Car camping and hiking @ Oak Mountain SP

Well DW and I got itchy feet and spontaneously decided Thursday night we'd like to do some camping w/ the kiddos last weekend. Since Fresh Air Family was hosting a canoe workshop for the Bear Creek Canoe Run and we were going there next weekend, we decided to try Oak Mtn SP. Unfort, the canoe class was full, but the allure of doing some day-hiking at Alabama's largest SP was too tempting to put off.

So while I was @ work Friday, DW got the gear and clothes packed up. So after a quick run to Wal-Mart for some groceries and fuel we were off. We arrived well after dark at the campground and setup our tent. And put our groggy kids to bed.

The next morning we got up had pancakes and turkey bacon and then slowly drove over to the park office and out onto the Peavine Falls Trail (aka Green Trail). I carried DD3 in the Kid Carrier, DW carried water, our trail essentials, and lunch. DD1 carried water and snacks. The entire trail was dry and it was a hot day so the water so sorely needed.

Though I had read previously about this trail being steep, I had no real understanding off the difficulty of this trek. It's a butt kicker for sure. Dw doesn't like climbing hills that much anyway, DD2 is a lil' thing and is prone to getting tired quickly. But I thought a "challenge" would do us good. It took a little over an hour to climb the steep trail up to the Red Trail intersection, and by then we all needed a break. So we stopped rested, drank and snacked for about 10 minutes. The trail then continued along the ridge of Double Oak Mtn. until it reaches the Peavine Falls parking lot. "Pay no attention to the mirage ahead!" I announced as we emerged. "You mean we could have drove!?" DW asked. oops. But we had nearly made it, and the minivan was at the bottom of the mountain so the complaining was short-lived. We walked to the point where the trails forks to the top and bottom and decided to try the bottom. WOW! That is a climb to get down there. Steep, treacherous, but fun. We get to the bottom and the falls is but a trickle. But its water and we break for lunch of black bean and chicken trail burritos and fig newtons. Then we wade for a bit in the small stream, refill our water bottles (and purified w/ the Steripen), load up a couple of lbs of trash we found strewn around the bottom and climb back up. On the way back we stop at a beautiful mountain overlook and pickup huge pine cones. But we made it down then went and had a nice swim at the campground beach.

After our swim we grabbed a shower (showers were at every bathhouse, which is nice) and then we had roasted hot dogs, mac and cheese and s'mores for dinner.

The next day we broke camp and walked the Treetop Nature Trail and watched the neat owls and vultures they have displayed. The kids (all 3) just mainly liked running on the boardwalk. We normally wouldn't allow this if people were around, but we had this "trail" to ourselves. We then toured the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center before leaving, seeing lots of small and large birds undergoing treatment.

 Pics available here:

http://www.alatrails.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=47