Basic Tent Camping Equipment and Procedures
Have you been wanting to do some tent camping but didn't know what equipment to get or how to get started? Come join us Thursday, April 28 at the next meeting of the North Alabama Sierra Club to learn all about it. Frazier Douglass will present several practical tips and suggestions for families that want to enhance their overall comfort and enjoyment of tent camping trips to developed state and federal campgrounds. Many of these suggestions are based on over 50 years of tent camping experience and cannot be found in any other camping book. Some suggestions add important details for well-known generalizations while other suggestions correct popular misconceptions. In addition, the program will present several photographs of basic tent camping campsites and demonstrate equipment and procedures that are not described in any other book. The program will also explain how Alabama State Parks compare with other state parks in the Eastern United States.
Frazier Douglass was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama and currently lives in Madison, Alabama. Since the age of twenty, he has been an avid tent camper—at first for economic reasons but later for enjoyment— and has camped in about 150 public campgrounds located primarily in the southeastern and Midwestern United States. He has also visited another 150 campgrounds located throughout the eastern states. He has authored four books about tent camping, posts videos to his Modern Tent Camping YouTube channel, and maintains a website www.BasicTentCamping.com
The meeting starts 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. Meetings are open to everyone. Come join us!
Welcome to new Hike Leaders
The North Alabama Sierra Club just completed its bi-yearly hike leader 101 training and Red Cross Certification, taught by Outings Chair Tom Burley. There were 24 attendees, some from other groups around the state. With this latest training session the Club now has six new hike leaders - Richard Williams, Susan Ghaneei, Aaron Lesky, Jerry Davis, Wayne Causey and Paul Brown, bringing the total number of active hike leaders in the North Alabama Sierra Club to 24. Look for more outings from our new leaders! The North Alabama Sierra Club remains committed to introducing people to nature through leading a variety of outdoor outings.
- Carolyn Brooks
Celebrate Earth Day!
Saturday, April 23, from 10 am – 2 pm. Come join the Sierra Club and dozens of other exhibitors for Earth Day at the Hays Nature Preserve on Hwy 431 south of Hampton Cove. There will be more than 70 earth-friendly exhibitors and vendors who will have informative exhibits and demonstrations throughout the day.
- Mass butterfly releases at 11am & 1pm
- Exhibits on having a more energy-efficient home, solar power and electric vehicles
- Get up close to an owl, snakes, gopher tortoise and more as you learn about wildlife in Alabama from the Coosa River Science
Pack a picnic lunch or enjoy healthy fare which will be available for purchase at the Preserve.
Sierra Club Meetings for 2016
Mark your calendars for meetings of the North Alabama Sierra Club. 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. Meetings of the North Alabama Sierra Club are open to everyone. Come join us!
- April 28 - Frazier Douglass on Basic Tent Camping: Equipment and Procedures
- June 30 - Alabama Wildlife Center
-August 18 – Darryl Patton, Wilderness Survival and Medicinal/Edible plants in the woods.
-November - Program to be determined
-December - Holiday Party. This will be held in the auditorium of the public library downtown.
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.
Saturday, March 26 - Walls of Jericho Dayhike. Strenuous.
The Walls of Jericho is a large, bowl-shaped natural amphitheater that shoots water out of holes and cracks in the canyon wall during times of high water flow. This is a unique area that consists of more than 21,000 acres of rivers, forested uplands and caves spreading across the Alabama and Tennessee state line. This beautiful tract, which was once the hunting grounds of Davy Crockett, contains an extraordinarily diverse array of plants and animals. The hike is approximately 7 miles with a 1000 feet elevation gain. Bring lunch and we will dine afterwards at a local restaurant. Depart at 9:00am from the Publix in Hampton Cove. For more information contact Tom Burley at
tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net RAIN CANCELS
Tuesday, March 29 - Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm 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 3-5 miles. For directions or questions contact Rick Gates at rgates@knology.net
Saturday, April 2 - Chasing Waterfalls and Photo Ops: Short Springs Natural Area and Old Stone Fort. Strenuous.
The last of this year’s Waterfall series, we’re rating this hike strenuous not because of distance but areas that are technically difficult. This is a camera must. The falls and streams are spectacular! The wildflowers should be in bloom. To reach one of the main waterfalls, dependent on water level, we will be wading in the stream and or crossing rocks. There is also a steep ascent on a narrow trail to access another view. Group size is limited. Bring snacks, lunch, water, water shoes (optional), towel (optional), wear good hiking boots, and dress for the weather. For more information, contact Sandy at sandykip56@gmail.com RAIN CANCELS.
Tuesday, April 5 - Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm 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 Steve Jackson at covecrawler@gmail.com
Saturday, April 9 - Sipsey Wilderness Hike. Moderate.
Join Jerry and Sandy for an approximately 9-10 mile hike in the beautiful Sipsey Wilderness. Following a loop involving three trails, 202, 209 and 201, we'll pass an old cemetery, talk about the surrounding plants and a notorious resident, look at and most likely wade through a colorful stream, and search for the 'Eye of the Needle' while enjoying camaraderie in this Alabama gem. Per Wilderness regulation, group size is limited. You must contact the hike leader for approval and if you reserve a spot, please commit to showing up. Bring snacks, lunch, water, a towel, water shoes optional, bug spray, dress for the weather, and wear good hiking shoes. For more information and to reserve a slot contact Sandy atsandykip56@gmail.com. RAIN CANCELS.
Saturday, April 9 - Elkmont Rails-to-Trails. Moderate.
6-mile hike. Meet at 1:00pm 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. It's an easy trail but the hike is rated moderate since it's over five miles. Optional stop at a local restaurant after the hike. For more information contact Liz Poleretzky at hiker@knology.net
Tuesday, April 12 - Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm 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 3-5 miles. For directions or questions contact Patricia Wales at pwales77@gmail.com
Saturday, April 16 - Sipsey Wilderness Thompson Creek Hike. Strenuous.
Join Chris Bolton and Tom Burley for an 8-mile hike with no major creek crossings. We will take the White Oak Trail across to the Bee Branch Trail up to the big tree. After a long break for lunch we will leave the Big Tree and head back down Bee Branch to the Sipsey River and trail 209 and head up the river to trail 207. We will follow 207 to Thompson Creek back to the starting point. There is much beautiful scenery on this hike including old growth hemlock trees along the White Oak Trail plus beautiful rock formations. We will also explore the Ship Rock and the Eye of the Needle along trail 207. Per Wilderness regulation, group size is limited. You must contact the hike leader for approval and if you reserve a spot, please commit to showing up. Bring snacks, lunch, water, and bug spray. For more information and to reserve a slot contact Tom Burley at tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net RAIN CANCELS.
Tuesday, April 19 - Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm 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 3-5 miles. For directions or questions contact Alan Greene at agreene256@comcast.net
Tuesday, April 26 - Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm 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 3-5 miles. For directions or questions contact Carolyn Brooks at dr_c_brooks@msn.com
Tuesday, May 3 - Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Moderate.
Depart at 6:00pm 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 Suzanne Cawthon at atirawolf@yahoo.com
Saturday, May 7 - Sharps and Bice Mountain Hike. Strenuous.
We will get views of Jackson County and the Paint Rock water shed to the east then hike west to get views of Madison County. We will visit an old coal mine and a sink. Hike is 7 miles round trip with half of the hike being off trail; it has an initial steep ascent with the hike having a total 1000 feet elevation gain and 1000 feet descent. Depending upon your condition and ability to hike off trial this could be either a moderate or difficult rating. Bring lunch and water; there should be water sources for filtration. Bring water, snacks, lunch and dress for the weather. Wear hiking boots. Hiking poles are optional but may be advantageous due to off trail hiking. This outing is limited in participant number. You must contact the hike leader for approval and if you reserve a spot, please commit to showing up. Hike leader will notify you of meeting location. We will meet at 8:30am and carpool to the trailhead. The hike starts at 9:00am and we will return about 1:30pm. Contact Steve Jackson at covecrawler@gmail.com RAIN CANCELS.