GAOC invites you to join us for another joyous day of orienteering at the North end of West Palisades, off Akers Mill. Beat the spring bloom and enjoy this beautiful Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA) park.
In addition to our standard courses, Martha has “invented” yet one more fun event – Trail NO O, which will be an advanced contour only… a real test of your O skills.
It is always a thrill for me to try and guess the history of the park by noting the old “home sites”, indicated by jonquils and English ivy. Here we have the old Akers Mill site on Rottenwood Creek at the westernmost part of the park (be careful!).
You may get to visit many of the historic “rifle pits” which are found overlooking the river. Listen for those ghosts.
Embrace the sting of the greenbrier, proof of life, and the ground hugging Muscatine vines which can help you reconnect with “Mother Earth”!
Be mused by the puzzles to be solved, while enjoying the wonderful views.
Remember, parking will be tight, so please follow the directions. Drive down the road, turn around and park on the right where you can.
You may run more than one course, as long as you are back on time. I am moving very slowly now – if I must come find you!
North Parking Area
From Atlanta, take I-75 N to I-285 East. Take exit 22 off of I-285, turn right. Turn at next right onto Akers Mill Rd and cross river. Turn left in 0.7 mi on Akers Dr at Water Wheel. Follow signs to park.
From I-285 West. Take exit 22. Go straight off of the ramp through the first light. Turn left at the next light (2nd light). Turn right onto Akers Mill Rd, cross river. Turn left in 0.7 mi on Akers Dr at Water Wheel. Follow signs to park.
GAOC offers beginner instruction at 10am at all local meets. Runners then may start their course any time between 11am and 1pm with a 3-hour time limit for all courses. All runners must be off the course by 3pm.
Typical fees are shown below. Participants may go out on the course as individuals or with a group. E-chip rental is required if you are running Yellow through Red and you do not own your own stick.
| Members | $7 |
| Non-members | $10 |
| Additional Maps | $3 |
| CRNRA Parking Fee | $3 |
| E-chip Rental | $3 |
Map Scale 1:10,000
| Course | Description | E-punch | Length | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | Short beginner course | No | 1.2 km | 60 m |
| Yellow | Long beginner course | Yes | 1.9 km | 125 m |
| Orange | Intermediate course | Yes | 3.3 km | 165 m |
| Brown | Short advanced course | Yes | 3.3 km | 140 m |
| Green | Medium advanced course | Yes | 3.3 km | 190 m |
| Red | Advanced course | Yes | 4.5 km | 185 m |
| Trail No O | Contour-only map | Yes | 3.4 km | 150 m |
For current forecast click here.
Bill Farrell & Martha Carr 678-451-4222