Continue reading »]]> Sunday 8/17/08
Trip: ~3 miles
Elevation: 1686ft (max) 1025ft (min) 761ft (total accent)
Time: 1h 11m
Temperature: 85 F
Wind: Light breeze
Conditions: Clear, hummid, no precipitation
Pack Weight: <10lbs (day hike)

Summary:

This is one of my “workout” tracks I like to do at [Stone Mountain State Park]. You launch straight up right from the trail head and don’t stop until you reach the public pavilion at the summit (refreshments and bathrooms available). Unlike [Kennesaw Mountain], the entire track is over natural granite exposed on the mountain’s western face. Technically, it’s an easy hike with little or no boulder scrambles but it can be taken at any speed with as much or as little pack load as you want so it offers a versatile workout for all levels.

Stone Mountain Summit Trail

Continue reading »]]> Sunday 7/27/08
Trip: ~2 miles
Elevation: 960ft (max) 870ft (min) <150ft (total accent)
Time: 1h 30m
Temperature: 90 F
Wind: Light breeze
Conditions: Clear, no precipitation
Pack Weight: <10lbs (day hike)

Summary:

We finally had a chance to get the whole family out for a short hike this weekend. Our Golden Retriever hasn’t had a chance to go swimming in months so we thought it would be nice to take her out to one of her favorite swimmin’ holes: [Stone Mountain State Park].

This is just one of several trail options offered at the park. We like the Venable Lake Loop because it has several easy entry points for the dog to go swimming and just enough length to make it worthwhile as a leasurely hike.

Venable Lake Trail Loop