Saturday, March 7, 2009

Urban Hike #3- Beltline tour

We just finished a wonderful urban hike (the best yet in my opinion) with our guest leaders Angel and Betsy. They took us on a route that began at Stanton park in the Peoplestown/Grant Park area and hike a 6 mile section of the beltline tracks counter-clockwise all the way to Piedmont Park. The weather was amazing- 70 and sunny. I have a good feeling that this won't be the only installment of Beltline hiking that we do this year...

A link to a map of our hike starting at Stanton Park and finishing at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens can be found here:
MAP!

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sad, but true

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Our fearless leader and former train conductor- Angel

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Urban Tree House?

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Tracks near Glenwood Park retail area

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crossing I-20 on Bill Kennedy Way

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Willie- one of 5 canine companions on the hike

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we saw a lot of neat graffiti on this hike

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Kudzu is dormant this time of year, but you can still see how it can dominate certain areas by growing nearly 1 foot/day in summer

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Krog tunnel

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MARTA above us- this was an on-street connection where the planned beltline rails don't quite match up

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more kudzu

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social commentary

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shanty house or art project?... not really sure, but it looked inviting

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ramp

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vampire lips

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bridge over Ponce de Leon at City Hall East. What a cook (and entirely different) way to see the city. I must have passed under this bridge 100 times at least, but never got to see this view.

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This rail line along the eastern border in Piedmont Park was installed in 1924 apparently

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new parking deck at Piedmont Park

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urban creek along NE border of Piedmont Park

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Amazing old growth section of Storza Woods (Botanical Gardens) and the North Woods of Piedmont Park- some of the largest trees in the city are located here including this monster Tulip Poplar

This was a truly amazing hike and I hope to have a whole Beltline series, though many areas are harder to traverse even in the winter/spring and totally overgrown in the summer. Stay tuned for future hikes and feel free to contact me with any trip ideas you may have as well. As always, these hikes are for the community and by the community!

Contact email: urbanhiking@wonderroot.org

5 comments:

  1. My friends and I had a lot of fun on the hike today. Thanks for organizing it and a big thanks to Angel and Betsy!

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  2. When's the next hike?! You're going to all of the parts of the city that I find cool!

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  3. hey eli - thanks for organizing this. i really enjoyed myself on the hike - got a chance to see the city in a totally new light! just put my blog and pics up - http://tinyurl.com/bsokn8

    hope u enjoy your upcoming Sapelo trip!

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  4. Do you know Jeff Morrison? He has an urban railroad hike in downtown Atlanta. It is really great. If you are interested his email is jemorrison@bellsouth.net

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  5. Hi.
    Have you got any pictures of a shack or shanty house? I really would benefit from seeing one close up if you have any you could upload please!

    Thanks.

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