Monday, February 13, 2012

Shoals Fresh Air Family Feb-Apr. Schedule


2012 Shoals Area Nature Outings, January-April

Sponsored by Fresh Air Family, Shoals Wildflower Society & Shoals Environmental Alliance. All events are free. Registration required unless otherwise noted. Contact Charles Rose at 256-366-1937 orchuckrivers@comcast.net for more info or to receive email updates about events. To learn about even more nature outings across the state of Alabama, visit: http://www.freshairfamily.org.
Saturday, January 28 --- Bull Skull Hollow Winter Hike & Americana Exhibits
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 9:30am, Jack’s, Woodward Ave., Muscle Shoals. Moderate, 4-mile hike. Dress warmly. Bring lunch-water-snacks. See March 17 event for description. Registration: 256-366-1937, charles@freshairfamily.org.

Saturday, February 4 --- Freedom Hills Winter Hike & Visit to Coon Dog Cemetery
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Challenging, 3.5 mile, off-trail hike to “The Narrows” gorge on Buzzards Roost Creek in this Colbert Co. Forever Wild tract. Age limit: 12 years and over. Registration: 256-366-1937 orcharles@freshairfamily.org.

Saturday, February 11 --- Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve "Extreme" Hike 
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 9am at the preserve in Colbert County. Challenging, 7-8 mile hike, with several elevation changes. Not recommended for young children. Registration: 256-366-1937 orcharles@freshairfamily.orgDirections: From US-43 in Muscle Shoals, take US-72 W. At the Colbert County Farmers’ Co-Op (3.4 miles west of US-43), turn left onto the access road & go down the hill to Frankfort Rd. Turn left (south) on Frankfort Rd. & go 7.25 miles. After passing Piney Grove Church of Christ (on the right), go another ¼ mile & turn right on Loop Rd. (CR 41). Go just 1/10 mile & veer left onto the gravel road as Loop Rd. bends to the right. Follow the gravel road past the chicken houses (on the left) to the Lacefield’s Spanish-style house. If you get confused, call owners Jim and Faye Lacefield at (256) 381-6301 or Charles Rose at c. (256) 366-1937.

Saturday, February 18 --- Hike to Indian Tomb Hollow and High House Hill, Bankhead National Forest 
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Moderate, 3-mile hike. Brief forays into moderately-challenging terrain. Features rock shelter, sandstone bluffs, large “nature-sculpted” boulders & historic sites. Meet 8am, Jack’s, Woodward Av., Muscle Shoals, or 9am, Warrior Mountains Trading Company store, AL-33, Moulton. Registration: 256-366-1937 orcharles@freshairfamily.org.

Sunday, February 19--- Winter Hike to Parker Branch Falls, Sipsey Wilderness, Bankhead National Forest 
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Group size limited; you must register. Challenging, 4 mile hike in a stunning sandstone canyon. Age limit: 12 years and over. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org.

Saturday, February 25 --- Shoal Creek Preserve Winter Hike
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 10am at the preserve. Moderate, 4.5 mile hike. The preserve, a Forever Wild tract, features hiking trails, horse trails, pristine, cascading creeks & a great variety of flora. Bring lunch, water & snacks. Wear sturdy footwear. Dress warmly. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.orgDirections: From Cox Creek Parkway in Florence, go north on Old Jackson Hwy (CR 47) to St. Florian, about 2.5 miles. (This is the continuation of Hermitage Dr.) Turn left on Butler Creek Road (CR 61). Go 3 miles, then turn right at the Shoal Creek Preserve sign to the parking lot.

Sunday, February 26 --- Mountain Mist Trail Hike, Monte Sano State Park
Led by Charles Rose & Katie Burrus for Fresh Air Family. Meet 2pm in front of the concrete barriers at the closed access road off Bankhead Parkway. As we walk along this Forever Wild tract, we’ll look for early spring wildflowers. Includes the Stone Cuts Trail, with its amazing rock formations. Registration & info: contact Katie Burrus at 256-701-1046 or katie@freshairfamily.org.

Saturday, March 3 --- Walls of Jericho Hike 
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 10am at the Walls of Jericho’s Alabama hikers parking lot. Call for carpooling from the Shoals area. Rigorous 6-mile hike, 1,000 ft. in elevation uphill return. Wear hiking boots or other sturdy footwear. Hiking sticks & a change in socks are advised. Bring water, snacks & lunch. This hike to “The Grand Canyon of the South” features, 200-ft. canyon walls, waterfalls & many early spring wildflowers. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org

Saturday, March 10 --- Borden Creek to Fall Creek Falls Hike, Sipsey Wilderness, Bankhead National Forest
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. We’ll be on the lookout for early spring wildflowers on this moderately-rigorous, 4-mile hike. Group size limited, so you must register. Meet us 8am, Jack’s, Woodward Av., Muscle Shoals or 9am, Warrior Mountains Trading Company store, AL-33, Moulton. Age limit: 10 years & over. Registration: 256-366-1937 orcharles@freshairfamily.org

Sunday, March 11 --- Rockpile Trail Hike, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation 
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 1pm, Wilson Dam Visitor Center parking lot, south side of Wilson Dam. Moderately-rigorous, with uphills & downhills. Bring snacks & water. Wear sturdy footwear. Multi-choices in distance hiked, from 2 miles up to 6 miles. The emphasis will be on early spring wildflowers & local history as we walk from Wilson Dam downstream to Southport, once the site of a thriving steamboat port. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org

Saturday, March 17 --- Wildflower Hike & Americana Exhibits at Bull Skull Hollow
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 10am, Jack’s, Woodward Av., Muscle Shoals. Bring lunch, water & snacks. Tour of “The Village,” 6-7 log & wooden buildings, incl. a general store, carriage house, schoolhouse-church, smoke house & more, all full of old implements, tools & household items from yesteryear. Amazing display! Hike along Spring Creek. See Trout Lily, incl. White Trout Lily, Toothwort, Hepatica, Trillium, Saxifrage, Bloodroot. Registration: 256-366-1937, charles@freshairfamily.org

Sunday, March 18 --- Wildflower Hike, Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 1:30pm at the preserve. Bring water & snacks. Wear hiking boots or sturdy shoes. Moderately rigorous: at least a 2-mile hike, with up-hills & down-hills. See waterfalls, including the 60-ft. “Big Waterfall”, scenic vistas, huge wildflower-strewn boulders and cascading creeks. Blooming flowers will include Trout Lily, Hepatica, Bloodroot, Toothwort & more. Directions: See February 11 event. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org.

Saturday, March 24 --- 2nd Annual Magical Mystery Tour
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. This outing will take place somewhere in Colbert County. Group size limited; you must register. On this Magical Mystery Tour our exact destinations are a secret, but be assured that you will see plenty of spring wildflowers and other natural features of interest. Participants will learn when & where to meet after registering. No children under 12. Fairly rigorous. At times the going might be a little rough. Includes off-trail hiking, one very steep grade, downed trees & stream crossings. Bring lunch, water and snacks. Wear hiking boots or other sturdy footwear. Long pants, walking stick, a change of socks & insect repellent are advised. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org

Saturday, March 24 --- Wildflower Walk, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation
Sponsored by Shoals Wildflower Society. Easy walk, led by Margie Anderton. Meet 10am, Nature Trails parking lot, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. No registration required. Includes the Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden & the TVA Small Wild Area. See Spring Cress, Dutchman’s Breeches, Celandine Poppy, Rue Anemone & Virginia Bluebell.  Info: 256-757-7064 or 256-366-1937.

Sunday, March 25 --- Wildflower Walk, Joe Wheeler State Park
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family.  Moderate, 2.2-mile walk on the Joe Wheeler State Park multi-use trail on the south side of Wheeler Dam. Meet 1:30 pm at the trailhead, on the west side of AL-101 in Lawrence County, AL, 1 mile south of Wheeler Dam. Bring water & snacks. Wear comfortable shoes. This trail traverses a variety of habitat types, including a lovely mature hardwood forest. Registration: 256-366-1937 orcharles@freshairfamily.org

Tuesday, March 27 --- Freedom Hills Wildflower Hike & Visit to Coon Dog Cemetery
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Challenging, 5-6 mile, off-trail hike to “The Narrows” gorge in this Forever Wild tract in Colbert County. Steep descent & ascent. Age limit: 12 years & over. Registration: 256-366-1937 orcharles@freshairfamily.org.

Saturday, March 31 --- Wildflower Hike, Flint Creek Botanical Area, Bankhead National Forest
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 8am, Jack’s, Woodward Av., Muscle Shoals, or 9am, Warrior Mountains Trading Company store, AL-33, Moulton. Moderate hike, distance covered flexible. After lunch, an optional visit to Indian Tomb Hollow. Wear comfortable footwear. Bring lunch, water & snacks. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org

Sunday, April 1 --- Wildflower Hike at Monte Sano State Park
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. $3 ($1-seniors) State Park fee. Moderate, 3-4 mile hike includes the Sinks Trail & the Stone Cuts Trails. Meet 1pm at the hiker's parking lot, on the right, just past the lodge at Monte Sano State Park. Call for carpooling over from the Shoals area. See Virginia Bluebell, Goldenseal, Wild Columbine, Dwarf Larkspur, Twinleaf, Bellwort, Blue Cohosh, Cumberland Spurge & Phlox. Bring water & snacks. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org

Saturday, April 7 --- Wildflower Walk, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation
Led by Margie Anderton & Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 1pm, Nature Trails parking lot, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. Easy walk at Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden & TVA Small Wild Area. No registration required. 256-757-7064.

Wednesday, April 11 --- Wildflower Walk, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation
Sponsored by Shoals Wildflower Society & Shoals Environmental Alliance. Easy walk, led by Margie Anderton & Charles Rose. Meet 10am, Nature Trails parking lot, TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. Includes Hall Memorial Native Plant Garden & TVA Small Wild Area. See Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Wild Geranium, Wild Stonecrop, Trillium, Virginia Bluebell, Purple Phacelia, Wild Blue Phlox, Foamflower, Bladdernut, Buckeyes, and much more. No registration required. More info: 256-757-7064 or 256-366-1937.

Saturday, April 14 --- Edible & Medicinal Plant Hike at The Pocket 
This walk in northwestern Georgia, is led by master herbalist Darryl Patton, ND, author of Mountain Medicine, the Herbal Remedies of Tommie Bass. Sponsored by Fresh Air Family. Meet time & place to be arranged. Contact Charles Rose (256-366-1937) to arrange carpooling from the Shoals area. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org

Sunday, April 15 --- Wildflower Hike, Shoal Creek Preserve
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 1pm at the preserve. Moderate, 4.5 mile hike, with up-hills and down-hills. Bring water & snacks. This preserve, in Lauderdale County, features 4.5 miles of hiking trails, horse trails, pristine, cascading creeks and a great variety of flora. It was purchased by the State of Alabama under the Forever Wild program. See White Trout Lily, Yellow Mandarin, Green violet & more. Directions: See Feb. 25 event. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org

Saturday, April 21 --- Shoals Earth Day Fest
Colbert County Courthouse lawn, Tuscumbia, AL. Earth friendly displays, food vendors, children's activities & live music. On the web athttp://www.shoalsearthmonth.com/

Sunday, April 22 --- Wildflower Hike, Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve
Led by Charles Rose for Fresh Air Family. Meet 1:00pm at the preserve in Colbert County. Bring water & snacks. Moderately rigorous: at least a 2-mile hike, with up-hills & down-hills. We will be flexible as far as the distance covered; some may choose to go further. See waterfalls, including the 60-ft. “Big Waterfall”, scenic vistas, huge flower-strewn boulders and cascading creeks. See the rare French’s Shooting Star, in Alabama found only in the Cane Creek watershed. Also blooming will be Yellow Lady’s Slipper, Native Azaleas, much more. Directions: See Feb. 11 event. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org

Saturday, April 28 --- In Search of Salamanders, Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve
Meet 10am at the preserve. Led by Dr. Glenn Marvin, UNA, for Fresh Air Family. We will explore the streams & woodlands of Cane Creek Canyon in search of salamanders & other interesting organisms. Dr. Marvin will also bring a selection of salamanders from his personnel collection for viewing. Late spring wildflowers will also be of interest. Great event for the entire family. Bring lunch, water & snacks. Directions: See Feb. 11 event. Registration: 256-366-1937 or charles@freshairfamily.org

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