Sierra North Alabama Group  June 2004

General Meeting Thursday Evening,
June 17th, 6:30 p.m. 
Local State Park officials will talk about the proposed plan to lease
"money-losing" state parks such as Buck's Pocket

Tuesday Night Hikes
Join us at 6:00pm at the Hiker's Parking lot for an evening hike on
the mountain.

Who Pays for Our State Parks?
     I'll bet you thought your state income tax supported our local
parks - Monte Sano, Buck's Pocket, Guntersville and others. The problem
however, is that the state Department of Conservation has a separate
budget for running the parks, and the parks have to generate their own
funds. Parks like Guntersville, Joe Wheeler and Gulf State have lodges
and golf courses that generate revenue which supports those parks as well
as the others around the state. Parks like Buck's Pocket do not have a
golf course or lodge (nor do they need them), and so they do not generate
much revenue.
     A May 12th article in the Huntsville Times reported that state
Conservation officials are considering transferring ownership or management
of 10 state parks to private concerns, The smaller parks are considered to
be "too expensive" to maintain. Buck's Pocket State Park is one of the parks
being considered for transfer. At one time Alabama's State Park system was
considered a model for the rest of the country, but in the last 10-15 years,
lack of funds has allowed the parks to deteriorate. Conservation Department
officials state that they do not want to close any of the parks and are
considering transfer or lease of the parks only as a last resort if they
cannot come up with more funds for operating the parks.
     At our June meeting, representatives from our local state parks will
talk about how funding for the state park system works. There will be a
discussion of proposals for alleviating the budget shortfall facing our
state parks. Perhaps we can come up with a battle plan for getting our state
legislature to find budget money for maintaining the viability of our
beautiful and important state parks. The North Alabama Sierra Club meets
at the Huntsville Public Library, Thursday, June 17th at 6:30pm.
  - Bruce Martin and the Editor June, 2004

Trouble accessing our WebPages? Email natberry@yahoo.com or call Nat Berry
at 256-461-8107.

Want to get the newsletter by email? Email Tom Burley at tdburley@knology.net.

Questions, comments or articles to submit to the newsletter? Email the editor
at JDinHSV@aol.com

Forever Wild to Meet Regarding the Purchase of Green Mountain
and Monte Sano Plots
     Monte Sano State Park and the Land Trust property surely do increase
the worth of Monte Sano Mountain.  They give us space to enjoy the wilderness
just a few minutes from the city.  Outside of the park, there is little
undeveloped space left on top of Monte Sano. The land on top of Huntsville
Mountain is all locked up. Literally locked up and guarded from one end to
the other. The third mountain in the chain from Monte Sano to the Tennessee
River however, has some undeveloped space left on top!  On the north end of
Green Mountain, the old Spacewalk Trail is in good condition and in frequent
use. 
     Sam Denham led a hike on the north end of Green Mountain at the end of
May. Beginning at Blevins Gap on Cecil Ashburn Drive (Four Mile Post Road
extension), we walked up to the top and then along the ridge of the mountain
to the power line. As on Huntsville Mountain, the north end is narrow and
affords superb views both east and west. Oh, it is ripe for development.
And oh, we hope that does not happen!
     Some people are doing more than just hoping. The Huntsville Land Trust
is asking Forever Wild to purchase the property on Green Mountain in order
to preserve the mountain top space. They need our help. Forever Wild meets
in Huntsville on June 24, 10:00 am to 12:00noon in the newly renovated
lodge/tavern in Monte Sano State Park. Please familiarize yourself with the
Green Mountain property, attend the meeting and make your wishes known to
the board. One of the things that the board will consider is how much local
support they see for the preservation of this property. By attending the
Forever Wild Board meeting, you can help show that there is local support
for the purchase of this land. The board will also be considering the purchase
of the Flatrock property on the north face of Monte Sano.
     Most property donated or affordable for preservation is on mountainsides.
The property being considered for purchase by Forever Wild does include lower
lying land as well. Old trees with diameters of up to three feet create a
canopy that keeps the understory relatively clear, but through the heart of
the property runs the ridge of the mountain. Alabama has an opportunity to
preserve space on a mountaintop right here in Huntsville. What an opportunity
for the city, the county, the region, the state! Please do your part to help
make this happen by attending the Forever Wild Board meeting June 24, 10:00am
to 12:00 noon in the newly renovated lodge/tavern.
- Brenda Cummings and the Editor June, 2004

Nominations Needed for State Sierra Excom
     The state executive committee of the Alabama Sierra Club meets four times
a year at various places around the state. Representatives from local Sierra
chapters spend a weekend setting policy at the state level and deciding how
funds will be distributed to the local chapters. It is very important that
the North Alabama chapter has strong advocates at these meetings. Our current
representatives will soon be leaving office and we need nominations for members
to take their place.
      Lodging and meals for the weekend meeting are covered by the state
chapter; representatives provide their transportation. Representatives serve
for two years, starting with the January meeting. For more information or to
submit nominations (you can nominate yourself as well as others), contact Bruce
Martin bruce@barbmartin.com or 256.725.2168 by August 2nd. The state Nominating
Committee selects representatives from the pool of nominees. If you want to
contribute to the Sierra Club in an important way and can spare four weekends
a year, please consider this.  - the Editor

National Sierra Club endorses John Kerry for President
     In early May, The National Sierra Club announced its endorsement of
Senator John Kerry for President. The Sierra Club cited John Kerry's strong
support for clean air and water initiatives, his advocacy for protecting our
public lands and wildlife and his positions regarding a responsible energy
policy, international trade, urban sprawl, toxic waste cleanup and global
population growth and family planning. National Sierra issued a Fact Sheet
providing details about Senator Kerry's positions and his work in the Senate
on related legislation. For more information, go to
http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/presidential_endorsement/
 - the Editor

Family Farms Tour Update
     The National Sierra Club has undertaken another worthy cause - the Small
Family Farm project. The ideas underlying the project are healthy and basic.
They are choosing to eat foods grown within a hundred miles of our homes and
eating foods in season. These two concepts make importing foods or transporting
them across the country less necessary. They decrease the need for giant
corporate farms and for genetically altering plants to delay spoilage.
     Both practices will give opportunity once more for individual families
to operate a farm, earning a living on land where they live while they feed
the rest of us better, fresher food. Small farms also have much less impact
on the environment.
     Fortunately, several such farms have sprouted in North Alabama. Some of
them are in Jackson, Morgan, Lawrence and Blount counties.   Sierra members
joined Peggie Griffin, Conservation Organizer for Alabama Sierra, for a
field trip to two such farms - Goose Pond Farm in Hartselle and Classical
Fruits in Moulton.
     At Goose Pond, Charlie Ritch and his daughters led us in two groups.
We walked through cow pastures, four different types of chicken pens, and
the girls' group went to the pig pen. We bought delightfully fresh egg -
big and tan, with an occasional pale blue one. 
     We ate at Classical Fruits and toured the farm which sells not only
fruit, but fruit trees - 29 varieties of apples and several varieties of pears,
peaches, nectarines, cherries and plums. The Adair Family also grows oriental
persimmons, figs, kiwi, muscadines and berries.
     For more information on purchasing locally grown foods, go to
www.asanonline.org or www.tunefarm@earthlink.com. For information as well
as entertainment, go to www.themeatrix.com.(Thanks to Steven Baty for this link)
- Brenda Cummings June, 2004

Gas Prices Are Shooting Up, and That's Good News!          
     Just a few years ago, the sound of China was incessant honking as the
occasional car tried to push its way through a sea of bicycles and pedestrians.
The car has won. Beijing traffic now looks like LA or DC, adding enormously
to world demand for oil, most of which is beneath countries that don't like
us very much. Bush's short-term solution is to drill in the arctic wildlife
refuge. Long-term, Bush has a hydrogen initiative
http://www.aps.org/public_affairs/index.cfm, but it can't be made competitive.
Kerry's short-term solution is to use the strategic reserve. We need
conservation. High gas prices are already pushing SUV sales down, but it was
OPEC that pushed the price up. If we plan to declare war on every country
led by a bad guy, we'll need tax revenue. We could also think about making
CAFE standards apply to all passenger cars, even if they're SUVs and weigh
as much as cement trucks.  As the price of gas goes up, the air gets cleaner,
people return to the inner cities, traffic is reduced, and less time is
wasted commuting.
- Robert L. Park, American Institute of Physics. (Submitted by Sam Denham)

ExCom  Members
Chair - Judy Jones   852-6179
Vice Ch./Treas.- Sam Denham      539-1033
Web Page - Nat Berry         461-8107
Newsletter  editor - Jack Drost  880-2644
Membership - Dave Kostowny       325-2296
Conservation - Bruce Martin  256-725-2168
Outings - Lee Hollingsworth  461-3060
Publicity - Liz Poleretzky       461-5819
Political - John Allen           539-5287
At Large - Doug Horacek          772-6788
Secretary - Joette Carter  776-3551
Fund Raising - Freddie DiPlacido 533-0651
At Large - Nancy Dudney          882-9408
Programs - Brenda Cummings       881-7447
At Large - Rick Riquelmy         881-0786

North Alabama Sierra Club - Outings and Events Calendar
June - July  2004

Hike Ratings
Easy-Less than 5 miles, no serious elevation changes, no trail obstacles.
Moderate-5 to 10 miles, some elevation changes and/or rough trail (rock hopping),
 or trail obstacles such as creek crossings.
Strenuous-More than 10 miles, substantial elevation change (1000 ft or more),
 trail may be rocky, obstructed or nonexistent.
Exploratory-any event that the leader has not experienced before, may fit any
 class above.

Saturday, June 12th Collins Gulf 
We'll travel to the South Cumberland Recreation Area for a 13-mile loop dayhike
of Collins Gulf. Rated strenuous. Bring lunch, water, and good shoes. Meet at
Winn-Dixie on Winchester Road at 8am.  Bruce Martin 256-725-2168.

Tuesday, June 15th, 6pm.  Mountain Evening Hike.
Monte Sano State Park, Hiker's Parking Lot. Info Bruce Martin, 256-725-216

Thursday, June 17th, 6:30pm. General Meeting.
Huntsville Public Library. Meeting to discuss the proposed leasing of Buck's
Pocket and other small state parks.

Saturday, June 19th,  Little River Canyon Rock Hop and Swim, 8:30am.
Section of the canyon between Wolf Creek and Lower Two Mile Trail. Bring hat
and sunscreen, lunch, and water. Strenuous. Leader approval required. Sam
Denham 539-1033(h), 961-0436(w).

June 19-27  Mt. Rogers AT Backpack  
70 miles over a 7-day adventure.  Full backpacking gear required. Limited to
8 participants. Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel will be in peak color. Bring
puppy biscuits for the ponies at Greyson Highlands State Park. We'll be on the
lookout for "Fabio" the photogenic pony with the flowing mane. Leader approval
required.  Bruce Martin  256-725-2168.

Sunday, June 20th, - Wade Mountain Hike 2pm.
Meet at trail head, bring sturdy boots and water. Call Doug Horacek at
772-6788 for details.

Tuesday, June 22nd, 6pm.  Mountain Evening Hike.
Monte Sano State Park, Hiker's Parking Lot. Info Liz Poleretzky, (wk) 461-5819

Thursday, June 24th, Forever Wild Board Meeting, 10am-12noon.
Please attend this meeting and voice your support for purchase of the Certain
Property on Green Mountain, and the Flatrock Property on Monte Sano. Without
a lot of local support, the board will never vote to approve. In newly
renovated Lodge at Monte Sano State Park. For more information: Sam Denham
539-1033(h), 961-0436(w).

Thursday, June 24th, Outings meeting 5:15pm, Excom meeting 5:45pm.
Bring your own dinner. Info Judy Jones 852-6179.

Saturday, June 26th Pinnacle Point Hike
Camp Jackson, (Boy Scout), near Scottsboro. Hike is short, but strenuous.
Bring lunch, water, and your camera to capture one of the most spectacular
views in Alabama overlooking looking the Tennessee River from a height of
700 ft. Info John Allen 539-5287.

Saturday, July 3rd, 9am. Lake Guntersville Dayhike and Culture Outing.
We'll hike 5 miles of trail along the shoreline of Lake Guntersville. Meet at
the Publix on Hwy 431. Bring lunch and water. Rated easy. Bruce Martin 
256-725-2168.

Monday, July 5th, 3pm. Pool Party and Cookout.
$5 Bring a side dish or dessert - hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixins will
be provided. Bring your swim suit. Info, Freddie DiPlacido, 533-0651.

Newsletter Labeling Wednesday, July 7th, 5:30pm.
Barbara Martin's office downtown. Holmes Ave at Church St.  Judy Jones
852-6179 (h).

Saturday, July 10th, 9am. South Cumberland Dayhike.
This is for those that like the South Cumberland, but would like a dayhike.
We are going to tag along with Liz and the backpackers for about 6 miles then
turn around. Rated moderate. Hiking boots are recommended. Bring plenty of
water and lunch. Meet at Winn Dixie on Winchester Road @ 9am. Info. Judy
Jones 852-6179.

Saturday-Sunday, July 10-11. South Cumberland Backpack.
Savage Gulf Ranger Station to Stage Coach campground, 12 miles over two days.
Rated moderate. Call for meeting location & time. Liz Poleretzky, 461-5819
or hiker@knology.net.

Tuesday, July 13th, 6pm.  Mountain Evening Hike.
Monte Sano State Park, Hiker's Parking Lot.

Saturday, July 17th, 9am. Snorkeling Madison Aquatic Park
Cost $5.00 - more if you rent snorkeling gear, I have extra gear. Bring a lunch
so we can spend the morning and part of the afternoon snorkeling. Take 565 to
Wall Triana take Madison exit go north then East on Madison Boulevard. Turn
south at the railroad tracks until road ends then turn east and tend to the
north into the stone quarry. Also look for the green or brown signs that point
the way to the park. Call Doug Horacek 772-6788 for more details.

Sunday, July 18th, 8:30am.  Greeter Gulf Creekwalk and Swim.
Walk through Tennessee's Garden of Eden. Rated strenuous because of slick
rocks and walking through water up to waist deep.  Must wear boots in the
water for ankle support - river sandals are not OK. Bring water and lunch.
Meet at the Winn Dixie on Winchester Rd. Sam Denham  539-1033(h), 961-0436(w).

Dayhike- Quillan Creek to Parker Branch 5 June 2004
     For all the beauty of the Sipsey Wilderness, its crown jewel is Quillan
Canyon. Few come here, probably due to its ruggedness and complete lack of
trails. On this day seven hardy hikers completed the 6 mile bushwhack, with
overcast skies and pleasant temperatures. A field of ripe blackberries treated
us at the beginning of our hike, then we picked up a drainage in the Quillan
watershed and followed it to the creek.
     Quillan Creek flows through a narrow deep canyon of splendid beauty. 
Mature trees are frequently seen growing on the top of boulders, their roots
desperately clutching the rock on a downward search for soil and water. One
can only wonder how they got started. The water dances over cascades,
waterfalls, and winds through a boulder strewn creek bed. In a mile or so
the creek bottom becomes sandy, and soon the creek ends and contributes its
flow to the Sipsey River.
     The Sipsey was low this day, and we walked through the water upstream on
its sandy bottom a short distance to the junction of Hubbard Creek and Parker
Branch, marking the beginning of the Sipsey River. Taking Parker Branch, we
came to a small falls, followed by a larger falls. And then finally Parker
Falls, tumbling and cascading over the boulders in roughly 3 big steps. Above
the falls we followed the Branch upstream as the water dwindled and eventually
disappeared. We were then on our own and went overland to our hike's end at
the 201 trailhead.
  - Lee Hollingsworth