Nature’s Echo at November Meeting
The next gathering of the North Alabama Sierra Club is scheduled for Thursday, November 19th in the training room of the National Children’s Advocacy Center at 210 Pratt Avenue. Nature’s Echo will provide the program. Nature’s Echo, a non-profit based in Pine Mountain, GA, uses non-releasable birds of prey and other native wildlife to teach about the valuable role each species plays in our living world. More info will be provided in the next newsletter.
Meetings start at 6:00pm and will be in the training room of the National Children’s Advocacy Center at 210 Pratt Avenue. This is at the corner of Pratt and Meridian streets. North Alabama Sierra Club meetings are open to everyone. Come join us!
Chill-Out on the Mountain!
Ready for a picnic on the mountain? Come join the Sierra Club on Saturday, November 7 for a picnic, hikes and great company in Monte Sano State Park. Stretch your legs in a choice of two morning hikes – easy or strenuous - or bring a chair and lounge, enjoy the outdoor sounds, camaraderie and tantalizing aroma of Chef Steve's Dutch oven chili! Lunch will be served at 12:00 in the small pavilion by the overlook in the picnic area.
A non-refundable fee of $6.00 per person includes regular and veggie chili, blueberry cobbler and drinks. Please let us know by November 4 if you plan to attend so that we will know how much chili to prepare. Feel free to bring a dish to share but it is not required. To RSVP, contact hiker@knology.net. Checks may be mailed to Sierra Club, PO Box 1893, HSV 35807 or we will accept cash at the event. A torrential rain storm cancels. At the Park gate, state that you are going to the small pavilion for the Sierra Club picnic and you should not be charged an entrance fee.
Annual Club Board Meeting
The next board meeting of the North Alabama Sierra Club will be November 12th at the Huntsville Public Library. If you are interested in attending, please contact Liz at hiker@knology.net
Change to Park Fees for Monte Sano
Until recently, you were on an honor system for paying the park fee at the gate when entering the state park. The system has changed and park rangers are ticketing cars when a fee has not been paid. Now there are envelopes at the entrance gates for your fee. You take an envelope, put your fee in, tear off the receipt and hang it on your mirror, then put the envelope with the money in the receptacle. The park fee is $3 each visit or only $1 if you are 62 years+. You may decide to get an annual pass (senior-$30) which is available at the store in the park if you feel this would pay off.
Alabama Sierra Club Annual Retreat October 23-25
Explore, Enjoy, Protect… on 440 acres at the beautiful Living River Center on the Cahaba River. The focus will be on outings with experienced guides, hands-on learning, and exploring the beauty of the river and surrounding area. There will be opportunities to hike, bird, hunt for fossils, and canoe the Cahaba. Lodging and meals will be available on site. For more information and to register, go tohttps://sierraclub.org/alabama/retreat
Wild and Scenic Film Festival
The Alabama Rivers Alliance and Alabama Environmental Council is bringing back the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Friday, November 6 from 6:30-9:00pm at the Flying Monkey Arts Theater in Lowe Mill.
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is the largest environmental film festival in the United States. At the festival, you’ll learn new ideas from a selection of inspiring environmental films with hard hitting topics including bioengineering, water issues, wilderness preservation, citizen activism, and more. You’ll experience the adrenaline of kayaking the wildest rivers, climbing the highest peaks, and trekking across the globe with adventure films from around the world. You’ll explore the issues and movements with leading environmental activists and professionals, filmmakers, and celebrities. And you’ll celebrate the natural and wild world. For more information about the films, go to http://www.alabamarivers.org/events/wildandscenic
The Sierra Club Online
web - http://www.sierraclub.org/alabama/north-alabama
email - na.sierraclub@gmail.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/254833822112/
Outings
Hike Ratings
Easy - Less than 5 miles, no serious elevation changes, no trail obstacles.
Moderate - 5 to 10 miles, some elevation changes or rough trail (rock hopping), or trail obstacles such as creek crossings.
Strenuous - Over 10 miles, substantial elevation change, rocky, obstructed or nonexistent trail.
Exploratory - any event where the leader has not experienced the event; may fit any class above.
Note. Participants of Sierra Club outings are required to sign a waiver.
Tuesday, Sept 29 - Monte Sano Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00 pm sharp from the Monte Sano State Park hikers’ parking lot on Nolen Avenue. There is a small fee to enter the park and all dogs must be on a leash while in the parking lot and during the hike. Though not strenuous, hikes may be vigorous and range from 3 to 5 miles. For directions or questions contact Alan Greene at agreene256@comcast.net
NOTE: There will also be an optional easy hike for new hikers or those that prefer an easier slower hike. For further information contact Liz at hiker@knology.net
Saturday, Oct 3 - Monte Sano State Park Day hike. Easy.
This will be a slower paced hike. Bring your camera! North Plateau Loop and South Plateau Loop-5 miles. This hike around the top of Monte Sano is one of the most scenic in the Huntsville area. It includes nice views of the Tennessee Valley from both sides of Monte Sano. Meet at the Monte Sano Hiker’s Parking Lot at 9:00am sharp. Rain Cancels. For directions or questions, please contact Bob Goodwin at camel40@earthlink.net or call 256-564-8417. A $3.00 ($1-62+ yrs) per person park entry fee will be charged. Bathrooms are available.
Tuesday night hikes return to downtown.
Tuesday, Oct 6 - Downtown Evening Hike. Moderate. Depart at 6:00pm sharp from the parking lot located at 907 Franklin Street. All dogs must be on a leash while in the parking lot and while on the streets when hiking downtown. Though not strenuous, hikes may be vigorous and range from 3 to 5 miles. For directions or questions contact Michael Stewart 256-656-5836.
Saturday, Oct 10 - Tims Ford State Park, TN, Heritage Day Festival. Moderate. Join us for a 10-mile hike by what is considered one of Tennessee’s most picturesque lakes. We’ll cross a few swinging bridges, pass through beech and cove hardwood forest, and follow the shoreline on this in/out series of trail. Afterwards, we’ll stop by the Park’s annual Heritage Day Festival which will include craftsmen, music, dancing, food, art, and more. We will leave the Books-A-Million parking lot in Huntsville at University Drive and Memorial Parkway at 8:00am sharp. Bring good hiking shoes, snacks, lunch, water and bug spray. Rain cancels. For more information, contact Sandy at sandykip@otelco.net or Charlie at charlie.cohen@att.net or 256-361-3837.
Tuesday, Oct 13 - Downtown Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00 pm sharp from the parking lot located at 907 Franklin Street. All dogs must be on a leash while in the parking lot and or while on the streets when hiking downtown. Though not strenuous, hikes may be vigorous and range from 3 to 5 miles. For directions or questions contact Carolyn Brooks at dr_c_brooks@msn.com
Saturday, Oct 17 - Elkmont Rails-to-Trails hike Part 2. Moderate.
Join us for a 6-mile hike of the southern portion of this trail. Meet at 9:30am in the parking lot on the northwest corner where Highway 72 West and Wall Triana intersect (parking lot by Planet Fitness). From there we will drive to downtown Elkmont where we will begin our hike on this historic railroad walking trail. This hike is rated moderate only because mileage is over 5 miles but it's an easy trail. Optional lunch in downtown Elkmont or Athens. For more information or directions contact Liz at hiker@knology.net
Tuesday, Oct 20 - Downtown Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00 pm sharp from the parking lot located at 907 Franklin Street. All dogs must be on a leash while in the parking lot and or while on the streets when hiking downtown. Though not strenuous, hikes may be vigorous and range from 3 to 5 miles. For directions or questions contact David Jackson at 256-603-9081
Saturday, Oct 24 - Sewanee Dayhike. Strenuous.
This 13 mile hike includes the northwest and southwest sections of the 21-mile Perimeter Trail which follows the perimeter of the Sewanee Domain. The perimeter trail features beautiful overlooks and interesting geological formations. The southwest section features Elliot, Otey, Polk, and Armfield Bluff. The northwest section features Rutledge, Cherry, and Dotson points plus the forestry cabin. This is one of two hikes to complete the entire perimeter trail. Bring lunch and plenty of water. Optional dinner afterwards. Meet at the Publix on Winchester Road at 8:00am. For more information contact Tom Burley at tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net RAIN CANCELS
Tuesday, Oct 27 - Downtown Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm sharp from the parking lot located at 907 Franklin Street. All dogs must be on a leash while in the parking lot and while on the streets when hiking downtown. Though not strenuous, hikes may be vigorous and range from 3 to 5 miles. For directions or questions contact Judy Burley at jcburley@bellsouth.net
Saturday, November 7 - Chill-Out's Annual Early Bird Special. Strenuous.
Join Charlie for a strenuous hike that will begin from the picnic area at Monte Sano State Park. Start time and other details will be included in next month’s newsletter. Charlie Cohen at 256-361-3837.
Saturday, November 7 - Chill-Out Easy 3-mile hike.
Join Liz on an easy 3-mile hike before the picnic. We will start our hike at 10:00am at Monte Sano State Park's small pavilion and return to the picnic area in time for lunch. For more info, contact Liz at hiker@knology.net
Saturday, November 7 - Annual Picnic on Monte Sano. Easy and Filling!
12:00 noon. $6.00. RSVP by November 4, hiker@knology.net