Are you ready to rock? This March, get out and explore Georgia’s granite giants – Arabia Mountain, Panola Mountain, Stone Mountain and, new to the event, Kennesaw Mountain – during the annual Monadnock Madness. Come celebrate these four major Atlanta-area monadnocks through hikes, workshops, classes and fitness throughout the month. That includes the ever-popular Triple Hike Challenge, in which hikers summit three granite mountains in a single day. For the first time, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park will join the event as a special “fourth mountain” option, allowing hikers to gain an extra prize. A celebration of nature, wildlife and some darn big rocks, Monadnock Madness will change how you see Atlanta’s wild places. Registration for triple hikes, photography workshops, and mountaintop yoga opens on Jan. 21st (Tuesday).
Georgia’s monadnocks boast a variety of natural wonders and the month-long outdoor extravaganza gives participants plenty of opportunities to discover the natural resources hidden in Atlanta's backyard. See rare plants such as diamorpha, vibrant vernal pools and landscapes unique to the American Southeast. Throughout March, hikers can join in on a variety of activities including photography workshops, mountaintop yoga, a geocaching challenge, various guided hikes and other exciting programs at the parks.
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All hikers will earn a commemorative souvenir after completing the Triple Hike Challenge, and an extra souvenir for taking the challenge a step farther and hiking Kennesaw Mountain. If you are interested in completing the challenge at your own pace, each park offers visitors the option to “hike as you like,” a self-guided tour of the monadnocks. Pick up a passport at one of the parks or online during the month of March. You can also earn a prize through the Monadnock Madness Geocaching Challenge, in which participants use a smartphone to find treasures hidden across the landscape. More information at monadnockmadness.com.
“You meet the neatest people, you are out in nature – it is extremely beautiful,” said Christina, a 2019 Guided Triple Hike participant. “I did not expect to learn so much but I learned a lot, and guess what, at the end: s’ mores!”
Keep an eye out for more information coming soon, including a full list of activities, the full 2020 Triple Hike Challenge passport and details about prizes.
Photos from last year’s Monadnock Madness are also available to view here.
Visit www.monadnockmadness.com for details.
