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Bear Creek Nature Center
Sunday, December 7, 2025

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Join GAOC on Sunday, December 7^th, at Bear Creek Nature Center.

A new map! Well, sort of. The Bear Creek Nature Center borders Cochran Mill Park in south Fulton county. Our old members will remember Cochran Mill. The map has been made new with lidar contours and lots of field checking.

We will start and finish at the Bear Creek Nature Center. Do not park in Cochran Mill park - you will never find the start/finish! This park is very close to the airport, SW of Atlanta, outside 285, in the city of Chattahoochee Hills.

More info: The trails in the nature center do not get a lot of use. They are well blazed with paint on the trees, but not very visible on the ground.

There are two large creeks, with waterfalls, old mill sites, broken dams, rock slides, and steep banks. There are four large bridges, which are marked on the map with purple crossing symbols. My advice? If you have a leg that crosses one of the creeks, look for the bridge on the map - run to the bridge and cross - then navigate to your control.

The new map uses the east end of Cochran Mill, which is steeper. The contour interval has been changed to 5 meters (the old map was 3 meters).

Ancient history: This was the first map I made for the club, back in 1995. I mapped hundreds of rootstocks. Just before we were to use the map for the first time, Hurricane Opal came through and doubled the number of rootstocks in the park. Luckily we had just started using computer drafting of maps, so I did a global delete of every rootstock on the map - problem solved. We used the map for years with no rootstocks - didn't miss them. The new map has plenty of rootstocks... Sam

Notes

1. Beginner instruction is available at 9:30am; you must pre-register for the Beginner Instruction class.
2. Pre-paid pre-registration is required. (Registration will open for our volunteer meet directors at 7:00pm on Monday, November 3^rd, and will open for other volunteer coupon holders at 8:00pm. Registration will open to everyone at 9:00pm.) No paper forms or payments will be accepted on-site.
3. Participants will be started promptly at the start time they select when pre-registering. Please come to the start no earlier than 3 minutes before your start time, but be sure to be at the start on time.
4. Runners have the option to run one or two courses using the same e-stick. If you want to run two courses, you must pre-register for both courses. On the pre-registration form, select the "I want to run 2 courses option". After selecting your courses, you will select your start time for your first course. At the event, when you are ready to start you second course, come back to the start to be assigned a start time. You must start your second course before noon.
5. Water will NOT be provided on any course. A camelbak or similar hydration pack is highly recommended. Participants must bring their own compass, whistle, and water.

Courses

Volunteers needed

Event volunteers are always needed and appreciated. Each volunteer is awarded a coupon that may be used for discounted (and early) event registration or items from our merchandise page.

If you are interested in helping out at the start, search and rescue, or control pickup, please select your volunteer position(s) on the registration page or contact the meet director.

Schedule

Runners must select their start time when pre-registering, and will be started promptly at their selected start time. Please come to the start no earlier than 3 minutes before your start time, but be sure to be at the start on time. There is a 3-hour time limit for all courses. All runners must be off all courses by 2:00 pm.

Directions

Fees

Typical fees are shown below. Participants may go out on the course as an individual or as a small group of up to 5 people.

Weather

For current forecast click here.

Meet Director

Sam Smith 770-463-2133