What I'm doing

[WolfVanZandt]

I'm going to open a thread on the far chance that someone might want to travel to join me in an occasional day or weekend outing.

I'm turning into a home body and have got to get back into the habit of being "out there". I once had the grand scheme of randomly visiting points within my 300 mile travel radius once a month - but after realizing that each such trip costs about $300, I was forced to rethink the idea.

So now I'm going to confine my trips to random counties in Alabama. Each month that I don't have a planned Howl, I'm going to visit a random county, take a considerable hike, look for interesting geological formations and local minerals, eat once at an outstanding restaurant, and car-camp. I'll also be taking my Excursions on the road. Those with a religious bent may want to hang around Sunday morning and take in a local church with me.

My first such trip isn't going to be random nor will it be as extensive as usual. There is (supposedly) a double natural bridge down here in Alabama in Thomasville. I'm going to see if I can find it and, afterward, eat at one of my favorite fast food joint, Bertile's Burgers and Biscuits in Grove Hill, Alabama. That will be next Weekend. I may be going with some friends from the office. If you're interested, get in touch and we'll figure some contact point. I'm also going to be letting the Werelist forum in on my plans.

In May, I plan to visit an old friend in Auburn and check out a new nature park near there. In June, I will visit my first random county - Talladega - and, probably check out the southern section of the Pinhoti trail.

[Pully]

That seems like a great idea to me. A good way to explore what Alabama has to offer. I hope you find the Double Natural Bridges. If you ever decide to head to Northwest Alabama, I may join you for a day.

[Joshua Szulecki]

This is what I do pretty regularly. I've always taken short trips to local areas. In fact, many years of that led me to photography, which got me back into hiking.

[WolfVanZandt]

I figured that was your MO, Joshua. For me, it's getting to the point of being a survival strategy.  I have all these outdoor activities that I'm responsible for, yet I'm not out there enough to be used to it. It'll take 2 weeks to be over last week up in the Sipsey area (of course, I only have 1 9 day campout each year.

Pully, I get up there occasionally and at least once a year. Brushy Lake is the home of the SEHowl, which I organize every year in March. It was the week before last so, unless by the toss of a die, or if I'm passing through, or  something comes up, I probably won't be back for awhile. I'll notate it here, though, if I do.

I still want to do some surveying up there if i get the chance (I do carry my equipment with me.)

[jedbear]

This really sounds like a rewarding means of gathering information and graphics for a presentation that
could fit several agendas. As your travels expand and as future visitations emerge, think of how others
can benefit from the people and places you visit. Alabama is a gem that is just surfacing and visitors to
our state are discovering the unexpected-a state with everything!

                  jed

[WolfVanZandt]

Heh, I'm not so sure I want Alabama to become a tourist state.....

Nevertheless, I'll be posting what I find here and on the Werelist.

One of my motivations is that there's so little posted outside of Pinhoti/Talladega and Bankhead, I thought I'd give some coverage over the rest of the state. The big problem for me is that I no longer have the endurance for long distance hikes (backpacking trips), so I will just have to leave those to the rest of you.

I do want to nail down some solid statistics, though, so one of these days, I'd like to take a hike with some of you that actually Know the names of the Bankhead falls so I know which fall I'm surveying when I survey them. Other falls don't offer that problem because they're usually fairly isolated. When I visit Falling Rocks Falls near Montevallo, there's no question which fall I'm looking for.

[jedbear]

I agree that our trails could be loved too much such as has happened to the AT. But if we don't seek and
develop those trail possibilities, making them attractions, those same areas may too easily find a parking lot
or highway as its treadway. Already a proposed evacuation route is suggested for some Forever Wild tracts
in Baldwin County. Some in Montgomery suffer from "Atlanta Envy"!

                             jed

[Uncle Wayne]

I'm going to open a thread on the far chance that someone might want to travel to join me in an occasional day or weekend outing.

I'm turning into a home body and have got to get back into the habit of being "out there". I once had the grand scheme of randomly visiting points within my 300 mile travel radius once a month - but after realizing that each such trip costs about $300, I was forced to rethink the idea.

So now I'm going to confine my trips to random counties in Alabama. Each month that I don't have a planned Howl, I'm going to visit a random county, take a considerable hike, look for interesting geological formations and local minerals, eat once at an outstanding restaurant, and car-camp. I'll also be taking my Excursions on the road. Those with a religious bent may want to hang around Sunday morning and take in a local church with me.

My first such trip isn't going to be random nor will it be as extensive as usual. There is (supposedly) a double natural bridge down here in Alabama in Thomasville. I'm going to see if I can find it and, afterward, eat at one of my favorite fast food joint, Bertile's Burgers and Biscuits in Grove Hill, Alabama. That will be next Weekend. I may be going with some friends from the office. If you're interested, get in touch and we'll figure some contact point. I'm also going to be letting the Werelist forum in on my plans.

In May, I plan to visit an old friend in Auburn and check out a new nature park near there. In June, I will visit my first random county - Talladega - and, probably check out the southern section of the Pinhoti trail.

Good luck, I'd love to have that opportunity.  So much to see / and so little time is my biggest problem.

[WolfVanZandt]

I've just read on another forum that there is a natural bridge with a waterfall and swimming hole near Thomasville....a nd that it's on a gated and locked road. This trip may not pan out....not that I'm not going to check it out. There's always Bertile's....

[Pathfinder]

Bertile's definitely won't help you stay in good hiking shape.  However, it is worth paying that price.

[WolfVanZandt]

I dunno. Those burgers probably have a lot of muscle growing protein in them. I can walk the milkshake off...

[WolfVanZandt]

Okay......I think I'm done with the Thomasville/Grove Hill area. There seems to be two big waterfalls and a double natural bridge and they're all on private property. In addition, Bertile's has changed. They now have plastic milkshakes. The burgers are still a little better than average but not as good as I remember them - maybe just a bad day....

The positive - if yo like dirt roads, the country between Thomasville and Grove Hill is beautiful. Everything's posted though, so don't get out of your vehicle. There is a park on Silver Creek at the Grove Hill end that has some nice short hiking trails. (I walked them when I was looking for the waterfalls - which are not there.)

Next month, I'm planning to check out Louise Kreher near Auburn. That should, at least, be accessible.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Crud... I think I knew about those waterfalls being on private property. Found out about them when researching the two in the area around Gullet's Bluff.

[WolfVanZandt]

Don't worry. I found out about those waterfalls last year. They're on scotch land and there's actually people you can contact to gain access, but I'm looking for things I can share with people. I was going solely for the bridges this time and I figured I wasn't going to get to them. Exploring for me is sorta like fishing - sometimes you catch one, sometimes you don't.

My exasperation extends to the Camden area also, though. From what I hear, there are scores of waterfalls in the area but they're all on private property. Gullett's Bluff, though, isn't and it's a beauty.

If society ever collapses, I'm going to spend my time going through all the areas that used to be private property....

[Joshua Szulecki]

There is supposed to be a decent waterfall near the ones on Scotch property that is on private property owned by a family. They used to allow visitation but stopped allowing it due to all the garbage, if I recall correctly.

[WolfVanZandt]

Which is exactly why I avoid trespassing. I figure that's why so many people don't allow others onto their property.

[WolfVanZandt]

I'm going to be trying out Auburn Forest Ecology Preserve (Louise Kreher) in Auburn on the 15th. If anybody's going to be around, we can set up a meeting time and place (probably Joe's Muggs).

[ednotmilkman]

a wonderful idea wolf

On my bucket list is to ride my bicycle across backroads of every county in the state stopping to visit at least 2 or 3 interesting towns and places in each that I've never seen. I have all the DOT county maps, where I hightlight the roads I've traveled. Probably have successfully seen 25 so far.  Like you said, doing this kinda thing requires lots of gas and a car to get to the point of interest, but I try to spend at least 3 days pedaling and see more than 3 counties per trip.

Also hope to ride my bike across every state in the union, but that plan is actually easier because I can find groups to go with to see a lot of US.

[WolfVanZandt]

That sounds like fun. If I were somewhat younger with fewer malfunctioning parts, I'd join you....



If you're ever through Selma, stop by the rehab center and look me up.

[WolfVanZandt]

I visited the Louise Kreher Environmental Preserve in Auburn, Alabama this weekend (and the Arboretum, and Amsterdam Cafe, and a friend, and my brother, and my old church) and enjoyed it very much. I'll give a rundown of the trails later. For now, I've set up a gallery:

http://www.alatrails.com/...hotos/index.php?cat=10202

which contains a few shots from the Preserve - especially of the waterfall and some of the interpretive stations.

[WolfVanZandt]

My original intention for these trips was to visit random counties in Alabama, do a technical hike, eat at a good restaurant, visit a local church and see a few sites before returning home and try to do it on a reasonable budget. After this trip, I've figured out that the technical part is unrealistic - I'm just way too undisciplined to decide on a trail and stay on it - also a regular pedometer isn't going to give me accurate distances. Nevertheless....

Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve is on Highway 147 north in Auburn near the fisheries. If you take the  US 280 exit off I 85, look for 147 on the left as you leave Auburn/Opelika. The gate to the Preserve will be on the right just north of the fish ponds.

The park has about 4 miles of trails forming a figure 8 through the area and going around the boundary. The terrain  is easy and the park gives you a pretty complete overview of the local landscape. It's an interpretive trail with some interesting exhibits along the way. You can pick up a map at either of the two entrances.

Paul and I parked in the lot just off 147 and took the trail leading along the border of the park (Rill and Dell). The forests are both hardwood and pine with some reintroduction of long leaf pines. The trails are well maintained. They are so meshed that it might be difficult to follow a set itinerary but, if you get off the planned trail, it's not hard to get back on. At the heart of the preserve is a marshy lake with some boardwalks that allow you to get a close look at the plant and animal life. The runoff creek cascades over Hidden Falls - about 15 or 20 feet high before continuing on it's way, bisecting the park - the headwater springs is within the boundary of the preserve. Also cutting across the preserve is a power line easement in which humming bird feeders have been set up. In the woods to the side is a station with a telescope for viewing the feeders from a distance.

An amphitheater and pavilion provides seating for a variety of educational and recreational events. There was a birthday party going on when we were there. We took about 3 hours to walk about 2 1/2 miles. We took plenty of time looking over the exhibits.

Other trails in the Auburn area include the trail system at Chewacla State Park, A city park with a network of trails popular with local joggers and strollers on Wire Road, and the Arboretum on College near the President's mansion. We walked around the arboretum Sunday afternoon. It's well maintained with an exceptional collection of plants that are labeled - this is a good place to brush up on your plant identification skills. They even have a collection of pitcher plants. You can also take a hike through the campus (don't get lost). The architecture is interesting and many of the buildings have exhibits of their own.

The Auburn/Opelika area is a great place to eat with  a variety of great restaurants at a broad range of prices. We ate at the Amsterdam Cafe which is listed on the 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die brochure. It's sorta pricey but worth every cent. Everything on the menu is unique. The lunch menu (served all day) runs from $7.00 to $12.00. The supper menu runs mostly in the $20s. I ate scallops with an interesting mix of vegetables (sweet potato, Brussels sprout leaves, and herbs flavored with bacon),a nd a key lime pie for dessert. My friend ate a steak that must have been 4 inches thick, mashed potatoes, and what looked like asparagus with some other kind of greens. He had no complaints. Actually, I've eaten there three times before and have always been pleasantly (and more than mildly surprised).

The China Palace has moved and I wish I could tell you where - all I know is that it's in one of the hotels on the main drag - it would be worth a search. It's one of the better Oriental restaurants that I've eaten at.

If you like shopping, there are plenty of big malls in the area including the relatively new (and huge) Tigertown off 280 near the Interstate. When I'm in the area, I try to go by the World Market there. This time I snagged some poopaki mushrooms and a bottle of mead. There's also a huge movie theater in town near Village mall.

Next month, the weekend just after the 15th (that's when I get paid), I plan to hike the southern part of the Pinhoti. I'll have to get a tire before then so it's going to be close. Afterwards, I'm going on a three month hiatus to take care of some personal expenses before the fall Howl season kicks off.

[WolfVanZandt]

I'll be hiking the lower portion of the Pinhoti (from the established trailhead) as far as daylight will allow (according to whether I have one vehicle or two) in two weeks. I still have to identify a local campsite so, if someone else is interested, I'll go ahead and do that so we can meet up that Friday night (or if anyone has a suggestion). I'll be getting up with the sun to hit the trail and I plan to eat at a good restaurant in Talladega County Saturday night. I'll get up Sunday morning and go to a local church and then I think I'll check out the local covered bridges Sunday afternoon before heading back to Selma.

[WolfVanZandt]

I was planning to camp somewhere near the southern trailhead of the Pinhoti (Hollis?) in Friday night (the 18th) but the nearest campground seems to be Desota Caverns and  I'm not going to pay that kjind of fee for a night in my van so I guess I'll stay at Cheaha, unless......

What do rangers and such think about camping at the trail heads? Is that permitted?

[weathermansam]

I was planning to camp somewhere near the southern trailhead of the Pinhoti (Hollis?) in Friday night (the 18th) but the nearest campground seems to be Desota Caverns and  I'm not going to pay that kjind of fee for a night in my van so I guess I'll stay at Cheaha, unless......

What do rangers and such think about camping at the trail heads? Is that permitted?

hop 10 ft into the forest off the parking lot and pitch a tent.  I doubt they'd say anything

[Joshua Szulecki]

I have no clue if it is allowed or not, but I have seen plenty of tent campers right at the High Falls Trailhead, especially during redneck naked swimming season. A van might creep the rangers out a little more than usual. I'll call and ask maybe?

 

[WolfVanZandt]

That's probably what I need to do. Thanks.

[WolfVanZandt]

I talked to a ranger and there's no problem with parking at the trailhead overnight and staying in the van or carrying a tent a little way in and setting up camp. I will be staying Friday nght at the trailhead and will get up at sunrise and hike as far in as I can before turning around and returning to the trailhead by dark. If there are more cars, We can parkone car at the next point on the trail and go further. Either way, if anyone is going to be around the southern terminus of the Pinhoti Friday night/Saturday morning, look for me.

After the hike, I plan to go into town for supper and stay the secong night at Cheaha (hopefully the lower campground). Then I'll find a local church to go to Sunday mornin and probably vist some of the local covered bridges after before going back home.

[WolfVanZandt]

Okay, it looks like I will be at Bull Gap near Sylacauga about 9:00 am Saturday. Barring car problems and such, I want to be on the trail then.

I'm staying with a friend in Auburn Friday night - that should save me from a baking one night.

[WolfVanZandt]

Woof!

If it wasn't for this randomization gimmick, I don't think I would have ever chosen to hike Rebecca Mountain in 90+ degree weather. I enjoyed it though. I stayed overnight with a friend in Auburn and it only took us 1 1/2 hours to drive to the trailhead at Bull Gap. We hiked 7 or 8 miles in, turned around and came back out. The blackberries were ripe and the storms that came in at the end cooled things off quite a lot.

This time of year the folage blocks much of the scenery but there are some interesting wildflowers and lots of interesting fungi.

Since my Talladega County weekend had pretty much turned into a Clay County weekend (I was thinking the southern terminus was a little further sounth), we headed up to  restaurant on Cheaha for supper - always a good choice. Their blackberry sundae is in season and well worth the somewhat elevated price. We then headed up to the tower and, after he headed back home, I got a campsite in the lower campground and stayed overnight in my van. The evening air cooled down considerably and I slept well.

I woke up around 6:30 and had plenty of time to track down Waldo and Kymulga Covered Bridges before sunday school and church at the First Baptist Church in Sylacauga - very nice people.

In a very irritating turn of events, I could not find a regular restaurant for breakfast and settled for an Arby's milkshake back in Auburn to take my pil salad which I was supposed to take at breakfast time. Everyting but fast food and Mexican restraunts were closed for Sunday (neither of which I wanted.)

But, back in Auburn, my friend and I went to an excellant Chinese Restaurant (grff! I can't think of the name - I'll have to get my friend to remind me - it really is a hidden gem of Auburn.)

Well, now I have poison ivy on my feet (and possibly elsewhere), but I'm happy with the trip. Once I get some rest, I'll provide directions for everything (although I would bet that just about everyone here knows how t get to the southern terminus of the Pinhoti Trail).

[WolfVanZandt]

Huh! It wasn't poison ivy - it was chiggers. I should have known because I started itch while we were hiking.

For those who don't know the way to the southern terminus of the Pinhoti Trail (and I had a little trouble finding it), You can either drive west from Millerville on highway 148 (Millerville is between Ashland and Goodwater), or east from Sylacauga on Highway 148. Rebecca Mountain is the biggest thing on the road and hard to miss. Despite the ranger's contention that Rocky Mount Church road is marked, it isn't. If you're coming from Sylacauga, watch for a well kept dirt road at the very top of the mountain to the left. If you're coming from Millerville, you'll pass two bridges and the road will be on your right at the top of the mountain. The parking area is right there at the turn off on the left side of the road.

Although there is a blue blaze at the parking lot, the trail begins a little further up the road on the right side. There is another blue blaze where it enters the forest. The Pinhoti is about the clearest, best marked trails I've ever seen at this point.

Waldo Covered vridge was a little hard to spot. If you drive from Talledega to Ashland on 77, it's just outside of Talladega on Talladega Creek. It's not visible from the road but the Old Mill Restaurant is, on the left side of the road. The covered bridge is behind the restaurant. It doesn't span the creek completely and is in rather delapidated condition. The restaurant has a good reputation in the area but doesn't open until 11:00 on Sundays, so I didn't get a chance to try it. Their specialty seems to be barbecue.

Kymulga Covered Bridge is also on Talladega Creek, the way is clearly marke from Winteboro on 21 south of Talladega. It is accompanied by a working gristmill and park. Adult admission is $3.00. They also sell their own cornmill and grits, and local honey and sorghum syrup. They'll give you a tour. There is about 2 miles of nature trails in the park that features big trees, wildflowers, and animal sightings. There are also geese that think they own the place.

I didn't realize that Sylacauga was the oldest town in the US.

[weathermansam]

I didn't realize that Sylacauga was the oldest town in the US.

It was an indian town when desoto wrote about it in his journals.  As far as an established european settlement, I would think the crown still falls to St. Augustine, FL.

[WolfVanZandt]

LOL. You know, we have at least three "deepest gorges" east of the Mississippi in the southeast (Little River, Tallulah Gorge, and Linville Grge), a score of highest waterfalls, and who knows how many "only one of two natural briges in Alabama".

I was actually talking about a sign in Kymulga gristmill which makes that claim.

You're probably right about St. Augustine, but, then, it wasn't originally in the United States and if the sign was correct, Sylacauga is older than Jamestown.

Which ever, it's probably extremely debatable.

Nevertheless, they do make their own cornmeal........

[WolfVanZandt]

Whao! It's more debatable than I thought. According to the cities' websites, St. Augustine has been a continuous settlement since 1564 when the Spanish founded it. Sylacauga has been continuously settled since before 1540, when DSoto mentioned it as an Indian settlement and it's been used ever since by Native Americans, French, and Spanish settlers. Sylacauga was incorporated in 1838, and St. Augustine became an American city in 1821.

I guess it has to do with how you mark age.....

[weathermansam]

I guess it has to do with how you mark age.....

...or how you're classifying the city....indian, european settlement or incorporated as an United States town. 

[WolfVanZandt]

Aye, frankly, I take all such claims with a teaspoon or so of salt.

I also noticed that Sylacauga claims to be sitting on the largest, purist deposit of white marble in the world. I(t is pretty marble, though. I like the pink better - especially when it has some pyrite in it.

[weathermansam]

I'm readily amused at all of the "tallest waterfall east of the Rockies/Mississippi" labels around here. 

[todd150hp]

I grew up in both Sylacauga and Childersburg. As far as I know Sylacauga never claimed to be the oldest settlement in the U. S.. That distinction would belong to Childersburg. Yes, it is a rather dubious claim as I understand it. However, that hasn't stopped the city of Childersburg from stamping it on the sides of their Police cars and painting it all over town. The covered bridge and gristmill you saw are not in Sylacauga. They are actually owned and operated by the Childersburg Historical Society (or at least they once were). When I lived in Childersburg I used to ride my bike the 4 miles to the gristmill. Sylacuaga is about 10 miles or so down the road from Childersburg.

Childersburg I believe claims to be the site of an indian village which DeSoto stumbled upon. Thus the naming of Desoto Caverns also located near Childersburg. Apparently one of Desoto's men became ill and was left behind with an African slave thus becoming a European settlement before St. Augustine was founded. It is highly debatable and considered by many of the scholarly sort that it is unlikely that Childersburg is this location. However according to reports from DeSoto's expedition this Indian village of the Coosa nation was located along the river we now call Coosa and situated between two creeks named Tallaseehatchee and Talladega. The city of Childersburg is on the Coosa River and does incorporate an area between two creeks bearing these names. My memory is very sketchy on this subject it has been over 20 years since I considered this matter, that is how I remember the argument being framed.

[WolfVanZandt]

Hmmmm....well, now that you mention it, I can't swear that the sign I saw at Kymulga didn't say Childersberg instead of Sylacauga.

But the information I posted in my last two posts was most definitely from the Sylagauga and St. Augustine websites.

[todd150hp]

Yes, I think Sylacauga claims to be near the site of another Indian village which Desoto encountered. However, they don't lay claim to being an European settlement as does Childersburg due to the ill Spanish Soldier and slave allegedly left behind there. As far as cities located near historical Indian villages goes I would think that would be true of a lot of towns. I mean, a good location for an indian village is likely to be a good location for a town.

The last report I read on any of this conflicted with a lot what I thought I remembered so I should probably quit while I'm ahead. I used to be semi-interested in the subject because I lived there and was familiar with the area but after reading so much contradictory info, became somewhat disillusioned.

[WolfVanZandt]

Well, I guess, if anyone goes by Kymulga, check out the sign in the griss mill and tell me what it actually says.

I'd appreciate it.

[WolfVanZandt]

Yow! I was hoping I could get through the hot part of the summer without any more camping but it looks like I'm going to have one more weekend of it.

I have a conference at Olive Branch during Labor Day weekend and, since I work for a private.non-profit and can't afford hotels/motels, I'll be camping out at Wall Doxey State Park in Northern Mississippi.

I guess I'll be able to give a report about our woodsey, western neighbor pretty soon. If anybody's around those parts during the holiday, look me up Sunday morning. If you know you'll be there, let me know ahead of time and I'll let you know where I'll be.

[weathermansam]

lord man, camping in Miss this time of year...I considered it a few times while I lived there, but it's not just the heat...the bugs will carry you off.  I would know, I've had enough experience dangling from a herd of mosquitoes I could count it as life experience if I ever applied for a pilot's license! 

[WolfVanZandt]

I figured as much. As it is, I'll be in Olive Branch during the day and probably pretty late on Saturday night. I'll be sleeping in my van. I'm going to do most of my exploring Monday before I leave.

But, although I'm going to squeeze as much enjoyment out of the trip as I can on a low budget, it's not a "fun trip" for me.

[weathermansam]

If it's on your way, stop by the Noxubee Refuge just south of Starkville, MS.  It's a gorgeous place.  I'm planning a trip back for the fall once the Cypress start turning colors.  The Beaver Dam Trail is a great little 2 mile trail. 

[WolfVanZandt]

I don't have a good map of Miss. in my apartment but it looks like a real possibility....t hanks.

[WolfVanZandt]

The trip back fromnorthern Mississippi was long and hot so I didn't have much of an opportunity to do much hikng but I did manage to get two shrthikes in. There's a trail around the lake at Wall Doxie and it's interesting because of the stands of cypress around the lake. The campgrounds are also bery nice and well managed. The people are very friendly.

Noxubee looked very interesting but I only had the chance for a small loop trail near Starkville. It's right on the main road (and I'm sorry I can't give directions but I'm really whipped and I don't have a map with me - I'll try to get more detail later) and it has a map of the other trails. There's a large lake (Bluff Lake) in another part of the reserve that has a lot of trails around it and the topography looks like there might be some good scenery and, maybe,some challenging trails. The loop I walked was very easy.

[WolfVanZandt]

Gyah! Interference has wiped my Internet out at home so I'm having to use the office computer after work.

Okay. If you go west from Starkville on Hwy 25 there will be a trail head to a small loop trail (less than a mile, I'd say) to the right. It's nothing breathtaking but a nice stroll. But in the parking area, there's a kiosk that has a map to the other trails in Noxubee.