Monday, April 4, 2016

Jonah McDonald Presents HIKING COBB COUNTY

With the arrival of the hustle and heat of another busy summer in Smyrna, it’s not unusual to long for the sights and sounds of nature—the peace of flowing waters, the trills of flitting birds about their business under the dappled shade of tall rustling trees. If only we had time to take a few days, pack up the kids, fill up the tank and find that spot in the mountains, right?

There is good news for us…fantastic news actually: Smyrna …Cobb County … in fact, much of the greater Atlanta area, is green.

Just in time for spring, the Smyrna Arts & Cultural Council hosted its April First Sunday Lecture series with Jonah McDonald’s introduction to “Hiking Cobb County” at the Smyrna Public Library. Some sixty people of all ages attended the talk to learn about many beautiful nature hikes available in west and north metro and Cobb County. Author of Hiking Atlanta’s Hidden Forests and a ten-year resident of Atlanta, Mr. McDonald proved that nature is not something you only see once a year on vacation. He shared the locations of many “greenspaces” within and around Smyrna—not just the ever-popular Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and Silver Comet trail but lesser known gems too, such as Heritage Park, the East and West Palisades, Cochran Shoals and Lost Mountain. These nearby spots can be enjoyed in a day or even in an afternoon.

Mr. McDonald shared with the group that his goal—besides offering us a mini-vacation—is to increase the community’s participation in the local environment and so foster a sense of stewardship, especially among young people, that will help preserve the city’s vast natural beauty—a beauty that many do not even realize is there beside the malls, the office parks and the parking lots.

So when the heat is on this summer—whether in your backyard or on that conference call—take heart! Families and nature-lovers can spend an afternoon breathing in the scents and sounds of champion oaks and towering poplars, peaceful rivers and rushing waterfalls…and maybe even catch a sight of a little bit of wildlife—all without leaving the city!

Jonah McDonald is the founder of an outdoor guide service providing hiking, camping, backpacking and outdoor education programs throughout the Southeast. As an educator and naturalist, he has designed and taught wilderness and outdoor programs for several Atlanta-area independent schools. McDonald thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2002. Hiking Atlanta’s Hidden Forests was inspired by his many days spent exploring the greenspaces of metro Atlanta.

For more information about green spaces to see in Smyrna, visit: http://hikingatlanta.com/


The "First Sunday" lecture series is held in the Smyrna Public Library Meeting Room and is jointly sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library and the Smyrna Arts & Cultural Council.

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