Rise Raptor Project 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. Curt Cearly of Rise Raptor Project will entertain us with a few of their amazing birds and educate us about the importance of these interesting raptors. The Rise Raptor Project, based in North Alabama, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to inspire the public to embrace principles of good stewardship, engage in scientific discovery, and be immersed in the riches of history and culture, by connecting with the most powerful birds in the world. There is no cost and is open to the general public.
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. Please see the Outings section below for information on the two hikes that day.
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
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
Alabama State Parks Closed, Hours Reduced
Bladon Springs, Chickasaw, Florala, Paul Grist, and Roland Cooper State Parks are the casualties of the administrative transfers that the legislature has required for the last five years from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This year, DCNR will have to provide $3 million of its revenue from hunting and fishing licenses and park admission fees to the General Fund.
While public outcry against park closures brought this figure down from the $18 million previously proposed, DCNR is unable to pay what is required of them and keep all 22 state parks open. In addition to the five parks that have been closed, six other parks are reducing their services and hours. Those parks are Blue Springs, Buck's Pocket, Cheaha, DeSoto, Lake Lurleen, and Rickwood Caverns.
The 2016 legislative session will almost certainly see more budget cuts and the state parks will be a target again. The response from the public this year was successful in reducing the amount of funding that was cut from DCNR. Your calls, emails and letters DO make a difference. Please remind your state legislators that you use the Alabama State Parks and that they are important to you.
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.
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, November 3 - 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 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 Suzanne Cawthon at atirawolf@yahoo.com
Saturday, November 7 - Chill-Out's Annual Early Bird Special. Strenuous.
Join Charlie for a strenuous 10-mile hike. We will hike the Mountain Mist Trail, Goat Trail, and Keith Trail, moving at a fast pace to be sure that we return in time for the picnic. Meet at the picnic area parking lot at Monte Sano State Park at 7:30am CST. For more information, contact Charlie Cohen at charlie.cohen@att.net or 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
Tuesday, November 10 - 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 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 Steve Jackson at covecrawler@gmail.com
Saturday, November 14 - Fiery Gizzard Sampler. Moderate.
5-mile hike. Meet at 8:30am at the Publix on Winchester. We will drive to the trailhead near Tracy City, TN. We will do the Grundy Day Loop and a small portion of the Fiery Gizzard ("a sampling"). Mileage will be about 5 miles. Parts of the trail can be rugged (rocks and tree roots) but definitely worth the effort. Highly recommend a walking stick. Bring lunch and water for the hike. Afterwards we may stop at a local restaurant for dinner. For more information contact Liz at hiker@knology.net
Tuesday, November 17 - 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 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 Patricia Wales at pwales77@gmail.com
Sunday, November 22 - Wade Mountain Hike. Moderate.
5-mile hike. Western End (Pulaski Pike Trailhead). Meet at 1:00pm in the parking lot at the Wade Mountain Greenway trailhead on Pulaski Pike (1/2 mile south of the Toyota Plant). We will do a 5-mile loop with some elevation gain during the first half of the hike. Parts of the trail will be rocky but the first and last mile will be on the paved portion of the greenway. For more information or directions contact Liz at hiker@knology.net
Tuesday, November 24 - 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 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 Alan Greene at agreene256@comcast.net
Saturday, November 28 - Losing the Carbs at Monte Sano State Park and the Land Trust. Strenuous.
Turkey, pie, dressing, more pie, cranberry sauce, did I already mention pie?! Leave your carbs behind on an approximate 13-mile loop hike between Monte Sano State Park and The Land Trust. We’ll depart from the lower Hiker’s parking lot, located across the street from the entrance to Burritt Museum, Monte Sano Blvd, Huntsville, at 8:00am sharp. Wear good hiking shoes, dress for the weather, bring snacks, water, and lunch. Contact Sandy at sandykip@otelco.net or Charlie at Charlie.cohen@att.net or 256-361-3837. T-Storms cancel.
Tuesday, December 1 - 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 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 Michael Stewart at 256-656-5836.