North Alabama Sierra Group May 2009
Tuesday Night Mountain Hikes 6:00pm
Tuesday Evening hikes leave at 6:00pm from the Monte Sano State Park Hiker's Parking Lot. There is a small hiker fee. We usually walk 3 - 4 miles to different locations on each hike. Although not strenuous, all hikes are vigorous. All dogs must be on a leash while in the parking lot and while on the trail. Contact: Michael Stewart at 656-5836 or athikerstew@yahoo.com
Dan Satterfield on Global Warming
WHNT
Chief Meteorologist Dan Satterfield is a native of Oklahoma. Fascinated by
weather since early childhood, he attended the University of Oklahoma and
graduated with a degree in Meteorology in 1981. While at O.U. he was on the
NOAA Severe storm intercept team and has worked for TV and radio stations in
Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Dan recently finished a Masters degree in Earth
Science.
Dan is a full member of the American Meteorological Society and has also been
elected a member of the International Association of Broadcast meteorologist.
He has held the AMS Seal of approval since 1985. He has also been granted the
status of an AMS Certified Meteorologist.
Dan came to WHNT TV in August of 1994. Besides weather, his hobbies are
photography, travel and geology.
In June, The North Alabama Sierra Club will meet at the Botanical Gardens on Bob Wallace Ave. for a picnic and tour of the gardens.
The North Alabama Sierra Club meets at 6:30pm 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. Everyone is invited.
- The Editor
Chris Smith from Forever Wild to Speak
The new north Alabama chapter of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society will bring Chris Smith, the director of Forever Wild, to Huntsville to speak and to talk about how the new chapter of the AHTS can work with Forever Wild to help develop new trails in north Alabama.
Since its inception in 1992, Forever Wild has purchased more than 100,000 acres of land in wetlands in Alabama, preserving it from development and for future generations to enjoy. In April 2005, state senators proposed diverting 30 percent of Forever Wild’s funding to other agencies. When the bill was announced, voters became outraged and flooded the phone lines at the state capitol. The bill died before the ink had dried.
While Forever Wild receives funding from offshore drilling and matching federal grants, the money received is strictly for the purchase of land, not its management. A program has been instituted to address this issue. Residents can purchase Forever Wild license plates for their vehicles, with proceeds going to help fund tract management. So far, the tags have netted an additional $200,000 for Forever Wild.
Immediate goals for the new local chapter of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society are to build new trails in the Walls of Jericho, a 12,500 acre tract Forever Wild purchased in 2002 after a ten-year effort. Currently there are only 10 miles of hiking trails in the Walls area. Longer term goals include a trail along the Tennessee River connecting the Walls area with the Shoals, to connect there to a proposed trail leading from the Shoals down through western and central Alabama to the Alabama Coast.
For more information about the next meeting, contact Lucas Veverka, ljverv@yahoo.com.
The Alabama Hiking Trail Society also leads hikes all over the state. For more information about the Society and their activities, go to http://www.hikealabama.org/
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
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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.
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New Public Lands Law to Benefit Alabama
On April 2, President Barack Obama signed into law the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act. The new law establishes 2.1 million acres of wilderness in nine states, gives landmark protection to more than a million acres in the Wyoming Range, designates four national conservation areas and establishes one national monument.
In Alabama, the new law established the following:
- Newly adjusted and expanded boundaries for the Little River Canyon National Preserve
- Creation of the Shoals National Heritage Area
- Creation of the Chattahoochee Trace National Heritage Area
Each National Heritage Area carries limited financial and technical assistance from the National Park Service.
For additional information about the new Omnibus Public Lands Law, visit http://www.wilderness.org
- Reprinted from Bama Environmental News, April 9, 2009 #320
2009 ExCom Members
Chair Mirko Rakigjija 772-8548
Vice-Chair Judy Burley 883-4267
Treasurer Sam Denham 539-1033
Conservation Doug Horacek 772-6788
Fundraising Charlotte Buening 772-7348
Legislative Charlie Cohen 837-3622
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 Michael Stewart 656-5836
Newsletter Jack Drost 880-2644
Web Page Steven Baty 489-0990
North Alabama Sierra Club - Outings and Events Calendar
May - June 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.
Sunday, May 17 - Rainbow Mountain wildflower hike. Easy. We will be in search of Carolina Larkspur. Meet at 2:00pm at the Rainbow Mountain trail head by the water tower at the top of the mountain. Bring water and sturdy hiking boots. Call Doug Horacek at 772-6788.
Sunday, May 17 - Last 2009 'Out of Hibernation' hike. Moderate. This will be a moderate hike in level of difficulty but taken at a leisurely stroll. We'll start at the Hiker's Parking lot on Monte Sano Blvd, 12:30pm, work our way down the Arrowhead Trail to see what's left of the spring and return by way of the Natural Well. Bring water, snacks, good hiking shoes, bug spray and tales of intrigue. Rain cancels. Sandy Kiplinger, sandykip@juno.com.
Tuesday, May 19, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. 3-4 mile hike. Meet at the Monte Sano Hiker’s parking lot. Randy May, 687-7558.
Saturday, May 23 - Guntersville State Park: The Other Half of the Map.
Moderate. Approx 8.5 miles. Join us on this spirited adventure as we wind our way up/down and around the mountains at a camera pace, in search of flowers on my cheat sheet and lost golf balls. Meet at 8:30am by the Super Wal-Mart Gas Station, 11610 South Memorial Parkway, Huntsville. Bring lots and lots of water, lunch, snacks, good hiking shoes and bug spray. Optional dinner after the hike. Sandy Kiplinger, sandykip@juno.com and Charlie Cohen, 256/837-3622 (hm), 961-7901 (wk).
Saturday, May 23 - Sixteenth Annual Pisgah Gorge Rockhop. Strenuous. Waterfalls, swimming, boulders as big as houses, spiders as big as dinner plates, ticks, snakes, poison ivy, everything! The most beautiful scenery in Alabama is worth it! Since the two-year drought is over, there will be big water this time for sure! Leader approval required. Sam Denham 539-1033(h), 961-0436(w).
Monday, May 25- Memorial Day Lake party. Carter Mt, Tennessee. Bring lunch, water, drinks, etc. for picnic lunch around 12:30. There are paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, swimming, and an optional hike. Take Winchester Road to Huntland, TN, turn left at stop sign, go about 2 miles and turn right at next stop sign onto 4-lane , Hwy 64, follow until you go UNDER an overpass and then take next right onto Hwy 16, go about 10 miles and turn left onto Jehovah Jireh Lane between mile markers 22 and 23 on Hwy16, follow paved road to lake. Joette (256) 776-3551.
Tuesday, May 26, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. 3-4 mile hike. Meet at the Monte Sano Hiker’s parking lot. Alan Greene, 534-7849.
Thursday, May 28 – Excom meeting 5:30pm. Mirko Rakigjija, 772-8548.
Saturday, May 30 - Borden Creek/Big Tree hike. Strenuous. 14 mile hike in the Sipsey Wilderness. We will begin at the Borden Creek Bridge hiking up the old logging road and down to the Big Tree, then along the Sipsey River to Borden Creek and return to the trailhead. Bring lunch and we will dine afterwards at a local restaurant. Meet at Cracker Barrel in Madison at 8:00am or at 7:00 am for breakfast. Or meet us at the Warrior Mt Trading Post in Wren at 9:00am, but call or email me so we will know to expect you. Tom Burley at 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net
Tuesday, June 2, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. 3-4 mile hike. Meet at the Monte Sano Hiker’s parking lot. Gerdi Keyser, 922-2251.
Saturday, June 6 - Cloudland Canyon hike. Moderate. Located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, this park straddles a deep gorge cut into the mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek with an elevation change from 800 to 1980 feet. We will hike to the bottom of the gorge and then hike the rim trail that should provide spectacular vistas. Bring lunch and we will have dinner (optional) at a local restaurant. Meet at the Publix in Hampton Cove at 9:00am. Tom Burley at 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net
Tuesday, June 9, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. 3-4 mile hike. Meet at the Monte Sano Hiker’s parking lot. Nancy Dudney, 882-9408.
Newsletter Labeling
Wednesday, June 10, 5:30pm. Stanlieo’s Sub Villa, corner of Monroe St. Governors Dr. Contact Jack, drostj@bellsouth.net.
Saturday, June 13 - Sharp Mt. hike. Strenuous. Rain date June 14. Hike over Sharp Mountain from Sharp's Cove to The Nature Conservancy's Calloway Sinks in Jackson County. We'll start at the home of Sierra Club members Steve and Beth Jackson who will cook breakfast for us before we start the climb. The hike will be about 8 to 9 miles round trip, 6 hours, 1000ft climb, then 700 ft descent, then 700ft ascent, then 1000ft descent, much off trail. Dogs must be on leash. Leader approval required. Sam Denham 539-1033(h), 961-0436(w).
Sunday, June 14 - Honeysuckle elimination Meet at 2:00pm at the Land Trust across from Fagan Spring Apartments I will bring water loppers and gloves, I will provide two loppers, saw, and popper gloves and water. Call Doug Horacek at 772-6788 .
Tuesday, June 16, 6:00pm - Mountain Evening Hike. Easy. 3-4 mile hike. Meet at the Monte Sano Hiker’s parking lot. Ken Shrider, 772-9442.
Thu-Sun, June 18-21, Max Patch to Hot Springs backpack. Strenuous. 20-mile backpack with significant elevation changes over two days. Saturday night stay at a campground with a mineral hot springs. Group size limited to ten people with commitment by June 1. Tom Burley, 883-4267 or tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net
Saturday, June 20- Buggy Top Cave hike. Strenuous. Approx 5 miles. Join Ranger Brent and I as we hike down to and through this natural scenic wonder beneath the earth's surface. We'll cross underground streams, scramble up, down and around rocks. Group size is limited. Bring water, snacks, two sources of light, boots, change of clothes and wear long pants. Optional dinner after in Sewanee. Sandy Kiplinger, sandykip@juno.com.
Sunday, June 21 - Wade Mountain Wildflower hike. Easy. We will be in search of Rattlesnake Master and Fringed Loosestrife. Meet at 2:00pm at trail head on Spragins Hollow Drive. Bring water, insect repellant, and sturdy boots. Call Doug Horacek at 772-6788.