Dahlonega, Georgia Virtual Trail Fest ScheduleAll events will be streamed online at the times listed.Use the registration link for each event to register. Limit 500 participants. Click here for the Trail Fest Silent Auction Outdoor gear, Hike Inn, AT pottery, wine, and cider |
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Saturday Sunday |
Speakers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Film Festival | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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DTF presents adventure films from REI, Merrell, and Hirsch. Lay in a supply of your favorite movie snacks and fix a pitcher of drinks, settle back, and join us for a evening of adventure from around the world. |
Workshops | ||||||
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On short backpack trips, ever wanted more than a package of freeze dried food? This workshop will cover backcountry baking and hearty, healthy meals cooked on a fire or a stove. Skillet pizza; baked, stuffed cornish hens; blueberry muffins; hobo dinners; cornbread; no cook strawberry cheesecake; and more! Tom Lamb is the chairman of the Dahlonega Trail Fest. He taught backpacking, camp cooking, canoe camping, advanced backpacking, and other outdoor classes at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for 25 years before moving to Dahlonega. He now devotes his retirement years to maintaining the Appalachian Trail with the Georgia Applachian Trail Club and canoeing around north Georgia. |
![]() | An REI Outdoor School instructors will prepare you for this backpacking season by making your pack more comfortable and manageable than ever before! We'll start by teaching you what to look for in a proper fit. You'll also learn how to load your pack to balance the weight for specific trail conditions and better organize your gear. Then we will show you how to make adjustments on the trail to keep your back from aching and allow you to get more out of your experience in the wilderness. |
![]() | Learn the essentials of camping in bear country. A professional instructor from REI will discuss bear awareness and avoidance strategies. The instructor will also virtually demonstrate a variety of bear hang techniques and food storage options. This class is a must for anyone planning at trip into bear country. |
![]() | Annie from Merrell will be covering the best practices for trail running. She has been running on the trail for the past 4 years. With her personal experience and her expertise in the industry, she's going to go over the best way to find the perfect trail running shoe. What to look for, what makes up a great trail running shoe and her personal favorites. |
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Learn the ins and outs of trail maintenance. All 2,198 miles of the AT is maintained by section maintainers, volunteers of local clubs. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club maintains 128 miles of trail in the state. GATC member Bill Bryant will go through the safety concerns, tools, and techniques used by maintainers. Bill currently serves as Information and Education Director for the GATC and is Chair of the Trails and Camping Committee for the ATC`s Stewardship Council. He and wife Margaret are Section Maintainers in Georgia. Bill was an ATC Ridgerunner for three years and has been a Trail Ambassador with the GATC for several years. A section hiker, Bill has completed more than 1,600 miles of the A.T., from Georgia through Pennsylvania with more hikes to come. Bill served with the US Navy for 6 years and worked for AT&T before retiring from Hewlett-Packard in 2014. Bill has 4 children and three grandchildren who keep him busy away from the trail. |
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PADDLE Chestatee River 1 mile south of Dahlonega Square |
Rent a canoe or kayak or bring your own. Appalachian Outfitters will handle your boat rental or shuttle your boat for $10. The river trip is a easy 6 miles with some fun class I rapids and good for beginners. AO is open for trips Thursday through Monday through September. Appalachian Outfitters is having the usual Used Canoe and Kayak and paddling equipment sale on September 26 at 9 a.m. |
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"MOUNTAIN BIKE Jake Mountain 13 miles from Dahlonega Square |
Jake Mountain Trail starts at an intersection with the Bull Mountain Connector near the Jake Mountain trailhead. The trail starts with a slight climb and then a big descent into Jones Creek. There is a ford across the fairly large Jones Creek. The trail on the north side of the creek is pretty steep. The rest of Jake Mountain is rolling singletrack with intersections. Stay straight to end the trail on USFS Rd 28. The trail links to Black Branch via Beaver Pond and USFS Rd 28A. From Dahlonega Square- 11 miles to Jake Mountain Trailhead. Take Main Street west .6 mile to Morrison Moore Parkway (Hwy 52/9). Turn right and follow to the convergence of Hwy 52 and Hwy 9 in 3.6 miles. Bear right onto Hwy 52. In 4.6 miles, turn right onto Nimblewill Church Road at the old Grizzle's Store. In 1.7 miles, turn right into Jake Mountain Trailhead (NF 299) parking at sign. The trail leaves the road at the end of the driveable road or on the left immediately upon entering the parking lot. |
Contact us at: info@dahlonegatrailfest.org | Updated on September 11, 2020 |
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