January 2012 Trail Mail

Hello Tennessee Valley Hikers!

2012 is upon us and we have already had some great hiking weather.  I hope you have had the opportunity to enjoy it.  I would also like to ask for your help.  My work schedule the last few months has been such that I am not able to properly function as chair of our chapter, so we need some people to step up and help organize hikes, trail work, Alabama Trail planning, any other activities we want to do and publicizing those events.  This organization is what we the members make it.  I apologize that I have not been able to contribute more lately and I hope that some of you will help our organization live up to it’s potential.  Hikes can be led by anyone and is a great way to share your favorite hikes with others.  As far as trail work, the state lands crew is building the new 11 mile trail in the Walls of Jericho this spring and they need all the help they can get.  I will help anyone that wants to take the initiative to lead an event get it planned and get the word out.  There is so much we can do here in North Alabama from getting people out on the trails to building trails to designing the trails of the future!  I do want to thank you all for what you have already done and hope you will join us for our next meeting.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 at 6:00pm in Meeting Room A/B in the Main Public Library in Huntsville.  We will be discussing progress on the Alabama Trail, recapping the year and setting goals for next year, as well as winter hikes and trail work.

Now is the time to start renewing memberships for 2012, please go to the membership website to renew your membership or to become a member and to help our organization and our voice grow.  Notice that we have moved into the digital age and now allow you to get your membership online!

For updated news, links and events, please visit our website or Facebook page at:

http://hikenorthalabama.org/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=188957871139

Statewide News and Events

- The AHTS will be holding our annual conference on March 9th – 11th, 2012 at the 4H Center in Columbiana, Alabama.  The key note speaker this year will be Michael Leonard, the man who made the connection of the Pinhoti Trail to the Appalachian Trail a reality.  Additionally there will be 3 days of presentations on hiking gear, hiking destinations in the Southeast, history, the environment, hands on presentations and much more.  Please go here for more information and to register.

Upcoming  Events

Tuesday, January 17th, 6:00pm
January Meeting
The January meeting will be on Tuesday, January 17th at 6pm at the Main Branch of the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library.

I hope to see you all at our upcoming events and thank you for your dedication to our hiking pastime!  Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or ideas.

Lucas Veverka
Alabama Hiking Trail Society
Tennessee Valley Chapter – Chair

December News and Events

Hello Tennessee Valley Hikers!I want to thank all of you that made it to the Alabama Trail presentation.  We had a great turnout and are starting to develop momentum here in the Tennessee Valley.  We will continue to have committee meetings regarding the Alabama Trail with the next being on Tuesday.  Please let me know if you want to help or have connections to people who would like to help make the Alabama Trail a reality. As the holidays are upon us, we do not have any specific activities planned for the rest of the year, but we are looking to start off 2012 with more hikes, trail work, and Alabama Trail progress.  We are looking for people willing to lead others on their favorite hikes and to put together other activities.  Please help us get the word out and get our participation up!Our year end meeting will be on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011 at 6:00pm in Meeting Room A/B in the Main Public Library in Huntsville.  We will be discussing progress on the Alabama Trail, recapping the year and setting goals for next year, as well as winter hikes and trail work.

(December 20th meeting cancelled.)

Now is the time to start renewing memberships for 2012, please go to the membership website to renew your membership or to become a member and to help our organization and our voice grow.  Notice that we have moved into the digital age and now allow you to get your membership online!

For updated news, links and events, please visit our website or Facebook page at:

http://hikenorthalabama.org/ 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=188957871139

Statewide News and Events

- The AHTS will be holding our annual conference on March 9th – 11th, 2012 at the 4H Center in Columbiana, Alabama.  The key note speaker this year will be Michael Leonard, the man who made the connection of the Pinhoti Trail to the Appalachian Trail a reality.  Additionally there will be 3 days of presentations on hiking gear, hiking destinations in the Southeast, history, the environment, hands on presentations and much more.  Please go here for more information and to register.

Upcoming  Events

Tuesday, December 20th, 6:00pm
December Meeting
The December meeting will be on Tuesday, December 20th at 6pm at the Main Branch of the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library.  We will be recapping the year, discussing Alabama Trail progress, and setting our goals for 2012.  Please come join us and get 2012 off to a strong start.

Tuesday, January 17th, 6:00pm
January Meeting
The January meeting will be on Tuesday, January 17th at 6pm at the Main Branch of the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library. 

I hope to see you all at our upcoming events and thank you for your dedication to our hiking pastime!  Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or ideas.

Lucas Veverka
Alabama Hiking Trail Society
Tennessee Valley  Chapter – Chair

November News and Events

Hello Tennessee Valley Hikers!

I hope you were able to make it out for a hike in our beautiful October weather.  As a chapter, we were able to blow the leaves off the main Walls of Jericho trail all the way down to the campground at the bottom as well as trimming back growth and cleaning up trash along that section.  Of course, more leaves will have fallen since, but we will clean it again in a couple months in preparation for the spring hiking season.  We also received our first shipment of tools purchased by the statewide organization using a grant from the state.  We received basic equipment such as safety glasses, hard hats, loppers and rakes.  We will be getting another shipment by the end of the year so we will be fully equipped to maintain and build trails.  Now all we need is you to come help us put the equipment to use!

The big event for November is that the Tennessee Valley Chapter of the Alabama Hiking Trail Society is hosting a presentation by AHTS President Joe Cuhaj on the Alabama Trail.  The presentation will be on Saturday November 5th from 9:30am to 11:30am at the main branch of the Huntsville Public Library on Monroe Street.  Please join us and invite your friends.  The more people we have fueling this project the more progress we can make!  To give some background, the Alabama Trail will be a 550-mile long wilderness footpath for hiking and backpacking that will stretch from Fort Morgan on the Alabama Gulf Coast to the Walls of Jericho on the Alabama-Tennessee state line. The trail will have a significant impact on the state and especially local communities along the trail route providing not only local wilderness hiking and camping adventures for individuals and families, but also creating a protected wilderness greenway and bring a boost to local and state economies through eco-tourism dollars. You can learn more about the Alabama Hiking Trail Society online at http://www.hikealabama.org/.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 at 6:00pm at a location TBD in Huntsville.  If you have any meeting location suggestions or requests, please let me know.  For the meeting, we will be talking about the Alabama Trail progress and winter hikes and trail work.

Now is the time to start renewing memberships for 2012, please go to http://hikealabama.org/membership to renew your membership or to become a member and to help our organization and our voice grow.  Notice that we have moved into the digital age and now allow you to get your membership online!

For updated news, links and events, please visit our website or Facebook page at:

http://hikenorthalabama.org/ 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alabama-Hiking-Trail-Society-Tennessee-Valley-Chapter/186097912151

Statewide News and Events

- 2011 Fall Trail Work Week is scheduled for Nov. 7 – 12, 2011. We’ll be working on the new Coosa Trail in the Coosa WMA. Camping is available nearby. If you would like to participate, email Rick Guhse at for details.

Upcoming  Events

-Saturday, November 5th, 9:30am Alabama Trail Presentation
We will be holding a public meeting Saturday November 5th from 9:30am to 11:30am at the main branch of the Huntsville Public Library on Monroe Street to discuss a new project – the Alabama Trail, a 550-mile long wilderness footpath from the Alabama Gulf Coast to Tennessee. The meeting will focus on trail building efforts in the Tennessee Valley and the impact the trail will have on the region.

-Tuesday, November 15th, 6:00pm November Meeting
The November meeting will be on Tuesday, November 15th at 6pm at a location TBD in Huntsville.  We will be discussing Alabama Trail planning progress, upcoming trail work, and some winter hikes.

-Tuesday, December 20th, 6:00pm December Meeting
The December meeting will be on Tuesday, December 20th at 6pm at a location TBD in Huntsville.

I hope to see you all at our upcoming events and thank you for your dedication to our hiking pastime!  Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or ideas.

Lucas Veverka
Alabama Hiking Trail Society
Tennessee Valley  Chapter – Chair

October News and Events

Hello Tennessee Valley Hikers!

The weather is perfect for hiking and we are looking to take advantage by having a couple hikes and some trail work in October.  Everyone is invited to join Connie for hikes on October 16th and 30th as well as to join us for trail work in the Walls of Jericho on October 22nd.  The hikes will be easy to moderate and the trail work will be mainly light trash cleanup, clearing leaves and debris from the trail, and trimming back brush.  If you want to give back to the trail or even just want to join us for the hike down into the Walls, please come out!

We had our initial planning committee meeting for the Tennessee Valley portion of the Alabama Trail on Tuesday, September 27th and made some good progress laying out the scope of the project and putting together ideas on how to get from the Tennessee border in the Walls of Jericho to the Tennessee River in south Huntsville.  If you would like to join the committee and be a part of this momentous project, just let me know!  On that note, AHTS President Joe Cuhaj is working hard on putting together a time in November where we will host a public meeting here in Huntsville describing the Alabama Trail and what each of us can do to help.  I will send more info along on that meeting as it comes together.

This coming weekend is AlaRuck 2011 (Oct 8-9, 2011 at the Open Pond Recreation Area, Conecuh National Forest).  AlaRuck is a family friendly campout under the stars. It’s a celebration of hiking and the outdoors, a chance to catch up with old friends and meet new, hike the many trails at Conecuh, win prizes with the Camp Decoration Contest, and so much more. ADMISSION IS FREE and the event is OPEN TO EVERYONE!!! We only ask that you register if you plan to attend and if you can, bring something for the BIG Pot Luck Supper Saturday night. Get more details and register online today at http://alaruck.hikealabama.org

NOTE: There is a fee to camp at Open Pond-$6 primitive, $12 improved, payable at the self-check in kiosk when you arrive. Campers and RV’s welcome.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 18th, 2011 at 6:00pm at a location TBD in Huntsville.  The Nook was too loud and crowded our last meeting and the meeting rooms in the library appear to be reserved.  If you have any suggestions or requests, please let me know or I will find a quieter spot for us to meet.  For the meeting, we will be talking about the trail work coming up on the 22nd, the progress of planning our portion of the Alabama trail, upcoming hikes, news from around the state, and anything else you would like to discuss.  Please bring all your ideas for what you want to see the AHTS do this fall.

If you have not renewed your membership for 2011 yet or would like to get a jump on 2012, please go to http://hikealabama.org/membership to renew your membership or to become a member and to help our organization and our voice grow.  Notice that we have moved into the digital age and now allow you to get your membership online!

For updated news, links and events, please visit our website or Facebook page at:

http://hikenorthalabama.org/ 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alabama-Hiking-Trail-Society-Tennessee-Valley-Chapter/186097912151

Statewide News and Events

- AlaRuck 2011 will be held October 8-9 at the Open Pond Recreation Area in the Conecuh National Forest and YOU’RE INVITED! AlaRuck is a weekend filled with hiking and fellowship and IT’S FREE! Complete details and registration information can be found at alaruck.hikealabama.org, by emailing us at ahts@hikealabama.org, or by phone at 251-279-0801.

- 2011 Fall Trail Work Week is scheduled for Nov. 7 – 12, 2011. We’ll be working on the new Coosa Trail in the Coosa WMA. Camping is available nearby. If you would like to participate, email Rick Guhse at for details.

- The Alabama Hiking Trail Society’s quarterly Board meeting will be held Oct 8, 2011, at 10am at the Open Pond Recreation Area in the Conecuh National Forest. The meeting is open so please plan to attend and lend your voice to our discussion of issues facing hiking trails in the state.

Upcoming  Events

-Sunday, October 16th, 8:00am: Fagan Springs Hike
We will be doing an easy to moderate hike on Land Trust land leaving from the Owens Drive trailhead on the morning of Sunday, October 16th.  The hike will include the following trails: start trailhead at end of Owens Drive–Fagan Springs–Alms House–Wagon Trail–Wildflower Trail–Fagan Springs–Alms House–Old Railroad Bed–Toll Creek-Fagan Springs back to trailhead.  Please be at the trailhead at 7:45am and make sure to wear good shoes and bring water.  The hike will last from 1 to 1.5 hours.  Please contact Connie with any questions.

-Tuesday, October 18th, 6:00pm: October Meeting
The October meeting will be on Tuesday, October 18th at 6pm at a location TBD in Huntsville.  The topics will include the trail work coming up on the 22nd, the progress of planning our portion of the Alabama trail, upcoming hikes, news from around the state, and anything else you would like to discuss.

Saturday, October 22nd, 8:00am (leaving at 7:00am): Walls of Jericho Trail Work
We will be doing a full day of trail work in the Walls of Jericho on Saturday, October 22nd.  We will be doing general cleanup, maintenance and trash pickup on the main Walls trail.  There will be something for hikers of any level to do, so please come help us keep north Alabama beautiful.  We will wagon train and carpool up to the Walls from the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 72 in Gurley, leaving at 7:00am, or you can meet us in the hikers parking lot at 8:00am.   Please email or call Lucas by 8pm on Friday, October 21st if you would like to help out so that I know how many people to expect. Make sure to bring plenty of water, a lunch to get you through the day, and any gloves, loppers or other equipment you may have.  We are starting early and will be done by mid-afternoon (4pm) if not earlier.

-Sunday, October 30th, TBD: Huntsville Hike
We will be doing a hike on Sunday, October 30th with specific times and trail information to come.

-Tuesday, November 15th, 6:00pm:November Meeting
The November meeting will be on Tuesday, November 15th at 6pm at a location TBD in Huntsville.

I hope to see you all at our upcoming events and thank you for your dedication to our hiking pastime!  Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or ideas.

Lucas Veverka
Alabama Hiking Trail Society
Tennessee Valley  Chapter – Chair

August News and Events

Hello Tennessee Valley Hikers!

 

I would like to apologize again for the lack of activity the last couple months, especially since I must cancel the meeting I had moved to this Tuesday.  I will be out of town for work, so we will just pick up with our scheduled September meeting.  From there we will begin planning our portion of the Alabama Trail and setting up fall trail work.  I believe we can have a very productive and active fall here in the Tennessee Valley and I hope you will join us!

Registration is now open for AlaRuck 2011 (Oct 8-9, 2011 at the Open Pond Recreation Area, Conecuh National Forest).  AlaRuck is a family friendly campout under the stars. It’s a celebration of hiking and the outdoors, a chance to catch up with old friends and meet new, hike the many trails at Conecuh, win prizes with the Camp Decoration Contest, and SO MUCH MORE. ADMISSION IS FREE and the event is OPEN TO EVERYONE!!! We only ask that you register if you plan to attend and if you can, bring something for the BIG Pot Luck Supper Saturday night. Get more details and register online today at http://alaruck.hikealabama.org
NOTE: There is a fee to camp at Open Pond-$6 primitive, $12 improved, payable at the self-check in kiosk when you arrive. Campers and RV’s welcome.

Thank you to all who have voted in the AllTerrain Grant Competion up to this point. AHTS is currently in 3rd place!! AHTS could win either $1000, $500, or $250 (1st, 2nd, 3rd place) to help with our annual conference which in turn helps us to continue our mission.
 
BUT FOR US TO WIN IT’S UP TO YOU!!! Please vote and remember – you can vote as many times as you like! Here’s what you do:
 
1. Click the following link: http://info.allterrainco.com/allterraincares/
2. Click the August Voting button
3. Locate the Alabama Hiking Trail Society in the list on the right of the screen
4. Click on us!

As previously discussed, our next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 at 6:00pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville. We will be talking about trail progress around the state, our plans for the fall hiking season, and the future of our chapter.  The main discussion will be to begin planning our portion of the Alabama Trail and discussing the upcoming AlaRuck.  Please bring all your ideas for what you want to see the AHTS do this fall.

If you have not renewed your membership for 2011 yet, please go to http://www.hikealabama.org/sites/default/files/files/brochure2008.pdf to download the membership form and renew your membership or to become a  member and to help our organization and our voice grow.

For updated news, links and events, please visit our website or Facebook page at:

http://hikenorthalabama.org/ 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alabama-Hiking-Trail-Society-Tennessee-Valley-Chapter/186097912151

Statewide News and Events

- AlaRuck 2011 will be held October 8-9 at the Open Pond Recreation Area in the Conecuh National Forest and YOU’RE INVITED! AlaRuck is a weekend filled with hiking and fellowship and IT’S FREE! Complete details and registration information can be found at alaruck.hikealabama.org, by emailing us at ahts@hikealabama.org, or by phone at 251-279-0801.

- 2011 Fall Trail Work Week is scheduled for Nov. 7 – 12, 2011. We’ll be working on the new Coosa Trail in the Coosa WMA. Camping is available nearby. If you would like to participate, email Rick Guhse at rguhse@hotmail.com for details.

- The Alabama Hiking Trail Society’s quarterly Board meeting will be held Oct 8, 2011, at 10am at the Open Pond Recreation Area in the Conecuh National Forest. The meeting is open so please plan to attend and lend your voice to our discussion of issues facing hiking trails in the state.

Upcoming  Events

Tuesday, September 20th, 6:00pm
September Meeting
The June meeting will be on Tuesday, September 20th at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  The topics will include AlaRuck, fall trail work, and working on our portion of the Alabama Trail.

I hope to see you all at our upcoming events and thank you for your dedication to our hiking pastime!  Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or ideas.

Lucas Veverka
Alabama Hiking Trail Society
Tennessee Valley  Chapter – Chair

July News and Events

Hello Tennessee Valley Hikers!

This will be a short newsletter.  I apologize that my work schedule will not allow me to lead any AHTS activities this month.  The plan is to pick up with the August meeting and to begin planning the road walks for our portion of the Alabama trail at that time as well as beginning planning of Fall events and trail work.  I hope you will be able to join us at that time.  I thank you all for your patience and understanding and I am really looking forward to working with all of you to get the Tennessee Valley portion of the Alabama trail in place.  Also, put the first annual AlaRuck on your calendar for October 8th/9th, 2011 at the Open Pond Recreation Area, Conecuh National Forest.Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, August 16th 30th, 2011 at 6:00pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville. We will be talking about trail progress around the state, our plans for the fall hiking season, and the future of our chapter.  The main discussion will be to begin planning our portion of the Alabama Trail.  We will  Please bring all your ideas for what you want to see the AHTS do this fall.If you have not renewed your membership for 2011 yet, please go to http://www.hikealabama.org/sites/default/files/files/brochure2008.pdf to download the membership form and renew your membership or to become a  member and to help our organization and our voice grow.For updated news, links and events, please visit our website at:

http://hikenorthalabama.org/ 

Statewide News and Events

- The first annual AHTS AlaRuck will be held October 8-9, 2011, at the Open Pond Recreation Area, Conecuh National Forest from Noon Saturday Oct 8 through Noon Sunday October 9th.  Stay tuned for more details.

Upcoming  Events

 

Tuesday, August 16th 30th, 6:00pm
August Meeting
The August meeting will be on Tuesday, August 16th 30th at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  We will begin preparing for fall activities and start laying out the plans for the northern portion of the Alabama Trail.

 

Tuesday, September 20th, 6:00pm
September Meeting
The September meeting will be on Tuesday, September 20th at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  The topics will include AlaRuck, fall trail work, and working on our portion of the Alabama Trail.

I hope to see you all at our upcoming events and thank you for your dedication to our hiking pastime!  Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or ideas.

Lucas Veverka
Alabama Hiking Trail Society
Tennessee Valley  Chapter – Chair

June News and Events

Hello Tennessee Valley Hikers!

The heat is here and it does not look like it is leaving anytime soon.  With the risk losing all your liquid to the sun, if the mosquitoes and ticks don’t suck you dry first, this is not the most pleasant of hiking weather.  However, a morning hike still offers the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful state without quite as much sweating.  We will not be doing any trail work until we get cooler temperatures in the Fall, but I hope you will join us for a hike or two this summer.On Thursday, June 2nd, Senate Bill 369 passed the Alabama House of Representatives and the vote on the renewal of Forever Wild will be going to the voters in November 2012.  This is a great chance for the people to show how much this program means to them and to show everyone that the people of Alabama care about preserving land for future generations to enjoy.  Please take a moment to thank your legislator for giving us this opportunity.Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, July 19th, 2011 at 6:00pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville. We will not be having a June meeting due to a lull in activity and scheduling constraints.  In July, we will be talking about trail progress around the state, our plans for the fall hiking season, and the future of our chapter.  Please bring all your ideas for what you want to see the AHTS do this fall.

If you have not renewed your membership for 2011 yet, please go to http://www.hikealabama.org/sites/default/files/files/brochure2008.pdf to download the membership form and renew your membership or to become a  member and to help our organization and our voice grow.

For updated news, links and events, please visit our website or Facebook page at:

http://hikenorthalabama.org/ 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alabama-Hiking-Trail-Society-Tennessee-Valley-Chapter/186097912151

Statewide News and Events

- The AHTS has added a fall event.  The AlaRuck will be a casual campout with a few speakers, a few hikes and just some good fun to kick off fall hiking season.  AlaRuck will be held in late September or early October and details will be passed on as they become available.

- Senate Bill 369 this month was passed sending the vote on Forever Wild directly to voter in November, 2012.  This is a chance for the people to truly speak up and get Forever Wild renewed.

Upcoming  Events

Sunday, June 19th, 10:00am
Monte Sano Hike
We will (weather permitting) be hiking the Mountain Mist trail via the South Plateau Loop in Monte Sano State Park.  This will be about a 4 mile hike of moderate difficulty. We will be leaving from the hikers parking lot in the state park at 10:00am on Sunday, June 19th (note the earlier time so we can hike in somewhat cooler weather).  See you there!

 

Tuesday, July 19th, 6:00pm
July Meeting
The July meeting will be on Tuesday, July 19th at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  We will be discussing tail progress in Alabama and preparing for the fall hiking season.Sunday, July 24th, 2:00pm
Monte Sano Hike
We will (weather permitting) be doing a to be determined hike in Monte Sano State Park.  More information to come.

 

Tuesday, August 16th, 6:00pm
 August Meeting
The August meeting will be on Tuesday, August 16th at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  We will begin preparing for fall activities and discuss topics TBD.I hope to see you all at our upcoming events and thank you for your dedication to our hiking pastime!  Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or ideas.Lucas Veverka
Alabama Hiking Trail Society
Tennessee Valley  Chapter – Chair

May News and Events

Hello Tennessee Valley Hikers!

This has been a very difficult past month for the Tennessee Valley and the state of Alabama as a whole with all the devastation from the April 27th storms.  I hope all of you have been able to weather this storm and will help rebuild and support the community as you have helped build and support the hiking community.  I can only hope that the severe weather is behind us now and that we will only be dealing with the heavy Alabama summer heat in the months to come.

While the storm recovery has been ongoing throughout the state, the legislative journey of the Forever Wild renewal effort carried on.  As many of you already read, the Forever Wild bill (HB126) was stalled in the Senate by Gerald Dial.  However, additional legislation was introduced that, if approved as expected at the end of the month, will put the Forever Wild renewal effort before the Alabama voters in November 2012.  This bill also bridges the gap between when funding ends on September 30th, 2012 and the vote in November.  So, it looks like we the people may truly get a chance to directly let our voices be heard about Forever Wild.

We have our next meeting coming up on Tuesday, May 17th, 2011 at 6:00pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville. We will be planning for the May trail work in the Walls of Jericho, discussing new event and activity possibilities, and talking about what opportunities we have to work on our part of the Alabama trail.

If you have not renewed your membership for 2011 yet, please go to http://www.hikealabama.org/sites/default/files/files/brochure2008.pdf to download the membership form and renew your membership or to become a  member and to help our organization and our voice grow.

For updated news, links and events, please visit our website or Facebook page at:

http://hikenorthalabama.org/ 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=188957871139

Statewide News and Events

- The AHTS has added a fall event.  The AlaRuck will be a casual campout with a few speakers, a few hikes and just some good fun to kick off fall hiking season.  AlaRuck will be held in late September or early October and details will be passed on as they become available.

- The Forever Wild bill stalled in the Senate and a new bill has been presented to bring the Forever Wild vote directly to voter in November, 2012.

Upcoming  Events

Tuesday, May 17th, 6:00pm
May Meeting
The May meeting will be on Tuesday, May 17th at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  We will be discussing the upcoming Walls trail work, the Forever Wild renewal effort, hikes, and laying out our summer plans.

Saturday, May 21st, 8:00am (leaving at 7:00am)
Walls of Jericho Trail Work
We will be doing a full day of trail work in the Walls of Jericho on Saturday, May 21st and will be joining the State Lands Division crew.  We will wagon train and carpool up to the Walls from the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 72 in Gurley, leaving at 7:00am, or you can meet us in the hikers parking lot at 8:00am.   Please email or call Lucas by 8pm on Wednesday, May 18th if you would like to help out so the information can be passed onto the state lands crew for planning purposes. Make sure to bring a good pair of gloves, plenty of water, and a lunch to get you through the day.  We are starting early and will be done by mid-afternoon (3pm) if not earlier.

Sunday, May 29th, 8:00am
Walls of Jericho Hike
We will (weather permitting) be hiking the main trail down into the Walls of Jericho to close out the month of May.  We will wagon train and carpool up to the Walls from the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 72 in Gurley, leaving at 8:00am, or you can meet us in the hikers parking lot at 9:00am. on Sunday, May 29th.  This hike will take between 4 and 6 hours depending on our pace.  Considered one of the most beautiful hikes in the state, this is a difficult hike with over 1,000 feet of elevation change in each direction, so come prepared with plenty of water, snacks, and a lunch to eat at the bottom.  Please email or call Lucas by 8pm on Saturday, May 28th if you plan to join us.  See you there!

Tuesday, June 21st, 6:00pm
June Meeting
The June meeting will be on Tuesday, June 21st at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  We will begin preparing for fall activities and plan out the rest of the summer.

Sunday, June 19th, 2:00pm
Monte Sano Hike
We will (weather permitting) be doing a to be determined hike in Monte Sano State Park that we were not able to do in March.  We will be leaving from the hikers parking lot in the state park at 2:00pm on Sunday, June 19th.  See you there!

I hope to see you all at our upcoming events and thank you for your dedication to our hiking pastime!  Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or ideas.

-Lucas Veverka
Alabama Hiking Trail Society
Tennessee Valley  Chapter – Chair

April News and Events

Hello Tennessee Valley Hikers!

The weather is hopefully warming up for good and it is a great time to get out and hit the trails.  April is a great month in the Tennessee Valley when all the leaves are starting to leaf out, the temperatures are good, and the ticks have not yet reached plague quantities.  I hope you have all found time to make it out on the trails this spring or get some time to before it gets too hot.  Now would be the perfect time to do an overnight trip in the Walls of Jericho or hike that long trail in Monte Sano State Park that you have always wanted to.  Earth Day festivities are coming up as well.  The Tennessee Valley Chapter will have a table set up at Hays Nature Preserve on Saturday, April 16th for the Earth Day Celebration put on by the Huntsville Green Team.  We are looking for a couple of volunteers to help staff the table and talk to anyone interested in what we do or hiking in general.  Please email Lucas at the contact information below if you are interested in helping out.

The Tennessee Valley Chapter is now the proud owner of a brand new backpack blower for use in clearing the heavy leaf cover off the tread of North Alabama trails.  The blower was purchased with 20 percent coming from chapter funds and 80 percent coming from a grant from the state of Alabama.  We were able to put the blower to the test during the March trail work.  The two of us that showed up for trail work were able to clear a section of the Bear Den Point Loop in the Walls of Jericho in an hour that would have taken half a dozen people all day to clear with rakes.  This will be an invaluable piece of equipment. You can see it in action at our April trail work.

As many of you know, the state land up in the Walls of Jericho was purchased by the Forever Wild program.  Forever Wild’s 20 year charter is coming to an end and it is up to us to make sure our lawmakers know how important Forever Wild and the land it preserves is to us.  Please take a moment to let your local representative know that you want Forever Wild to be reauthorized as-is for the next 20 years. The bill is hitting the floor of the House and Senate, so now is the time to show your support if you have not already.  You can find out how to contact your representatives at http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/zipsearch.html.

We have our next meeting coming up on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011 at 6:00pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville. We will be planning for the April and May trail work in the Walls of Jericho, discussing new event and activity possibilities, and talking about what opportunities we have to work on our part of the Alabama trail.

If you have not renewed your membership for 2011 yet, please go to http://www.hikealabama.org/sites/default/files/files/brochure2008.pdf to download the membership form and renew your membership or to become a  member and to help our organization and our voice grow.

For updated news, links and events, please visit our website or Facebook page at:

http://hikenorthalabama.org/ 

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=188957871139

Statewide News and Events

-  The AHTS Board of Directors and Leadership met on March 13th at the Alabama 4H Center in Columbiana. It was a VERY productive meeting. Of note for Chapter members, the Board agreed on an amount and payment schedule for reimbursing chapters with membership monies. $3 of each membership in a chapter will be returned to that chapter on a bi-annual disbursement schedule (summary per AHTS president Joe Cuhaj).

- The AHTS has added a fall event.  The AlaRuck will be a casual campout with a few speakers, a few hikes and just some good fun to kick off fall hiking season.  Alaruck will be held in late September or early October and details will be passed on as they become available.

- The Forever Wild bill passed the Alabama Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last Wednesday and the bill now goes to the Senate floor as reported by the Associated Press.  A similar bill passed the House Committee earlier in the month.

- Wild South is hosting an Earth Day work day in the Bankhead National Forest on Saturday, April 23rd.  Wild South has a goal of recruiting 35 new volunteers so they need your help.  Besides the chance to do some satisfying work that will make our forest cleaner, there will be a picnic, prizes and a hike following cleanup!  Please visit their website for more information.

Upcoming  Events

Sunday, April 17th, 9:00am (leaving at 7:30am)
Walls of Jericho Trail Work
We will be doing a full day of trail building in the Walls of Jericho on Sunday, April 17th.  We will wagon train and carpool up to the Walls from the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 72 in Gurley, leaving at 7:30am.   Please email or call Lucas by 8pm on Saturday, April 16th if you would like to help out.  We will be working on clearing the first couple miles of the new Post Oak Falls Trail. Make sure to bring a good pair of gloves, plenty of water, and a lunch to get you through the day.

Tuesday, April 19th, 6:00pm
April Meeting
The April meeting will be on Tuesday, April 19th at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  We will be discussing upcoming trail work, hikes, and laying out our summer plans.

Sunday, April 24th, 2:00pm
Monte Sano Hike
We will (weather permitting) be doing the Stone Cuts Hike in Monte Sano State Park that we were not able to do in March.  We will be leaving from the hikers parking lot in the state park at 2:00pm on Sunday, April 24th.  See you there!

Tuesday, May 17th, 6:00pm
May Meeting
The May meeting will be on Tuesday, May 17th at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  We will be discussing upcoming trail work, hikes, and laying out our summer plans.

Saturday, May 21st, 9:00am (leaving at 7:30am)
Walls of Jericho Trail Work
We will be doing a full day of trail building in the Walls of Jericho on Saturday, May 21st and will hopefully be joined by the State Lands Division crew.  We will pick up where we left off on the new Post Oak Falls Trail. Make sure to bring a good pair of gloves, plenty of water, and a lunch to get you through the day.  More specific details to come.

I hope to see you all at our upcoming events and thank you for your dedication to our hiking pastime!  Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or ideas.

-Lucas Veverka
Alabama Hiking Trail Society
Tennessee Valley  Chapter – Chair

March News and Events

Hello Tennessee Valley Hikers!

The 2011 conference up at Monte Sano State Park last weekend was an unqualified success.  We had around 100 attendees (the final count is still out), we had beautiful weather, and we had a lot of great presentations, demos and hikes, and a wonderful dinner capped off with Nimblewill Nomad’s fantastic talk.  If you did not get to listen to Nomad, make sure you go see him if you get the opportunity again.  This was a great way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our organization and to usher in the next decade.

I forgot in the last newsletter to recap our January trail work and to thank all those who came out to help.  We had eleven people come out and help and were able to clear the entire Bear Den Point Loop and a couple of blow-downs on the new Post Oak Falls trail.  We will be picking up where we left off this Saturday and clearing the first couple miles of the Post Oak Falls Trail.  We will be car pooling from the Piggly Wiggly in Gurley at 7:30am or you can meet us at the Walls of Jericho hikers parking lot at 9:00am.  Make sure to bring plenty of water, snacks, and work clothes.  If you have work gloves, hand saws or loppers, please bring them.  Let me know if you plan to join us by 8:00pm on Friday so I can make sure we have equipment for everyone and that no one gets left behind.

As many of you know, the state land up in the Walls of Jericho was purchased by the Forever Wild program.  Forever Wild’s 20 year charter is coming to an end and it is up to us to make sure our lawmakers know how important Forever Wild and the land it preserves is to us.  Please take a moment to let your local representative know that you want Forever Wild to be reauthorized as-is for the next 20 years.  You can find out how to contact your representatives at http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/zipsearch.html.

We have our next meeting coming up on Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 at 6:00pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville. We will be recapping the March trail work in the Walls of Jericho, discussing the new Post Oak Falls trail in the Walls, recapping the conference, and talking about what opportunities we have to work on our part of the Alabama trail.

If you have not renewed your membership for 2011 yet, please go to http://www.hikealabama.org/sites/default/files/files/brochure2008.pdf to download the membership form and renew your membership or to become a  member and to help our organization and our voice grow.

For updated news, links and events, please visit our website or Facebook page at:

http://hikenorthalabama.org/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=188957871139

Statewide News and Events

- ADECA Alabama Trail Conference: April 1st, 2nd and 3rd in Fairhope, AL.  ADECA and The National Park Service are hosting a trail conference that will bring proponents and interested parties together to discuss and learn about all types of trails, including: hiking, biking, and water trails.

- The Gulf Coast Chapter held an Alabama Trail public meeting on January 12th at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort.  51 people attended the meeting including representatives from Forever Wild and the US Forest Service. Chapter President Joe Cuhaj led the discussion that outlined the trail and the current work being done on the Chapter’s 120-mile long section. The meeting focused on why the trail is important to not only hikers but to everyone in the state.

Upcoming  Events

Saturday, March 12th, 9:00am (leaving at 7:30am)
Walls of Jericho Trail Work
We will be doing a full day of trail building in the Walls of Jericho on Saturday, March 12th.  We will wagon train and carpool up to the Walls from the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 72 in Gurley, leaving at 7:30am.   Please email or call Lucas by 8pm on Friday, March 11th if you plan to help out.  We will be working on clearing the first couple miles of the new Post Oak Falls Trail. Make sure to bring a good pair of gloves, plenty of water, and a lunch to get you through the day.

Tuesday, March 15th, 6:00pm
March Meeting
The March meeting will be on Tuesday, March 15th at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  We will be recapping Walls trail work, the conference, and laying out more specific plans for the rest of the year.

Sunday, March 27th, 2:00pm
Monte Sano Hike
We will be doing the Stone Cuts Hike in Monte Sano State Park.  We will be leaving from the hikers parking lot in the state park at 2:00pm on Sunday, March 27th.  See you there!

Saturday, April 16th, 9:00am (leaving at 7:30am)
Walls of Jericho Trail Work
We will be doing a full day of trail building in the Walls of Jericho on Saturday, April 16th.  We will pick up where we left off on the new Post Oak Falls Trail. Make sure to bring a good pair of gloves, plenty of water, and a lunch to get you through the day.  More specific details to come.

Tuesday, April 19th, 6:00pm
April Meeting
The April meeting will be on Tuesday, April 19th at 6pm at The Nook on Bob Wallace Ave. in Huntsville.  We will be discussing upcoming trail work, hikes, and laying out our summer plans.

I hope to see you all at our upcoming events and thank you for your dedication to our hiking pastime!  Please do not hesitate to call or email if you have any questions or ideas.

-Lucas Veverka
Alabama Hiking Trail Society
Tennessee Valley  Chapter – Chair