North Alabama Sierra Group October 2008
Tuesday Night Downtown Hikes 6:00pm
Meet at the Land Trust parking lot, 907 Franklin St. near downtown Huntsville
Helping Make Huntsville Greener
Lynn Leach, a member of the North Alabama chapter of the Sierra Club and one of the founding members of the Coalition for a Greener Huntsville will be the speaker at our next meeting on Thursday, October 16 at 6:30pm.
The Coalition for a Greener Huntsville was recently formed to link residents, organizations, businesses, builders, educational institutions and faith groups to work with the City of Huntsville to reduce its carbon footprint as well as educate its citizens about environmental stewardship.
The impetus for the formation of the Coalition was based on Mayor Spencer's signing of the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. Lynn will discuss the efforts of the Coalition to help the City of Huntsville take part in the Sierra Club's Cool Cities initiative, and the new partnership with the city to help promote programs already in place, by being "Green Ambassadors."
For the November meeting, Dr. Robert Hastings will bring Dr. Bob’s Traveling Snake Show to Huntsville. That meeting will be Thursday, November 20 at 6:30pm. Don’t miss this one!
The North Alabama Sierra Club meets the third Thursday of every month at the Huntsville Madison County Public Library in the main auditorium. The library is in downtown Huntsville on Monroe St., just off Governor’s Drive. The next meeting will be Thursday, October 16 at 6:30pm. Everyone is invited to attend.
- the Editor
Tuesday Night Hikes Are Downtown in October
Starting October 7, the Tuesday night hikes move downtown as the nights get shorter. Downtown Huntsville is a great area for walking and you can still get in your regular 2-3 mile walks on Tuesday nights. We meet at 6:00pm at the Land Trust parking lot on 907 Franklin St. For more information, call Nancy at 882-9408.
Supporting Bicycling in Huntsville
After the recent tragic accident on Holmes Avenue, a group of concerned bicyclists and others filled the City Council chambers demanding that the city do more to make Huntsville friendlier for commuting by bicycle. Many people who use bicycles regularly complained about the lack of clearly marked bike routes and signs prompting motorists to watch for bikes. The City Council heard the bicyclists’ concerns and the City has formed a Bike/Pedestrian Standing Committee to work with the city’s engineering, public safety and planning departments.
The immediate goal of the Committee is to raise public awareness of the presence of cyclists on city roads and the laws governing that presence. Other short term goals are to get more bike racks in high use locations, get pavement marking in place on designated bikeway roads, publish bicycle route maps and get committee representation from the two universities and Redstone Arsenal.
With the rising price of gas and the concern over climate change due to carbon emissions, choosing to ride a bicycle to work or school is a practice that should be encouraged by every municipality. Huntsville is taking steps to do this. The North Alabama Sierra Club supports the goals of the new City of Huntsville Bike/Pedestrian Standing Committee.
If you are a member of the local Sierra Club and an active bicyclist, you can help as a liaison between the Sierra Club and the Bike/Pedestrian Standing Committee. For more information, call Jack Drost at 880-2644.
- the Editor
CASA TEMPS Program Saves energy
For 25 years hundreds of community volunteers have helped to make Madison County’s elderly and homebound individuals warmer and safer during the winter months. The TEMP$ (Taking Energy Measures Personally = Savings) program volunteer day occurs on Saturday, November 1. The projects that volunteers work on include weather-stripping doors and windows, covering windows with plastic to create cheap and effective storm windows, installing door sweeps to block drafts and repairing storm doors. The idea is to weatherproof homes to keep cold air out and lower utility bills for residents who may have a hard time paying their utility bills.
By making homes more weather tight, the CASA TEMP$ program also helps to cut down on carbon emissions as less energy is wasted in heating these homes. The North Alabama Sierra Club has joined this effort by purchasing and helping to install hundreds of CFL bulbs in the homes which receive weatherproofing. CFL bulbs last longer and are much more energy efficient which further reduces energy use in the home and helps lower utility bills. This year, the North Alabama Sierra Club is purchasing a new type of CFL bulb with less mercury so disposal of the bulbs causes fewer problems.
The CASA TEMP$ program helps lower utility bills for elderly and disabled citizens in the area who are the hardest hit by high utility bills, which will be even higher this year with the TVA rate increases. Lowering utility bills also means burning less coal which benefits all of us.
The CASA TEMP$ program needs volunteers Saturday, November 1 for this successful program which benefits the needier citizens of Huntsville and helps the environment. If you would like more information about participating in the workday on Saturday, November 1, please call Marcia at CASA of Madison County at 533-7775. Or you can call Steven Baty, local Sierra Club member in charge of the CFL bulb replacement program at 489-0990.
- the Editor
Correction to Recycling Article
An article in last month’s newsletter stated that Allied Waste only picks up plastic containers with a 2 or 3 recycling code. It should have stated that they pick up plastic containers with a 1 or 2 code.
We apologize for the error.
- the Editor
Don’t Forget the Chapter Retreat!
That’s the Alabama Sierra Retreat at the Alabama 4-H
Center on Lay Lake near Columbiana. Presentations focus on two themes - Alabama’s Incredible Biodiversity and The Greening of Alabama. The former will emphasize Alabama’s natural heritage of wildlife and our need to protect the natural habitats for these species, including both plants and animals. The latter will focus on our need to improve environmental awareness and conservation efforts in Alabama.
Outings include canoeing on Lay Lake, a 25-foot climbing wall, GPS scavenger hunt, hiking and horseback riding. Retreat registration with meals is only $35. Room rates vary from $25 for private rooms to $20 for dorm-style accommodations to $10 for a campsite.
Come join other Alabama Sierra Club members for an educational and inspirational weekend and to connect with friends old and new. For more information, contact David Norwood at 334-281-9479 or dn355@bellsouth.net
2008 ExCom Members
Chair Mirko Rakigjija 772-8548
Vice-Chair Liz Poleretzky 461-5819
Treasurer Sam Denham 539-1033
Conservation Doug Horacek 772-6788
Fundraising Judy Burley 883-4207
Membership Dave Kostowny 682-1233
Outings Tom Burley 883-4267
Political chair Joe Imhof 858-3626
Publicity Sandy Kiplinger 498-1023
Secretary Linda Griffin 772-8653
Tuesday Hikes Nancy Dudney 882-9408
Newsletter Jack Drost 880-2644
Web Page Steven Baty 489-0990
North Alabama Sierra Club - Outings and Events Calendar
October – November 2008
Thursday, October 16 6:30pm Helping Make Huntsville Greener
Hike Ratings
General Note: Saturday outings may take all day and last into early evening. The Sierra Club encourages carpooling to save fuel, but you should be prepared to drive your own car on club outings.
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 (1000 ft or more), trail may be rocky, obstructed or nonexistent.
Exploratory- event the leader has not experienced before, may fit any class.
Sunday, Oct 12 – Honeysuckle Clearing. Easy. Meet 1:00pm on Land Trust trail across from Fagan Spring Apartments. Bring loppers and gloves. Doug Horacek 256 772-6788.
Tuesday, Oct 14, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Virgil DeStefano, 539-0348.
Thursday, October 16 – North AL Sierra club meeting. 6:30pm at the Huntsville Public Library downtown. Lynn Leach will speak about the new Coalition for a Greener Huntsville.
Saturday, Oct 18- Signal Point hike. Moderate. Signal Point is the highest point on Signal Mountain. The hike from Signal Point to Edwards Point is part of the Cumberland Trail with striking overlooks of the Tennessee River Gorge. The hike follows the top of the gorge covering some rocky terrain and requires some climbing. The area includes the Julia Falls Overlook, Edwards Point, a view of Rainbow Falls on the trail to Middle Creek across the suspension bridge and Lockhart’s Arch. The hike is about seven miles. Bring lunch and we will dine afterwards at a local restaurant. Meet at 8:00 am at the Publix in Hampton Cove. Contact Tom Burley at 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net
Sunday, Oct 19 – Wade Mountain Wildflower hike. Easy. Meet 1:00pm at Wade Mountain trailhead on Spragins Hollow Road for Great Plains Ladies Tresses. Bring water, sturdy hiking boots. Doug Horacek at 256-772-6788.
Tuesday, Oct 21, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Alan Greene, 534-7849.
Thursday, Oct 23 – Excom meeting 5:30pm. Mirko Rakigjija, 772-8548.
Saturday, Oct 25 - Walls of Jericho hike. Strenuous. The Walls of Jericho is large, bowl-shaped natural amphitheater that shoots water out of holes and cracks in the canyon wall during times of high water flow. This unique area consists of more than 21,000 acres of rivers, forested uplands and caves spreading across the Alabama and Tennessee state lines. This area, once the hunting grounds of Davy Crockett, contains a diverse array of plants and animals. We will enter at the Tennessee trailhead and exit on the Alabama side with a trip to Mill creek. The hike is approximately 10 miles with a 1000 foot elevation gain. Bring lunch and we will dine afterwards at a local restaurant. Meet at 8:00am at the Publix in Hampton Cove. Contact Tom Burley at 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net
Tuesday, Oct 28, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Gerdi Keyser, 922-2251.
Tuesday, Nov 4, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Charlotte Buening, 772-7348.
Saturday, Nov 08 - Keith Trail hike. Moderate. Meet at 10:00am at the Hiker's parking lot on Monte Sano, will do Mountain Mist, Sinks, Stone Cuts, Super Cuts and the Keith then Sinks again and back. 5 to 6 mile hike. Bring water, snack, sturdy hiking boots, 3/4 of a day. Call Doug Horacek at 256 772-6788 for more information.
Tuesday, Nov 11, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St. Randy May, 687-7558.
Newsletter Labeling
Wednesday, November 12, 5:30pm. Stanlieo’s Sub Villa, corner of Monroe St. and Governor’s Dr. Liz, 461-5819.
Saturday, Nov 15 - Mt. Cheaha Fall Color hike. Strenuous. We will hike 8 miles on the Pinhoti Trail, from Cheaha trailhead (parking lot) along the ridgeline on the Pinhoti Trail to Caney Head. We should see beautiful panoramic views of the mountains and valleys in their autumn splendor. Then we will descend on the Chinnabee Trail to the Turnipseed campsite and a shuttle vehicle. Bring water, lunch, sturdy boots or strong ankles. Optional dinner afterwards at the State Lodge. Meet 7:00am Hampton Cove Publix parking lot, or 9:30am at Oxford Shoney’s. Lee Hollingsworth, 256.520.6659
Sunday, Nov 16 – Honeysuckle Clearing. Easy. Meet 1:00pm at the Land Trust trail across from Fagan Spring Apartments. Bring loppers and gloves. Doug Horacek 256 772-6788.
Tuesday, Nov 18, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St.
Nancy Dudney, 882-9408.
Thursday, November 20 – North AL Sierra club meeting. 6:30pm at the Huntsville Public Library downtown. Dr. Bob Hasting’s Traveling Snake Show. Don’t miss it!
Sat-Sun, Nov 21-23. Fort Mountain Carcamp, Strenuous. Fort Mountain derives its name from an ancient 855-foot-long rock wall which stands on the highest point of the mountain. The mysterious wall is thought to have been built by Native Americans as fortification against other more hostile tribes or for ancient ceremonies or even perhaps by the legendary mooneye people. The Gahuti Trail travels around the edge of the park. Ever changing, the trail is both beautiful and challenging in all seasons providing spectacular vistas. We will leave around 1:00pm on Friday and hike 10-11 miles on Saturday. Judy Burley 883-4267 or jcburley@bellsouth.net
Fri-Sun, Dec 5-7. Christmas on the Mountain at Fall Creek Falls. Easy. Come enjoy Tennessee’s Fall Creek Falls Winter Festival of Yuletide fun, featuring Handmade Christmas Crafts, Songs, Tea Parties, and more at Fall Creek Falls Inn. The cost is $108 plus tax and includes two nights lodging and breakfast for two people each morning in the dining room (beverage included). Package price is based on double occupancy. For those interested, we will be hiking Friday and Saturday. Hikes will be moderate. You are responsible for making your own reservations at 423-881-5241, but if you wish to hike with us let me know that you are coming and when you plan to arrive. Tom Burley at 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net