Hi Bella,
I was looking for others to join just like you, about 4 years ago. Enjoyed some of my first group day hikes wiith AL Sierra and one with AHTS.
I tried to "join" the AL A.T. Club a few years ago after seeing they took a couple of trips over to hike the A.T. each year, but there seems to be only one person among the leaders that replied to my e-mail inquiry, and that was after more than a month. So I gave up on them.
The AL Sierra Club is way more active, even though the Huntsville chapter is the only one that does many overnight trips. You can call and come hike, or join whatever is planned without paying membership fees if you like. The main reason I'm still a paying member is that I go on weeklong outings organized from the national level and you have to pay dues to join those trips. The national Sierra magazine is very good also with articles on conserving what we have here without be too confrontational IMO
http://alabama.sierraclub.org/http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/I'm also in the AHTS but the focus here, IMO, is on trail maintenance and planning and building new trails, plus the annual meeting which is great for meeting other hikers and learning stuff. I have yet to attend a AL Sierra Club meeting, but I'm sure it's fun and educational also.
Edwin
