2012 trail fest dahlonega, georgia

[Swaggmann]

:welcomeAttentionThru-Hikers! The 2012 Appalachian Trail Festival is scheduled for March 16-18in Dahlonega, Georgia. I attended last year’s event and had a blast. We all gotto camp out for free on the soccer field next to the library and they openedup the Gym so we all could take showers! There is a laundromat up the streetand plenty of bars and restaurants. Oh, yea there will be vendors and speakersat the festival to. Be there! Swagman
http://www.dahlonegatrailfest.org/

[Pixelgator]

Thanks for the heads-up! Wish I could have been to last year's.

[Tinker]

Thanks. Unless I find a real job before then I might show up. :) I enjoyed my hike through Georgia. Nice scenery, nice people.

[HeartFire]

Last year they were unfriendly to vendors - only one vendor in each category, and they wanted local vendors - so Big Agnes tents out of Colorado got selected over LightHeart Gear in North Carolina. Also, vendors were not allowed to sell anything - they had to send people over to the local outfitter for all purchases! I don't know how they are structuring it this year, I know they got a bit of flack for the way they had it set up. We (LightHeart Gear) have sent off our email to see if we will be 'allowed' to come, set up and sell tents, Otherwise, it looks like Franklin will be our first hiker festival of the year.
Judy - LightHeart Gear

[Blacktop]

Wow! Well I hoped to go and check out the gear! Was hoping to pick up some new gear for my thru hike?

[lilricky]

Last year they were unfriendly to vendors - only one vendor in each category, and they wanted local vendors - so Big Agnes tents out of Colorado got selected over LightHeart Gear in North Carolina. Also, vendors were not allowed to sell anything - they had to send people over to the local outfitter for all purchases! I don't know how they are structuring it this year, I know they got a bit of flack for the way they had it set up. We (LightHeart Gear) have sent off our email to see if we will be 'allowed' to come, set up and sell tents, Otherwise, it looks like Franklin will be our first hiker festival of the year.
Judy - LightHeart Gear

I heard about that, seemed that some of the hikers were kinda miffed about that too, felt like their choices were rather limited. Let us know if they change their attitude toward "outsider" vendors. I would like to go, but that sort of heavy handed attitude kinda puts me off.

[Sierra Echo]

I will come if I don't get strep again!!

[HiKen2011]

I hope I can attend this yr!

[FatMan]

I will stop by for sure.

Let's hope that the trail fest will be bigger and better than last year. It was only OK at best in its first year.

[tlamb3]

The limitation on vendors and especially retailers was a result of creating the whole Trail Fest in 3 months time. It was a survival strategy. This year there will be more vendors and there will be retailers as well. Any interested vendor or retailer needs to contact thru the website. There will be another blocked street to expand onto. Still will have films, speakers, authors, music, workshops, and trips. Campus camping should be offered again as well as a regular campground out of town. Website: www.dahlonegatrailfest.org

[tlamb3]

Speakers this year are record thru hiker holder Warren Doyle, second person to thru hike the trail in 1951 Gene Espy, section hiker and author Paralee Dawson, and outdoor writers of over 60 trail guides Sandra Friend and Johnny Molloy. Films include TREK: A Journey on the Appalachian Trail and Walking the West: Hiking 2600 Miles from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail.

[Harpua]

how far is this from the trail?

[Tinker]

Thanks. Unless I find a real job before then I might show up. :) I enjoyed my hike through Georgia. Nice scenery, nice people.

Haven't found a job and ran out of money. I'll be a no show. :(

[Sly]

TREK? Four hikers in love with themselves. I can't recall anyone else in the movie. I have the movie on VHS that I'll give to the first one that responds for $3 shipping.


You'd be better off with Southbounders, it's more fun.

[Sierra Echo]

You can bring it to the ruck and give it too me! Bah hahahahahahaa

[Mike Steger]

Thanks for the info....hope to be there

[HeartFire]

They have opened it up to vendors and it's official, LightHeart Gear will be there selling tents. come by and see us, we will have the amazingly lightweight but roomy SoLong 6 for sale.http://www.lightheartgear.com

[FatMan]

how far is this from the trail?About 20 miles from Springer, 13 miles from Woody Gap, and 20 miles from Neels Gap.

[scope]

Site says "shuttles", but doesn't elaborate. I assume there will be some sort of schedule posted closer to the event?

[tlamb3]

Shuttle schedule will be posted on website in March. Showed Southbounders last year and are not repeating films.

[BlakeGrice]

I'll be there!