What is a Drala Hike? What is Drala? Come on a Drala meditation hike and find out!

We will practice mindfulness/awareness meditation, hiking in silence, and experience nature's vivid energies in the North Georgia mountains. Our hikes are 3.5 - 4.5 miles in length over varying terrain. Trails are rated Easy to Moderate. There may be short, steep uphill sections, with plenty of easy stretches in between. We'll hike quite slowly in silence, stopping several times for sitting practice. Most people that exercise regularly and are considered in good health by their doctor do well on the hike.

The Drala Meditation Hikes are open to anyone with who has had meditation instruction at the Atlanta Shambhala Meditation Center (www.atlantashambhalacenter.org). Meditation instruction at the Shambhala Center is free, and offered to the public on Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings. See the Shambhala Center website for more information.

The point of having quality meditation instruction in advance is that meditation as practiced on the hike is not well suited for beginners. If you've had shamatha or vipassana meditation through another tradition, please contact the hike leader to discuss in advance (generally not a problem for experienced meditators).

This is an "all-day" event. The location will not be determined until just before the hike weekend, as location varies depending upon weather and trail conditions at that time. We'll meet at a rendezvous point in Roswell, and then car pool to the trail-head.

If you live further north, call to arrange a rendezvous point and time to meet the group for the hike. Contact information is given below.

• Pre-registration required by Friday before the hike. See below for details.

Pre-requisites & Fees
As we will be working with various aspects of meditation on the hike, we ask that you receive free meditation instruction at the Atlanta Shambhala Meditation Center before attending a hike. Previous hike participants are welcomed.

Please offer a small donation per rider to cover gas expenses ($5-7 each rider to driver), and sometimes a Forest Service trailhead fee (usually $3 per vehicle), it will bring you good merit!

What To Bring
Mountain weather has many more variables than weather at lower elevations, such as the environs of Atlanta. Generally, the temperature where we will be hiking will run 5-10 degrees cooler than Atlanta. Appropriate clothing for a variety of changing weather conditions should always be carried when hiking in the mountains, including rain gear. Solid, water resistant footwear appropriate for good traction, wet and muddy conditions is highly recommended. Bring your own water/drinks, trail snacks, lunch - which will be on the trail, toilet necessities; and a pack to haul your gear. Bring clothing to cover a range of temperatures, from cool mornings, to windy ridges, to warm sunny afternoons. Bug spray, sun screen, and hat/cap may be needed. Cameras and binoculars can add to your hike experience. Something to sit upon wet ground is highly recommended.

Poison Ivy - though we attempt to stay away from poison ivy, occassionally it may be encountered. If you are allergic to poison ivy, please wear appropriate protective clothing, such as long pants. Note that if you do brush against poison ivy and know it at the time, it can be washed off with copious amounts of water and mild soap, if done within 20 mintues of contact (it takes about 20 minutes before the oil from the leaves will start to penetrate your into your skin).

Please have proper gear and food before departing for the trailhead - there will not be time to stop and shop, as our driving schedule is fairly tight.

• Lunch will be on the trail as a part of our practice.

Respectfullness
We will treat the forest as our meditation hall, and the same protocals will apply to the hike as to the meditation hall. Due to the practice nature of this hike, please do not bring dogs, cell phones, beepers, MP3 players, radios, books for reading, or anything that can be distracting to our practice and other hikers. We ask that you be respectful of others and follow this request.

You're welcomed to use such items when you're in the car enroute.

Times & Logistics

9:00 AM - meet at Roswell rendezvous point. We'll divide up into car pools and caravan to the trailhead. We'll make one pit stop along the way. Toilets may or may not be available at the trailhead - be prepared for a wilderness experience in this regard!

Roswell Rendezvous Point - 1425 Market Blvd., Kings Market Shopping Center, Holcomb Bridge Rd. - take GA 400 North, Exit 7A, head East towards Norcross, Right at at First stop light, between Wachovia Bank and Bank of America. We'll be in the parking lot in front of Marshalls Department store. There is a Burger King across the parking lot with restroom facilities.

Get Map and Directions here: Hiker Rendezvous Location

11:30 AM - Start of hike

5:00 PM - APPROXIMATE end of hike - However, this can vary. We highly suggest that you Not make plans that require you to be back home early that evening - there are too many variables to assure meeting a return schedule.

5:30 PM - Start drive back to Roswell and/or have dinner on the way back

Post Hike
Often on our hikes, people want to stop at one of the unique cafes in the hinterlands for a delightful meal before heading back to the city. We will try to carpool to accomodate return needs. Meal prices generally run $10-$20.