|
Post by surftrip on Sept 12, 2006 12:02:35 GMT -5
Greetings - I was recently turned on to this group my an UltraList member.
I was wondering if anyone had better maps of Kennesaw mountain other than the PDF available at NPS.gov?
I was trying to run the Cheatham route and somehow ended up at Kolbs, or the entrance to Kolbs (not quite sure). Then, saw some other parking lot that took me across some field that reminded me of Land-O-Lakes butter tub.
I was eventually dumped out on a road where I finally found another "entrance" to the park called "pigeons". Boy was that a mistake --- needless to say, I had to hike that as running was not an option (stright-up, single-track to the top of the mountain)
Lastly, from the top I ran down a paved road back to the visitor's center (pavement was not in my plans) which almost killed me (steep, rock-hard and tough on my knees)
Sorry for the diatribe above but I find the mountain not very well marked - that or I'm an idiot. Any other more detailed maps for the thinking-challenged?
|
|
Phil
Dazed & Confused Runner
Posts: 29
|
Post by Phil on Sept 13, 2006 8:48:16 GMT -5
I was trying to run the Cheatham route and somehow ended up at Kolbs, or the entrance to Kolbs (not quite sure). Then, saw some other parking lot that took me across some field that reminded me of Land-O-Lakes butter tub. I was eventually dumped out on a road where I finally found another "entrance" to the park called "pigeons". Boy was that a mistake --- needless to say, I had to hike that as running was not an option (stright-up, single-track to the top of the mountain) Lastly, from the top I ran down a paved road back to the visitor's center (pavement was not in my plans) which almost killed me (steep, rock-hard and tough on my knees) Sorry for the diatribe above but I find the mountain not very well marked - that or I'm an idiot. Any other more detailed maps for the thinking-challenged? You definitely don't want to take the trail up Kennesaw Mountain, at least if you want to keep running. I made that mistake once. When you're heading back North on the trail look for the East trail. Here's a GPS link to one of my runs. tinyurl.com/hn5l5You can see as you're heading North, before you get to Burnt Hickory Rd, the trail heads East then eventually loops around the East side of the mountain. There are some short climbs, but it is all runnable, mostly single track. Just be sure to keep your eyes open for the East trail. It goes off to the right and there's a short steep climb right at the beginning. If you cross Burnt Hickory without getting on the East trail, then you've gone too far and have missed it. -- Phil
|
|
|
Post by janice on Sept 13, 2006 16:39:19 GMT -5
what you don't like going up the mtn? It's good for you!
Cheese had a pretty good map. i think it's in the 2006 pumpkin butt thread.
|
|
|
Post by richcheese on Sept 13, 2006 17:24:50 GMT -5
Hi SurfTrip Referring to the following map: home.nps.gov/applications/parks/kemo/ppMaps/KEMOmap1.pdfI didn't catch where you started, but it sounds like you ran northbound and some how came to Burnt Hickory Rd at the West trail (with a water fountain (unmarked on map) on the south side of Burnt Hickory at Old Mountain Rd). From here there is a steep trail _UP_ Pigeon Hill (to the left of the "2" on the map). Heading north from the water fountain, there are two "outs" before you go up the quite rocky and steep trail over Little Kennesaw Mountain. The first is just past the wooden gangplank style bridge-let just below "The Rock". Look for a sign to the East (easier, wider) trail at "The Rock". If you continue in the direction of Little Kennesaw Mtn (north) you will find a second "out" at what I think of as the "Pigeon Hill East/West" sign. This side trail will also lead you back to the East trail. If you don't go East at either of these side trails, then you're stuck on the rocky and steep trail going over Little Kennesaw Mtn which comes to the road (Kennesaw Mtn Dr) that goes up "Big" Kennesaw Mtn from the Visitor Center. Note: The second "out" is not on the map, but _is_ marked and allowed. I'd place it north of the "2" and about 200 to 300 meters beyond the first out. The map that J. refers to is in a member's only section. I will send you a link.
|
|
|
Post by Johnny B on Sept 13, 2006 21:41:17 GMT -5
Phil, just run the Mt. Run what you can then walk what you have to. It gets easier as you go, then you can go anywhere (provided you do the mt often enough) and enjoy yourself w/o having to worry about the terrain, anywhere... jb
|
|
|
Post by surftrip on Sept 14, 2006 11:14:36 GMT -5
This was my first time to the mountain, so i'll try to explain what I am trying to accomplish to go along with my original post. To the right of the entrance of the visitor center is a path that begins with a water fountain. We started out on that path, running alongside the flag deal happening at the time. A paved road was briefly to our right. Staying to the left, this trail quickly started climbing and became very rooty ...but that was cool. It was early in the run and I was digging the newness. After a very brief portion of that, it forked kind of with a road leading left to a paved road and a wider, more "crowded" trail to the right. followed this trail for a long way as best we could but were never quite sure if we should take other occassional paths off to the right and left... Saw a bunch of guys dressed in some sort of military clothes sitting in some bunker-type thing off to the left. After about --- hmmm, an hour into the run --- we see a sign that says Cheatham Hill, but it's pointing back the way we came. This threw us for a loop. ...but we kept going. Then we crossed a road and saw a sign that said "KOLB Farms trail" and decided instead to turn right and run off into these yellow fields for awhile. These fields eventually dumped us out onto some road and we ran that road until we saw the entrance back into the park where the bouncy bridge is. At 200 lbs, my running partner was afraid i was going to bounce him off {grins} Then somehow we got dumped off to another road. We turned right, ran up the road for a short distance and then saw the path to pigeons trail ...and to answer Janice - yea - I dig the climb but would have liked to have been a little more fresh. Oh well - I must endure this sort of thing if ultrarunning is truly what I want to do. ...so that's it. I suppose my biggest question mark was staying on the trail (or so I thought) only to come upon a sign pointing to my destination as behind me. I was interested in doing the 10.2 miles of the Cheatham Hill loop. Thanks.
|
|
Phil
Dazed & Confused Runner
Posts: 29
|
Post by Phil on Sept 15, 2006 12:34:03 GMT -5
...so that's it. I suppose my biggest question mark was staying on the trail (or so I thought) only to come upon a sign pointing to my destination as behind me. I was interested in doing the 10.2 miles of the Cheatham Hill loop. I've been running the trail for a few years now. Even with a GPS, maps, and getting help from strangers, I still manage to occasionally get lost. Funny that I would be trying to help you to not get lost. Admittedly, I have a sense of direction like an egg beater, but better signage would help. I think it might be a good idea for you to run with GUTS on one of the Tuesday night runs-- Phil
|
|
|
Post by janice on Sept 15, 2006 19:41:50 GMT -5
it's been awhile since i did't know where i was going out at kennesaw. be glad to show you the trail sometime
i'm not sure i fully follow your path, but here are a couple of simple things to remember. from the visitor's center if you stay on the main path (you did this i think) then you will cross a road after 3.5 miles or so - this is Burnt Hickory. Keep going and you will cross Dallas Hwy/Whitlock Rd in another 1.5 miles, shortly thereafter going straight you hit cheatem hill monument. if you cross another road that is cheatem hill road and you are on your way to Kolb farm the farthest southern point in the park. on the way back you essentially pass the same roads although sometimes at different places.
if you don't have a veteran to go with i suggest out and backs for awhile til you get a good feel for it, janice
|
|
|
Post by surftrip on Nov 17, 2006 16:56:35 GMT -5
Janice said, "be glad to show you the trail sometime..."
I would love to take you up on that. I have a hard time with it. I understand and can remember each of the elements you stated; however, I think once I got to Cheatem Hill Road I tried to "loop" by running through that yellow field ...only to end up on that steep, steep pigeon incline. ...but like I said, "cross-training" I suppose.
I am running the Atlanta marathon Thursday, but after that I am kicking my training into high gear to train for my first 50 ...the MS50 in Mississippi. I am registered and fired up to be running with another member of the Ultra List.
Please let me know if/when the group, or individuals plan to run up there. I'd also like to do the Kolbs loop now that my base mileage has increased.
Thanks for all the feedback
|
|
|
Post by janice on Nov 17, 2006 19:46:26 GMT -5
as a matter of fact we have a group run set for sunday dec 17.
you shouldn't definitely attend! we will cover a lot of that ground.
will start at my house j
|
|
|
Post by richcheese on Nov 17, 2006 20:34:03 GMT -5
you shouldn't definitely attend! J's from Corporate, where they all seem to talk this way. In order to get as many idea expressed as possible in as little time as possible "they" have created the "sentence conjunction". This particular sentence conjunction means: "You shouldn't miss it" AND "You should definitely attend" A sentence conjunction should only be translated by a professional! Warning: The alternate sentence conjunction: "You should miss it" is only valid on opposite day. Donald "Yes, I speak Corporate, how may I help?"
|
|
|
Post by Cardmaster on Nov 20, 2006 4:58:50 GMT -5
Great explanation, cheese!
|
|
|
Post by janice on Nov 22, 2006 14:46:11 GMT -5
this is what happens after too many years at corporate
just be glad i didn't go into acronym-speak. here's a corporate sample: IT SC WMS/YMS & TMS MPRs were CRB, DRB, & IRB specific to MA-WMOS & TPM, but not HDS or YOW.
Believe me that sentence makes sense! j
|
|