North Alabama Sierra Group December 2008
Tuesday Night Downtown Hikes 6:00pm
Meet at 6:00pm at the Land Trust
parking lot, 907 Franklin St.
Christmas Party Time!
It’s time once again for the annual North Alabama Sierra Club Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice and all around general Holiday party. (Did I miss anyone?) Bring your best side dish or dessert (a few vegetable dishes are always needed) to share and your best nature photos for the Annual Photo Contest. North Alabama Sierra will furnish ham, turkey, drinks, plates, cups, etc. If you would like to help set up for the party, come at 5:30.
For the photo contest, photos should have been taken in 2008 and there is a limit of three entries per category. The categories are 1) People on Outings, 2) Animals in the Wild, 3) Mother Nature (plant life) and 4) Awe-inspiring Views of Natural Areas. There will be prizes for the best photographs.
Come to the downtown library auditorium on December 18 at 6:30 and share the season with other Sierra Club members. The downtown public library is located at 915 Monroe St, just off Governors Drive near Memorial parkway. The auditorium is to the right just inside the entrance. If you have not mailed in your ballot for the Executive committee elections you may bring it to the party. See everyone there!
- the Editor
Have a Green Holiday
Below is a wonderful Holiday Green "listing" produced by Brantley Fry ( adafry@aol.com ) and Joyce Lanning (jalanning@bellsouth.net )
Greening Giving and Receiving – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Greeting Cards – According to Go Green, Live Rich, by David Bach, almost 300,000 trees are harvested annually to produce holiday cards sold in the U.S. Americans purchase and send enough holiday cards to fill a 10-story football field. There are a couple of options to help reduce the environmental impact of holiday cards:
· Send e-cards – Hallmark, American Greetings, and Blue Mountain websites allow you to send free e-cards.
· Order cards from Cards for Causes or Good Cause Greetings for recycled paper cards with a portion of proceeds going to the charity of your choice.
Gift Ideas – According to IdealBite.com, if 10,000 people have to return one less gift to a nearby store, we'll avert the CO2 caused by driving from NYC to North Pole, AK, and back again six times.
· To prevent gift returns, exchange Christmas wish lists. Doing so will prevent us from buying and receiving more stuff we will never use. Free gift registry services include
TheThingsIWant.com and Amazon.com’s wish list.
· Check out New American Dream’s Alternative Gift Registry, which emphasizes eco-friendly gift-giving.
The Gift of Giving:
Reduce consumption, eliminate gift wrap, and support work to better Alabama’s environment by giving gifts in honor of friends and family to local non-profits
· Hays Nature Preserve
· Green Resource Center for Alabama
· Southern Environmental Center
· The Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama
These are just a few of the many non-profits, and the same idea can be applied to any philanthropic organization. To find out more information about local non-profits, contact the Non-Profit Resource Center of Alabama. By giving honoraria, your gift is multiplied beyond the individual(s) to whom you give.
Wrapping Paper - According to Go Green, Live Rich, by David Bach, Americans spend $2.7 billion dollars annually on gift wrap – more than the GDP of some countries in Africa and Asia – on GIFT WRAP!
· Use gift wrap made from recycled paper or better yet use items from around your home such as the funny pages, pages from old magazines, old maps, excess fabric.
· Cut the pictures from your holiday cards and re-use them as gift tags.
Consumable Gifts:
· Baked goods – For those who like to cook, homemade baked goods are always an eco-friendly option.
· Give the gift of plants – Local nurseries and flower shops can help you choose native plants that can be given and planted for a long-lasting gift.
· For coffee lovers, buy locally roasted and organic and fair trade certified, Higher Ground Coffee. Higher Ground comes in flavors that support non-profit organizations.
· Support a local independent book store and purchase a book about sustainability (Don’t’ forget to skip the gift wrap and simply add a ribbon and personal inscription instead.):
· According to IdealBite.com, Americans throw away 165,000 tons of non-rechargeable batteries annually. Instead of the single-use variety, opt for re-chargeable batteries to save money and improve health and the environment.
· Check out the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Great Green Gift Giving web site.
Christmas Decorations:
· Opt for LED Lights - LED is short for Light-Emitting Diode and these lights produce more light with less energy - LED bulbs use 90% less electricity than traditional Christmas bulbs, and with their 20-year lifetimes, you don't have to replace LED light-strings as often as conventional ones.
· Buy a live tree – some local nurseries carry live Christmas trees that can be replanted after Christmas.
· Recycle your Christmas tree – Ask your public works department about recycling and look for announcements regarding local partnerships for tree recycling.
New Members Wanted!
Checks ($25.00) should be mailed to:
David Kostowny
116 Pebblebrook Circle, Madison, AL 35758.
Phone: 325-2296. E-mail: daverave@knology.net
Join the Sierra Club or Renew your Membership for $25
Name______________________________________________
Address____________________________________________
City/State____________________________Zip____________
Phone___________________Email______________________
Contributions, gifts and dues to the Sierra Club are not tax
deductible; they support our effective citizen-based advocacy and lobbying
efforts. Your dues include $7.50 for a subscription to Sierra magazine and
$1.00 for your chapter
newsletter.
Enclose check and mail to:
David Kostowny
116 Pebblebrook Circle
Madison, AL 35758.
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
December 2008 – January 2009
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.
Saturday, Dec 13 – Fagan Spring hike. Easy. Meet at 9:00am at Cleermont trail head for Fagan Spring hike. Call Doug Horacek at 772-6788 for information.
Tuesday, Dec 16, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St.
Virgil DeStefano, 539-0348.
Thursday, Dec 18 – Annual Holiday party. Easy and Filling! Sierra Club will provide turkey, ham and beverages. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share.
Saturday, Dec 20 - Mtn Bicycle Ride, Blackwell Swamp area. Moderate. 17 miles. This ride offers a good sampling of the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge area and is worth carrying a camera. Meet at Cracker Barrel, 120 Cleghorn Blvd, Madison at 10:30am. Bring a helmet (required), water, snacks and lunch. Rain cancels. For more info, contact Sandy Kiplinger, sandykip@juno.com
Saturday, Dec 20 - Little River Canyon Rockhop. Strenuous. This 5-6 mile canyon hike will start at the Powell trail, go to the Eberhart trail and exit there. Joining us will be Larry Beane, the interpretive park ranger for Little River Canyon Preserve. This will not only be a fun and challenging hike, but Larry will share with us his knowledge of the history, geology, and plant/animal life of the canyon. The trail will include nice wooded sections, working through a boulder field, and crossing some ankle popping river rock. Rated strenuous - all participants have to be leader approved before the day of the hike. Optional dinner afterwards. Contact Tom Burley at 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net
Sunday, Dec 21 - Winter Solstice hike and campfire. Moderate. Meet at Sam Denham's house 4333 Chickasaw Dr. at 12:00 noon for a 4-hour hike in the State Park and rock-hop along the pretty part of Big Cove Creek, followed by sitting around the campfire. (Bring a lawn chair.) Bring a snack. Sam Denham 539-1033(h), 961-0436(w).
Tuesday, Dec 23, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St.
Alan Greene, 534-7849.
Sat-Sun, Dec 27-28 - Savage Gulf (TN) Backpack. Moderate. Take a scenic hike along the rim of Savage Gulf as you make your way to Dinky Line Campsite. Dinky Line Campsite is located in a remote area and offers a primitive toilet (privy). Keep your eyes open for turkey and deer along the way. Be prepared for cold weather and pack your gear for an overnight stay. Saturday, we'll hike six miles to camp, and then Sunday we'll hike a different four mile route back to where we started. If interested in this hike then please contact Michael Stewart for more details at 256-656-5836 or athikerstew@yahoo.com
Tuesday, Dec 30, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St.
Gerdi Keyser, 922-2261.
Thursday, Jan 1 - Get Rid of the Hangover hike. Moderate. Meet at Sam Denham's house, 4333 Chickasaw Dr, at 1:00pm for an afternoon hike in Monte Sano State Park. May include some off-trail hiking and a brief rock hop. Hot cider and (more) beer by the fireplace after the hike. 539-1033(h).
Saturday, Jan 3- Little River Canyon Rock Hop/hike. Strenuous. Little River Canyon should have some water in it by this time. Hike the section between the Powell Trail and Eberhard Point, a perennial favorite. Even though this is the easiest section of Little River Canyon, it is rated strenuous, because of some bush whacking and rock hopping, and one creek crossing. Meet at the Publix at Hampton Cove. 8:30am. Sam Denham 539-1033(h).
Tuesday, Jan 6, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St.
Nancy Dudney, 882-9408.
Newsletter Labeling
Wednesday, January 7, 5:30pm. Stanlieo’s Sub Villa, corner of Monroe St. and Governor’s Dr. Liz, 461-5819.
Thursday, Jan 8 – Excom meeting 5:30pm. Mirko Rakigjija, 772-8548.
Saturday, Jan 10 - 3rd Annual Mountain Mist half marathon hike, Part 1. Strenuous. Follow the trails of the runners but at a hiker's pace. The Monte Sano side is 14 miles and the Land Trust 15. Weather dictates which side we hike first. Meet at the Monte Sano State Park Hikers’ parking lot at 7:30am sharp (we don't want to finish this in the dark!). Bring lunch, water, good hiking boots and a few bucks for the entrance fee. Charlie Cohen, 837-3622 (home), 961-7901 (office)
Tuesday, Jan 13, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St.
Nancy Dudney, 882-9408.
Thursday, January 15 – North AL Sierra club meeting. 6:30pm at the Huntsville Public Library downtown. Jim Yeager speaks about biofuels.
Saturday, Jan 17 - 3rd Annual Mountain Mist half marathon hike. Part II. Strenuous. More of the above! See Jan 10 entry for details. Meet at the Monte Sano State Park Hikers’ parking lot at 7:30am sharp (we don't want to finish this in the dark!). Bring lunch, water, good hiking boots and a few bucks for the entrance fee. Charlie Cohen, 837-3622 (home), 961-7901 (office)
Tuesday, Jan 20, 6:00pm - Downtown Evening Hike. Easy. Meet at the Land Trust parking lot at 907 Franklin St.
Nancy Dudney, 882-9408.
Other Outings / Events
The following are not sponsored or administered by the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club has no information about the planning and makes no representations or warranties about the quality, safety, supervision or management of such activities. They are published only as a reader service because they might be of interest to our readers.
Cahaba Group
Sat. 12/13. Pinhoti Trail dayhike (challenge hike). We'll enjoy the section of trail between the CCC road just north of Mt Cheaha and County Road 24 (Abel Road). We'll start at the Cheaha Scenic Drive and proceed down the CCC road (the original way into Cheaha State Park) passing rock retaining walls and over an amazing arched bridge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s, before wading Hillabee Creek on the trail. The total distance of this hike is approximately 10 miles, gaining a rating of strenuous. Hiking boots a necessity. Bring plenty of water and a picnic lunch. Optional dinner afterwards. Trip Leader: Jay Hudson, 907-6879. Call for meeting place and time, or e-mail jay_hudson@bellsouth.net.
Sat. 12/20. Hike the
Little River Canyon. This is a 5 to 6 mile deep canyon hike. We
will start at Powell trail and hike to Eberhart trail and exit there. Joining us
will be Larry Beane. Larry is the interpretive park ranger for the Little River
Canyon Preserve. This will not only be a fun and challenging hike, but Larry
will share with us his knowledge of the history, geology, and plant/animal life
of the canyon. The trail will include nice wooded sections, working through a
boulder field, and crossing some ankle popping river rock. And of course the
star of the show is the high walls of the Little River Canyon and the quiet
river running through it. This hike is rated strenuous and all participants
have to be leader approved before the day of the hike and must wear hiking
boots. Meet at Cracker Barrel in Trussville at 7:30am. This is exit 141 off on
N I-59. Optional dinner afterwards. Leader is Jim Binnings @ 205-746-3266 or jbinnings@bellsouth.net.
South Cumberland State Recreation Area
Saturday,
December 13, 2008
11:00 A.M.
Cave Program
Discover the strange but beautiful world below the surface of the park. This
program includes some scrambling over rocks and possibly wading through
underground streams. Come to the Carter State Natural Area parking lot for this
strenuous five-mile round trip hike. Bring two sources of light, long pants,
boots, water, and a snack. Ranger Brent will be your guide for this cave trip.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
7:30 A.M.
Frosty Meadow Hike
The flowers have faded and the leaves have dropped, but it is still beautiful
along the South Cumberland Meadow. Meet Ranger Jason at the Visitor Center for
this cool, crunchy hike.
2:00 P.M.
Stone Door Hike
Join Ranger Jamie at the Stone Door Ranger Station for this beautiful 2-mile
round trip hike to the Great Stone Door while learning about Savage Gulf and
the Stone Door area.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
1:00 P.M.
First Day of Winter Hike
Come celebrate the first day of winter hike with a hike out to Small Wild
camping area. This will be a moderate 5-mile round trip hike with some
beautiful overlooks into the gulf below. Meet Ranger Brent at the Foster Falls
parking lot. Bring sturdy shoes, water and a snack.
2:00 P.M.
Winter Tree Hike
Join Ranger Jamie at the Stone Door Ranger Station on this first day of winter
to learn about the plateau forest and enjoy the beauty of Savage Gulf State
Natural Area in the wintertime. This is a short one-third mile hike.