations at the campgrounds, except for Roanoke Mountain, which is first come, first served. The travel plan is as follows: 2 nights at Mt. Pisgah Campground June 2-4 , 2 nights at Julian Price Memorial Campground June 4-6 , 2 nights at Roanoke Mountain Campground June 6-8, 4 nights at Big Meadows Campground June 8-12, and then we will camp on private property in extreme north Georgia for one night on the way home. It should be an exciting trip! For more info, contact Chris Bryson.

June 19 Ocmulgee River We will have a one day paddle on the section of the Ocmulgee immediately below Jackson Lake's dam....rocky for a bit, then flat, then rocky again. Put-in below the dam at the boat ramp, take-out will be below at Wise Creek at Lamar Shoals. Wayne Etheredge is the trip leader.

July 10 Ocmulgee River Clean-Up Spend a day helping to clean up trash from your canoe or kayak on the Ocmulgee near Macon. Foye Tinsley will lead the trip.

July 17 - 18 Flint River Depending on water level, this trip will either be a one night or two night trip on the Flint River. One night will be near Marshallville, or two night near Thomaston. Niki Queen will lead. Photos from a previous trip.

July 24 Bicycle Ride to Musella Break out your bike for an early morning ride to beat the heat. Enjoy a stop about half way there at the ice cream stand and peach market for a break. 30 miles. Margaret Clay is the trip leader.

Sept 2 - 5 Sapelo Island Head to the beach for a weekend of camping on secluded Sapelo Island. Previous photos are here. Limited to 20 participants, so sign up early! Bud Queen will lead the trip.

Sept 10 - 12 Appalachian Trail Backpacking Two nights on the trail. Exact section in north Georgia to be announced by trip leader Joe Mangum.

Sept 17 - 19 Fort Mountain Camp & Jacks River Dayhike Two nights camping at the group site at Fort Mountain State Park, with a dayhike in the Cohutta Wilderness Area to Jacks River Waterfall. A great place for a picnic or photos! Susan Bush has the details.

Oct 2 - 3 Oconee River One night will be spent on the river as we paddle around the Balls Ferry area, near Milledgeville. Photos are here from a previous trip. Joe Mangum will lead the trip.

Oct 15 - 17 Talladega Hiking Camp, or stay in a rustic cabin, or a fancier lodge at Cheaha Park in the Talladega National Forest in Alabama, and join us for few dayhikes along Alabama's highest mountain. Info about Cheaha is here. Trip leader is Curt Cole.