November 2016 Alabama Sierran

Finally, Hiking Season is here!

We had our first Pinhoti hike for the Cahaba Group on Oct 22 after a very hot Summer.  It has finally turned cooler and we had 18 people total for a day out in the woods.  Five of our hikers were from another country.  We had three visitors from China, one from Australia, and one from Canada.  The Australian and Canadian are married and doing a tour of the US and Mexico.  Our group hiked a 5.7 section of the Pinhoti just north of Cheaha State park.

Nine of our group did an out and back for 11.4 miles and the rest did a one way hike for 5.7 miles.  The leaves are turning and were pretty even though this fall is not as colorful as when we have more rain and it is not so dry.  It was very dry and none of the waterfalls were running.  It would have been nice if our visitors could have seen the waterfalls.  This section has two nice waterfalls on it when we have enough water.  After the hike we had a late lunch or early dinner (depending on your view point) in Oxford.  It turned out to be a really nice day and interesting group.

Roe and I met the Australian/Canadian couple in BHM Thursday Oct 27 to take them on a hike at Ruffner Mountain in BHM before they continued their journey across the US.

Sierra Club Annual Retreat ReCap

ONE PLANET:  ACT WITH CARE Annual Sierra Club Retreat Held October 28-30 At Beautiful Camp McDowell

Sierrans from all over the state convened the last weekend of October to celebrate old and new friendships – and to enjoy fall. 

An unusual component of the retreat was the coordination of Alabama Sustainable Agriculture

Network (ASAN) Farm Forum and the Sierra annual retreat.  ASAN met on Friday, and the two groups joined for a grassfed hamburger cookout Friday night.  The ASAN Farm Forum provided roundtable discussions throughout the day on issues that interest farmers, educators, and consumers.  Since the two gatherings were back to back, some folks took the opportunity to attend both.

A highlight of the retreat was the wonderful food prepared by Chef Jeremy Peltz and his staff.

Every meal featured locally grown produce, including potatoes, squash, greens, and eggs.  Saturday night everyone had a wonderful time at the Farm to Table Feast in the fall decorated barn.    Chef Peltz and his staff presented the group with roast pig, chicken, and rabbit, roasted butternut squash, greens, mashed sweet potatoes, and lavender crème brulee for dessert.  The Red Mountain White Trash provided dining music, followed by a presentation by Alice Evans, executive director of ASAN.

The Sierra retreat was a sustainable living symposium focusing on how our actions affect the place we live.   A farmers’ panel kicked off the Saturday morning program.  The panel was made up of farmers representing three views of the importance of supporting farmers with our food dollars.  The panel was made of 1)  Dove Stackhouse of Whirwind Farms in Geraldine who spoke on the necessity of preserving the diversity of our seeds,  2)  Dr. Frannie Koe  of Will’s Valley Family Medicine Clinic in Collinsville.  Dr. Koe spoke on foods that are necessary for good health, including healthy fats as well as fresh local produce. 3) Karen Wynne of Rosita’s Farm,  farmers’ consultant, and former executive director of ASAN, who spoke on the big picture of our role in helping family farmers to stay in business.

Other feature speakers on Saturday included Rev. Majadi Barudi who talked about the Magic City Agriculture Project and its outreach and  Scott Douglas, executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries, spoke on how environmentalists – and all citizens – can work to become more racially and socially diverse.   On Sunday morning, Kendra Burns, Camp McDowell Animal Manager, brought birds of prey and reptiles for the group to admire, while Kendra talked about their lives and how they have a symbiotic relationship with the world of nature.

But the retreat was not all work and no play.  Retreat participants enjoyed the following outings and activities:

• Secret Canyon Hike led by Maggie Johnston, Education Director, Camp McDowell with Cahaba Outings Leader Roe Hyche
• Natural Bridge Hike led by Ken Hyche, Cahaba Group Outings Leader
• Sipsey Wilderness Tree Identification Hike led by Dexter Duren, West Alabama Outings Leader
• Beginning Harmonica classes taught by Jamie Finley of the Red Mountain Trash Band
• McDowell Farm School Tour led by Ali Papp, McDowell Farm School Director
• McDowell Tree Identification Hike led by Dexter Duren, West Alabama Outings Leader

And what fun on Friday and  Saturday nights!  After the cookout on Friday night, fokls had a story telling circle, sitting in the big rockers on Pradat Porch.  We learned that there are some great storytellers in the group!    On Saturday night, The Red Mountain White Trash Band played lively folk music while Joyce Cauthen taught and called dances.  The dance floor was full of Sierrans “cutting a rug” and having a great time.  Even those who didn’t think they knew how to dance were in the middle of it!  Members of the Red Mountain White Trash are Nancy Jackson, Jim and Joyce Cauthen, Jamey Finley, and Phil Foster.

The retreat ended with a delicous locally grown vegetarian meal and an inspiring closing talk  by Chapter Chair Bob Hastings. 

The Coosa Valley Sierra Club did a wonderful job of planning the retreat.  Members of the committee were Jonathon Meeks, Jean Hill, Diahanne McBride, Dr. Miriam Hill, Cindy Garrison, and Peggie Griffin.

The 2017 retreat is being planned by the West Alabama Group and will be at Living Waters on the Cahaba the weekend of October 13 – 15.

Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club Supports Amendment 2

From Alabama Chair Bob Hastings. The Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club supports Amendment 2 on the election ballot in November. We encourage everyone to vote "Yes" to support this amendment and help protect funding for our state parks. Some have expressed concern regarding the wording in the second paragraph of the amendment regarding "privatization" of concessions in the parks. Although I would prefer that all state park activities be managed and maintained by state employees, this is not a reason to reject the amendment and jeopardize future funding for the parks.

For reference, see the following statement regarding this part of the amendment: "IS THIS A MOVE TOWARD PRIVATIZATION?

Outside entities are already allowed to run many facilities at state parks, included the state's not yet built 350-room hotel and conference center at Gulf State Park. However, a previously approved bond issue for park renovation prohibited the state from using outside vendors at any facilities revamped with that bond money. Amendment 2 will undo the prohibition. Lein said, for example, outside zip line vendors and golf course operators have helped bring in traffic and revenue to state parks. "It's a tool in the toolbox," Lein said of the use of outside vendors."

Editorial on State Parks Amendment 2 Vote

by Joe Watts

Please vote yes on Amendment 2 in two weeks. Our State Parks need our support and they need to keep the money that they collect from hotel rentals, gate fees and such. They’ve been greatly impacted by the choices our state legislators have made over the past 5 years, raiding their budgets and making it impossible to manage the program without drastic cuts. These are cherished places in Alabama and deserve our protection. We need public lands that Alabamians can enjoy. And we need to make sure that these public places remain open and available to the public.

Having said that, I wish the language allowing private companies to run certain aspects of our state parks was not in the amendment. It would have been a slam dunk had this not been included. But the language included isn’t about changing the basic structure of our parks. It is about changing some aspects of who manages the service industry interface and impacts only those parks that had money from a late 1990’s bond issue used in renovations. Sometimes, private companies have more experience running a restaurant or a hotel. We as citizens will need to watch any contracts that come up and make sure that they live up to the expectations that we set—that they benefit the state parks and the Alabamians that use the state parks.

Having been around a lot of state parks employees, I have the utmost respect for them and they all do their job to the very best of their abilities. But, as someone who whole-heartedly believes in public lands, I have to say that I’m less concerned with who puts sheets on the beds or cooks my hamburger than with if our state parks stay open and who is providing the management of the land. If our state parks have money to protect the wildlife that lives there, to provide good quality environmental stewardship and to offer real, effective conservation-related interpretation in the form of trained naturalists, that’s what I’m in favor of. And that’s why I’m voting yes on Tuesday November 8, 2016.

Editorials in support of the State Parks Amendment 2 Vote:

President of the Birmingham Audubon Society Joe Watts
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/08/state_park_memories_make_me_sm.html

Executive Director of the Alabama Wildlife Federation Tim Gothard;
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/10/amendment_2_is_our_chance_to_p.html

State Sen. Clay Scofield
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/08/why_we_must_vote_to_protect_al.html

Executive Director of the Village Creek Human and Environmental Justice Society Yohance Owens
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/09/alabamas_state_parks_are_price.html

Maddie Hoaglund a high school senior who organized Love Your State Parks Day
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/09/alabama_girl_scout_announces_l.html

Dr. Bill Deutsch, Auburn University School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Environments
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/09/from_mt_cheaha_to_the_gulf_sta.html

Executive Director of the Alabama Wildlife Center Doug Adair
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/10/state_parks_are_crucial_to_sup.html

Executive Director of the Birmingham Audubon Society Suzanne Langley
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/09/state_parks_attract_migrating.html

Edward O. Wilson, James B. McClintock and R. Scot Duncan
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/10/among_the_southern_states_alab.html

Michael Jeffreys, Superintendent of Lake Guntersville State Park and the District Superintendent for Northeast Ala. Parks.
https://www.facebook.com/michael.jeffreys.336/posts/10155383045937166

Bob Baumhower and Greg Lein
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/10/amendment_2_will_protect_our_p.html

Questions about Amendment 2?
http://www.conservationalabama.org/amendment-2-questions/

Times Daily Editorial
http://www.timesdaily.com/opinion/editorials/vote-yes-on-amendment/article_1a5c1354-bf47-58f0-ad1b-621902c82931.html

Amendment 2 supporters: State parks privatization argument is 'straw man'
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/10/amendment_2_wont_impact_gulf_o.html

Meet the activist getting sued for complaining about a coal-ash dump

Esther Calhoun lives in Uniontown, a small town in Alabama where more than nine out of ten residents are black, and half live below the poverty line. Her family has been there for as long as she knows. Her parents and grandparents worked as sharecroppers on a plantation, and generations of her ancestors were buried in the town’s cemetery. Read the full interview on Grist.

PROCEDURE FOR SENDING MATERIAL TO THE ALABAMA SIERRAN

Many thanks to Roe Hyche, Bob Hastings, and Peggie Griffin for agreeing to be the new newsletter committee.
The newsletter is put together monthly, and material for the newsletter should be sent to plgriffin@comcast.net, with a subject line of "For the Editorial Board" no later than the 15th of the month.
Group newsletter editors may continue sending group meeting information and calendars of events to Joe Watts at joe@joewatts.com, no later than the 25th of each month.
Guidelines for Material:

• The newsletter committee is seeking articles about Alabama environmental issues, articles highlighting Alabama’s special beautiful places, and engaging write-ups about group and chapter activities.
• Articles should be originally written for the Alabama Sierran, factual, and timely.
• A link to another publication should only be used rarely, but if a link is to be used, a full summary of the information (at least a paragraph long) should be written, with the link provided for more detailed information.
• The newsletter committee has the right to make any changes, so that material will meet these guidelines

Sierra Club Events

Cahaba Group

Typical Monthly meetings - 2nd Thursday every month at 6:00 pm at the Birmingham Zoo Auditorium (building to the right of entrance gate) NOTE: locations do vary, so check the facebook page for the latest information.
Business meeting at 6:00, presentation at 6:30.

Coosa Valley Group

November 10, 6:30 pm – Trails of Alabama – Joe Watts, President, Birmingham Audubon Society and webmaster for the Alabama Sierra Club.

Dec. 8, 6:30 pm – Christmas Pot Luck

Directions to the Joe M. Ford Center:  From I-59, take the exit for I-759.  Follow I-759 until it ends at George Wallace Dr.  Turn right, then take the first left onto East Cardinal Drive.  The Joe Ford Center is the first building on the right.Connect with Sierra Club: By phone |256| 459 8177 (get info, text, leave a message) fb.com/CoosaValleySierraClub

Mobile Bay Group

Tuesday evening, November 1.  What: Mobile Bay Sierra Club Monthly Meeting
What: The Mobile Bay Sierra Club is pleased to host two documentary films, 'The Breakthrough in Renewable Energy' and 'Fossil Free'!
'The Breakthrough in Renewable Energy' takes us inside corporate offices and production lines where groundbreaking work is being done, and examines what it could mean for the future of energy consumption on Earth.  'Fossil Free' contains portraits of those who are working diligently to contain the climate crisis. Many of them are young, and they view themselves as the last generation who can truly make a difference in curbing the climate change epidemic. They're determined to pick up the slack from an older generation who remains apathetic to these pressing issues.

When: Tuesday evening, November 1st, screening at 7:00 p.m.
Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m. Program Presentation
6:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served prior to program.
Please forward this information invitation to any interested people or groups.
Meeting Location: 5 Rivers, Tensaw Theater
Address: 5 Rivers, Alabama’s Delta Resource Center, 30945 Five Rivers Blvd., Spanish Fort, AL 36527
(entrance is across from Meaher State Park on the Mobile BayCauseway)
Follow the Sierra Club signs to the meeting location at 5 Rivers.
For more information, please contact Carol Adams-Davis, 702-496-5050
or email: mcadamsdavis@earthlink.net

Montgomery Group

Note that regular Group meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM at Aldersgate Methodist Church (Room 25), 6610 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116. (334) 272-6152

North Alabama Group

Saturday, November 5 - The Sipsey Wilderness hike. Moderate. Join Sandy and Charlie for an approximate 9 to 10 mile hike in the beautiful Sipsey Wilderness, one of Alabama’s gems. Following a loop involving three trails, 202/209/and 201, we'll pass an old cemetery, enjoy the Fall foliage, talk about a notorious resident, cross a stream-bed and search for the 'Eye of the Needle.'  Per Wilderness regulation, group size is limited.  If you sign up, please commit to showing up.  Bring snacks, lunch, water, a towel (just in case the stream isn’t dry), bug spray, dress for the weather, and wear good hiking shoes. Rain cancels.  For more information and to reserve a slot contact Sandy at sandykip56@gmail.com.

Saturday, November 12 - Chapman Mountain Land Trust Property Hike. Strenuous. There will be some off-trail hiking.  Approximately 5-miles.  Explore the Land Trust’s newly acquired Chapman Mountain property.  Not open to the public, this beautiful, 360 acre tract of mixed hardwoods and pine forest sits just miles from Downtown Huntsville.  We will be hiking on undeveloped property, trails are minimal and unmarked.  Dress for the weather, wear good hiking shoes, long pants recommended.  Bring snacks and water.  Dogs ok.  For more info, contact Aaron at sctrailevents@gmail.com.  Meet 9 am at the Wendy’s Parking lot (1624 US 72 East, Huntsville AL)
 
CANCELLED Saturday, November 19 Sougahoagdee Falls hike. Moderate. Located in Bankhead National Forrest, is part of the Brushy Creek Watershed . Hike is approximately 4.5 miles and rated moderate. Along the way to the main falls we will see cascades and visit several smaller falls. Bring water, snack or lunch and dress appropriately. We will meet at Books A Million parking lot on the parkway at 8:00 then drive to Warrior Mountain Trading post in Moulton to second meeting point ( individuals going there be there by 9:15) we will then drive to trailhead. Contact Steve Jackson at covecrawler@gmail.com or 256 337 9702 Due to the lack of rain and no water at Sougahoagdee Falls, the hike for Saturday, November 19 has been cancelled.
 
Saturday, November 26 - Burning the Carbs All the way up Monte Sano. Strenuous.  Approximately 10 to 12 mile hike.  After a day of turkey, dressing, pie and football, lets hike to the top of Monte Sano, talk, look around, talk some more and then work a different set of muscles going back down on a slightly different route.  Meet at 8:30 AM at Oak Park, 2250 Oakwood Ave. NE.  Dress for the weather, bring lunch, snacks and water.  For more information, contact Charlie Cohen,charlie.cohen@att.net or 256-361-3837.

West Alabama Group

November 17, 2016, Overview of Local Areas in West Alabama. 7:00 PM. Monthly meeting. “Overview of Local Areas in West Alabama to See and Hike” Dexter Duren and Curtis Hallman, Sierra Club members, University Lutheran Church, 911 5th Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.

Visit our website for up-to-date info.: http://www.sierraclub.org/alabama/west-alabama