Well a group of us are heading out to just south of the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest in the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. We will be bringing back lots of pictures and trail stories so get ready for the upcoming week. It appears that the whole world is out on vacation over the next couple of weeks. I would like to take this time to make sure and put in the obligatory be safe message. Make sure and drink plenty of water, and always have sunscreen so you don't burn your beak. Also make sure and be aware of the wildlife around you. Respect them and they will respect you.

That aside I would like to say now is a great time to get involved in helping us plan for the upcoming fall season in the forum. We have already got some great ideas for hikes and overnighters but we would love to have your input. If you have always wanted to get a group together and lead your own event now is the time to start planning.

Have a great Summer Holiday Season Everybody!!!!!

Hey everyone, I hope everyone has had a good week. I know I have been crazy busy working out some details for some of the next AlaTrails projects on the books. We are putting together some contests soon so be sure and join up and get on the forum as soon as possible. I will be announcing the contests and the rules at the beginning of next week.

Here's another big announcement,

T-SHIRTS

That's right now you can support AlaTrails by buying a really cool and very high quality shirt. Proceeds will go to our server fees and further development on AlaTrails. We've got a few really neat designs already up and new ones will be published on an ongoing basis.

Word on the forum is that right now is the time to get down to Splinter hill Bog down in the Mobile area to see an absolutely astonishing array of flora around there. One of our forums members took a camera down there and came back with what looks like the biggest stand of pitchers plants I have ever seen in my life.

Check out the details here: http://www.alatrails.com/forum/index.php/topic,611.0.html

I've decided that at least Every Friday I would do a write up on the weeks summary and I am calling it Off the Cuff Friday for now. If you can come up with a better name please let me know.

So I started off this week in one of my favorite places, The beach. It was a necessary venture as I was completely burned out and tired from work, school, and launching the new site. I actually am going to do a trail journal on this trip because it was absolutely amazing as far as wildlife went. The only reason I haven't is because I can not find the cable to my camera.

I guess the biggest story to come out of the week is the Departure of Ivan Levin from American Hiking Society. In case you don't know Alatrails is an American Hiking Society alliance member which entitled it's members to certain benefits and privileges from  the organization. Ivan served as the trails program manager and in doing so was responsible for things like National Trails day and  alliance partnerships. In leaving Iven has left open a position which could really be of  interest to many of you. Please feel free to check out the details over in the forum.

http://www.alatrails.com/forum/index.php/topic,608.0.html

Well Howdy everyone. The Site transfer is finally done and all systems appear to be a go. The might be some minor quirkiness so do bear with us as we shift into full production mode. On the left you will find the main navigation menu for the new portion of the site . Here you can take a look at all of the new functionality you have available to you. You will find that you can do quite a bit with it including setting up your own personal Trail Journal or trail blog as some would have it.

The new trail guide database is up and running and thanks to the work of a few very helpful people we have a good bit of content in there to help get us started. Also you can submit a a trail condition if you come across anything you think other people would like to know about like blown down trees or obstacles on a waterway. You can browse each of the trails in the database by going to the trails by name listing in the navigation menu and there you can peruse all of the content for each trail in the system.