Outings and Events
Cahaba Group
Sunday, August 13 - Swimming at Hippie Hole on the Little River. Meet at 8:30 am at Flip Side Cafe in Gadsden. 931 Rainbow Drive. We will be in the parking lot on the same side of the Cafe's entrance.
Swimming at the Hippie Hole (aka Martha's Falls) is a lot of fun! We might also check out Little River Falls and the Blue Hole swimming hole.
It's a 1/4 mile hike to the swimming area. The trail is partially steep, so save some energy for the climb back up after a day of fun!
Bring your swimsuit, sunscreen, snack (or lunch), water, shoes to walk to the swimming hole (not far from the parking lot, but a steep walk back up after swimming!), towel, and a change of clothes. Some people bring something to float on as the water is very deep in the middle. You can bring a noodle, a float or even a life jacket.
Watch the locals before jumping in or swimming. High water levels are very dangerous here. The 200 yd. hill when leaving will have you panting for air.
There is no restroom at Hippie Hole, but there are 2 privies in the Little River Canyon Falls parking lot, which is just up the road 1/4 mile.
Questions? Contact Ken Hyche at 205-540-3930.
For more information check out the event here: Swimming at Hippie Hole 8.13.17 w/Cahaba Sierra Group
For many Sierra Club, Cahaba Group outings (plus some non-Sierra Club outings), check out the Birmingham Adventure Group on Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/BirminghamAdventureGroup/
Coosa Valley Group
Thursday, Aug. 10, 6:30 pm. Glen Coffee, Retired U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Does Anyone Care About Dauphin Island’s Erosion Proble
Room 210, Joe M. Ford Center, 405 E. Cardinal St., Gadsden AL
Come and find our why YOU should care about what happens to Dauphin Island. Dauphin Island is Alabama’s only barrier island. Its presence is crucial to creating and maintaining the estuarine habitat of lower Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound important to sustaining the biological productivity of Alabama’s very limited western coastal region. Dauphin Island is Alabama’s only barrier island. Its presence is crucial to creating and maintaining the estuarine habitat of lower Mobile Bay and Mississippi Sound important to sustaining the biological productivity of Alabama’s very limited western coastal region. Governmental concern, at the local, county, and state levels has not matured to the point that decision-makers and politicians understand and accept the need to maintain the Mobile Harbor Outer Bar Channel in a responsible fashion that balances the need for financial profit against the risk for documented environmental damage. Increasing regional competition for the larger Post-Panamax vessels to call on the Port of Mobile will undoubtedly create added pressure to further widen and deepen the Outer Bar Channel. When those deliberations begin, will anyone care about Dauphin Island’s erosion problem?
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, August 1st at 6:00 p.m. Screening of the new documentary,The Underwater Forest, with presentation by Ben Raines, Director.
The Underwater Forest details the discovery and exploration of an ancient cypress forest found sixty feet underwater in the Gulf of Mexico, due south of Gulf Shores, Alabama. The forest dates to an ice age more than 60,000 years ago, when sea levels were about 400 feet lower than they are today. The forest appears to be a wholly unique relic of our planet’s past, the only known site where a coastal ice age forest this old has been preserved in place. It is considered a treasure trove of information, providing new insights into everything from climate in the region to annual rainfall, insect populations, and the types of plants that inhabited the Gulf Coast before humans arrived in the new world. Scientific analysis of the site is ongoing.
The documentary follows the work of the team investigating the site, both underwater and in the laboratory. The film was written and directed by AL.com’s Ben Raines, who also filmed the underwater sequences and organized the first scientific missions to the site.
The scientists believe the forest was buried beneath the Gulf sediments for eons, until giant waves driven by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 uncovered it. Raines and AL.com collected the first samples from the site, and participated in every scientific mission to the site, beginning in 2012. Dropping 10 fathoms down, below the green waves of the Gulf and back in time to this prehistoric world amounts to a sort of time traveler’s journey. Nothing like the forest, in terms of age or scale, has ever been found. The oxygen-free underwater environment has hermetically sealed the trees in a sort of natural time capsule.
Join the first scientists and film crew to visit the site as they unlock the secrets of the past beneath the Gulf of Mexico.
Refreshments will be served at 6:00 p.m. and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m.
5 Rivers, Tensaw Theater, follow the Sierra Club signs.
For more information, please contact Carol Adams-Davis, 702-496-5050 or email: mcadamsdavis@earthlink.net
(The General Public is invited, No Admission)
Location 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 Bay Causeway).
For more information, please contact Carol Adams-Davis, 702-496-5050 or email: mcadamsdavis@earthlink.net
Montgomery Group
The Montgomery Group meets monthly on Thursday evening at 7:00 PM at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Room 25, at 6610 Vaughn Road in Montgomery (next to St. James School).
North Alabama Group
August 8 (Tue) Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Depart at 6:00 p.m. 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
August 12 (Sat) Hiking 101 - Hikers' Basics - Easy Hike. Are you interested in hiking but not sure where to start? Join us for this Hikers’ 101 - Basic Hiking event. We will start with a brief talk about how to get started hiking. We will talk about equipment needed and what to expect. We will then talk about some of the local hiking opportunities and about some training plans to get in shape to tackle some of the tougher hikes. After the talk we will hike on one of the Land Trust’s newer trails the Oak Park trail. It will be about a 3 mile hike with some limited elevation gain. You will need to have sturdy, comfortable shoes, at least 1 liter of water. You may want to bring some snacks, walking stick/trekking poles, sunscreen, bug spray, a camera, some friends. Dress for the weather, dogs on leashes who like hiking are welcome. Saturday, August 12, 2017 at 8:00 AM Meeting location is Oak Park Trail Head at 2250 Oakwood Avenue Northeast, Huntsville, AL. We will meet at the Picnic Pavilion. Any questions email Aaron at sctrailevents@gmail.com .
August 15 (Tue) Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Depart at 6:00 p.m. 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 Carolyn Brooks at dr_c_brooks@outlook.com
August 22 (Tue) Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Depart at 6:00 p.m. 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 Patricia at pwales77@gmail.com
August 26 (Sat) Monte Sano 6-7 mile Moderate Hike - Enjoy summer on Huntsville’s jewel. We will explore trails in the State Park. Experiencing the beauty of the park in summer. Dress for the weather, including sturdy shoes. Bring a camera, water, snacks and some cash for the park entrance. Dress for the weather and bring water and a snack . Meet at the Hikers Parking Lot at 8:30 am, the hike leaves at 9:00 am sharp. Leashed dogs welcome. Rain Cancels this hike. Questions, contact Patricia at pwales77@gmail.com
August 29 (Tue) Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Depart at 6:00 p.m. 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
September 5 (Tue) Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Depart at 6:00 p.m. 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 Carolyn Brooks at dr_c_brooks@msn.com
September 12 (Tue) Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Depart at 6:00 p.m. 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
September 19 (Tue) Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Depart at 6:00 p.m. 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
September 26 (Tue) Monte Sano Tuesday Evening Hike. Depart at 6:00 p.m. 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 Aaron Lesky at sctrailevents@gmail.com
West Alabama Group
The Group does not meet June-August