Please note that as of Friday, March 20, 2020, Southeastern
Outings DOES plan to conduct all of its upcoming currently scheduled
events. However, we have developed a
statement of participant precautions as a result of the Covid 19 Corona
virus. Those precautions are described
in the statement below.
Notice
of Precautionary Measures Concerning Covid 19 Virus
Southeastern Outings assures all our outings
participants that we strongly desire to protect your health during this
critical time. You may make your own
decisions about what to do to protect yourselves, but the following measures
are what we strongly suggest. We
recommend taking the following measures.
We ask our participants to maintain a
reasonable social distance, usually 6 or more feet, between yourself and other
people. We recognize that this may not
always be possible, but we encourage you to keep some distance from others as
much as possible.
We encourage all our people coming on outings
with us to drive from the meeting place to the outing start point in the same
vehicle in which they arrived at the meeting place. A few people may ride from the meeting place with drivers who
came to the meeting place alone, but we recommend that such arrangements be
limited to no more than two people in a vehicle. Naturally if more than one person arrives at the meeting place in
a given vehicle, then all the people in that vehicle may ride together in that
same vehicle from the meeting place to the hike start point.
One or two persons will be designated to sign
everyone in so that clipboards and pens are not shared by everyone on the
outing.
We will have outing announcements, but we ask
you to try insofar as possible to maintain a distance of six feet between
yourself and others while the announcements are given. Dan will try to project his voice
effectively in such instances, and please, please do not converse with others
while announcements are being made.
In some instances when we have more than ten
participants coming on an outing, we may split the group up into two parties
with two different leaders. Everyone
will go to the same places during the outing, but we may want to reduce the
number of people hiking together in the same group. These decisions will be made on a case by case or event by event
basis.
Optional restaurant dinners will be cancelled
until further notice.
We want to point out that walking in the woods
where there are not many other people present is considerably safer at this
time than walking in crowds of people or in heavily populated public
places.
CANCELLED
APRIL 4, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Southeastern
Outings Dayhike
Where:Payne
Lake, Talladega National Forest, Oakmulgee Division near Moundville, Alabama
Details: This will be Southeastern Outings first ever dayhike to this lovely lake in the Talladega National Forest.
Payne Lake offers
the outdoor enthusiast solitude and a 110-acre scenic lake brushed by
numerous nature trails. Payne Lake could be
described as a microcosm of the Oakmulgee National Forest, with its mixed
hardwood-pine forest, cattail swamp and rolling hills in close
proximity.
We
plan to walk on a pleasant, well-built, well-marked but
poorly maintained trail along the eastside of the lake, returning by a slightly
different route. Distance is about 5 miles round trip. Long pants are recommended
as some parts of the trail are overgrown. Hike rated moderate.
Please
bring picnic lunch and water with you. Meet 8:45 a.m. at the McDonald’s
Galleria parking lot. We plan to depart
from there at 9:00 a.m.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 9 and over
welcome.
Please bring three dollar exact change admission fee per person for honor box to park in
the Payne Lake Recreation Area.
Information and Leader: Francis Rushton, 205-290-2557
APRIL 9, THURSDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Weekday Hike in Tannehill State Park
Details: Come with us on our weekday hike. Enjoy an easy 3 or so-mile hike on trails in an especially lovely Alabama Historical State Park. The site is very near Birmingham!
Tannehill Ironworks Historical
State Park has more than 1,500 acres in three counties set aside for hiking,
camping and outdoor recreation. A miniature railroad chugs through the pines.
From spring through fall, the blacksmith, miller and craftsmen demonstrate
their trades. Craft shops occupy restored pioneer cabins and artisans chat with
visitors from their front porches. Steeped in history, Tannehill feels
timeless. The cotton gin, pioneer farm and working gristmill preserve a
long-gone way of life. Hiking trails retrace historic roadways. Artifacts of
Alabama’s 19th century iron industry displayed in the Iron and Steel Museum put
in perspective the massive stone furnaces, Tannehill’s awe-inspiring
centerpiece.
The same ingredients afford
today’s visitors a pleasurable escape from modern life.
If you are retired or not working
on this particular Thursday, you are urged to participate in the Southeastern
Outings’ group hike on the trails and get a feel for the location and scale of
the land.
This walk will be Southeastern
Outings’ fourth hike in Tannehill Historical State Park. Come with us for a guided tour of easily
walkable trails. Please bring water and
wear good walking shoes or boots. Dress appropriately for the weather.
Please meet 9:45 a.m. at
the parking lot behind the McDonald’s Galleria on U.S. Highway 31 in
Hoover. We plan to depart from there at
10:00 a.m.
Day-Use Park Admission: $5 Adults (12 years and older);
$4 Seniors (Ages 62 and older); $3 Children (Ages 6-11);
ages 5 and under free
Information and Hike Leader: Francis
Rushton, 205-290-5557
CANCELLED
April 11, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Dayhike: Cahaba River Park in Western
Shelby County north of Montevallo
Details: The
Cahaba River is among the most scenic and biologically diverse waterways in the
United States, and the public now has access to a portion of the river in
Shelby County. Work is underway on the Cahaba River Park, a 1,500-acre
site near the Bibb County line in western Shelby County. Please come with
us for our second, moderately easy 5.2 mile-long hike in this newly created
park.
Cahaba River Park will include two sectors: a larger sector
on the north side of the river and a sector on the south side of the river that
will allow for motorized access.
The river will split the park into two sites with different
amenities. The north side, which is being called the Helena/Hoover
Sector, includes most of the park’s acreage. The sector comprises 1,212 acres
of Forever Wild property and 127 acres of county property. The south side of
the river, which is being called the Boothton/Montevallo Sector, comprises 188
acres of Shelby County property.
Cahaba River Park is a Shelby County venture that is being
developed in conjunction with Forever Wild Land Trust, an initiative of the
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Improvements to Shelby County 251, or River Road on the
north side of the Cahaba River, are now complete. The Park offers about
15 miles of professionally designed and constructed trails for mountain biking,
hiking and trail running; multiple parking locations at trailheads; several
canoe launch sites that will allow for short trips or runs as long as 7 miles;
3 sets of pavilions and restroom facilities; and a caretaker’s house for a law
enforcement officer.
Our hike in the Helena/Hoover Sector on April 11 will
include walking on the Wild Turkey, Reflection and Northern Pines Trails.
The three trails offer a nice blend of forest and creek
views. The Northern Pines Trail offers
a good view of the area’s elevation.
Please bring your picnic lunch and water with you on the
hike. Well-behaved, carefully
supervised children age 7 and older able to walk five miles without complaining
are welcome to participate in this trip.
Please meet at 8:45 a.m. in the parking lot
behind the McDonald’s on U.S. Highway 31 at the Riverchase Galleria. We
plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.
Admission to the park is free.
Information
and Trip Leader: Jason Otis, 334-546-7648
or email jmotis@me.com
APRIL 12, SUNDAY, Meet 1:45 p.m.
Second Sunday Dayhike in Oak
Mountain State Park
Details: Enjoy a
moderate 4 or so-mile walk in the woodlands near Birmingham on a Sunday
afternoon. This is an excellent outing
for introducing your friends to Southeastern Outings and for making new friends
who enjoy the outdoors. Parts of this
hike may be off the color-coded trails.
There will be some ups and downs.
Well-behaved, properly supervised
children age eight and up able to walk the distance of about 4 miles and
complete the hike are welcome. Share an
adventure! Bring a friend.
Please meet at 1:45 p.m. in the Oak
Mountain Park office parking lot. We
plan to depart from there at 2:00 p.m.
Please bring $5/person ($2.00
seniors) park admission fee plus your drink.
Info: Randall
Adkins, 205-317-6969
CANCELLED
APRIL 14, THURSDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Weekday Hike
Where: Irondale Furnace to Jemison Park in Mountain Brook
Village
Details: One-way 4-mile hike from Irondale
Furnace to Mountain Brook Village. One
half mile of this walk in the middle of the hike will be on sidewalks around
Mountain Brook Club. The other 3.5
miles will be through Jemison and the Historic Irondale Furnace parks. This
hike is rated moderate.
We will parallel Shades Creek and Watkins Brook through some
of Alabama's most majestic hardwood forests. Our trip will be on trails
designed by developer Robert Jemison as bridle paths in the 1920s. Our
walk will traverse historic civil war era ruins, pass by some of Mountain
Brook's most magnificent mansions, allow us to stop to enjoy the creekside
views and end at the shops and restaurants of Mountain Brook Village.
Meet 9:45 a.m. in the parking lot
for the Shades Valley Presbyterian Church, 2305 Montevallo Road in Mountain
Brook Village. We will organize our
shuttle there so we can hike just one way.
We plan to depart by car from the meeting place at 10:00 a.m.
APRIL 18, THURSDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Bicycle Ride
Where: Horse
Creek Trail, Dora and Sumiton, AL
Details: Join
friendly folks on an easy 6.4-mile bicycle ride on the Horse Creek Trail in
Dora and Sumiton, in Walker County, sort of near Jasper, Alabama. The trail itself is 3.2 miles long. We will be bicycling one round trip on this
outing.
Ride on one of Alabama’s
rails-to-trails conversion routes on an old railroad right of way. This smooth trail is wide, level and
paved. No hills on this trail. On this particular bike ride you will be
bicycling on a scenic trail which goes through fields, near houses and through
the woods.
The trail is nicely developed,
with frequent covered benches. People you meet are both friendly and
helpful.
No motorized vehicles are allowed
on your trail! Note this is a
relatively easy ride, one which should be lots of fun for everyone who enjoys
bicycling. Please bring your bicycle
water with you.
Meet 8:45 a.m. at the Floor and
Décor Store on Green Springs Highway.
We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.
CANCELLED
APRIL 25, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Kayak and Canoe Trip, Locust Fork
River
Details: A fun
Southeastern Outings kayak and canoe trip on Section 1 of the Locust Fork River
in Blount County. This stretch, which
several of us have boated previously, is fairly easy and without classified
rapids. Along the river we’ll see lots
of wildflowers and stop to investigate islands and beaches.
Novice canoeists are
welcome and may come on this trip, but each one must be partnered with
an experienced canoeist in their canoe.
Please note that for this trip you
may rent one person sit-upon plastic kayaks and paddles for $30 each at the
put-in from River Beach Outfitters.
Rental fees include shuttle service.
Also the outfitter will charge a $15 fee for all private boats be
they canoes or kayaks used on this outing.
If you wish to rent a kayak from the outfitter, please notify Dan
Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or phone
205/631-4680 BEFORE April 25 to reserve your boat. Dan will then inform the outfitter how many rental kayaks he will
need to provide to SEO people for this trip.
Please note that the outfitter has
only about 75 one-person kayaks for rent, so be sure you call to reserve
early. Once all their solo kayaks
are reserved for April 25, there will be no more kayaks available to rent!
This outfitter does not have
canoes to rent. However, Dan
Frederick’s daughter, Aree, has a few canoes which she may offer to rent to
people who want to canoe on this trip and who do not have their own
canoes. Again, please notify Dan
Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or phone
205/631-4680 BEFORE April 25 to request a canoe if that is what you want. We will do our best to fulfill your request.
Please do NOT just show up at the
meeting place on April 25 without making an advance reservation with Dan
Frederick!! And if you have made a reservation to participate and
then decide to cancel, please be absolutely sure to call and notify the trip
leader. Don’t just tell your friend
if you intend to cancel!!
Life jackets are required and must
be worn. You are responsible for
finding your own boat. Bring your own,
borrow one, paddle with a friend, or rent from outfitter listed.
Please bring in the boat your
picnic lunch and something to drink.
Wear old shoes you don’t mind getting wet (old sneakers work well). Also bring at least 6 feet of sturdy cord to
tie up your canoe if you don’t already have rope attached to your own
canoe. If you have further questions,
please call the trip leader.
For more essential information
about this trip, please see Note for Canoe Trips at the end of this
announcement.
Please meet at 8:45 a.m. in the
Cleveland Chevron Service Station. We
plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.
Reservations Required: You are
required to contact Dan Frederick by email seoutings@bellsouth.net or call
205/631-4680 if you plan to come on this kayak and canoe trip. Please advise your name, telephone number,
skill level, whether you want to canoe or kayak, whether you are bringing a
canoe or kayak or you want to rent a
kayak from the outfitter or a canoe from Aree Frederick, and whether you need a
canoe paddling partner. You may leave a
message on Dan’s answering machine if you wish.
Info: If you
have further questions, please contact Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net
or 205/631-4680.
Note for Kayak and Canoe Trip—The kayak
and canoe outing listed in the announcement above is suitable for
beginner/novice canoeists and kayakers, but each beginner canoeist must paddle
with an experienced canoeist.
When you make your reservation
with Dan, please be absolutely certain to provide ALL of the
following information:
1.
Whether you want to kayak or canoe
2.
Whether you are renting a kayak from the outfitter, bringing
your own boat, or you wish to rent a canoe from Aree Frederick
3.
Your name
4.
Your telephone number or email address
5.
If you are also making a reservation for someone else coming
with you, please give the NAME of that person.
Don’t just say, “My daughter, my friend, my wife”.
6.
If you are canoeing, please give your skill level.
7.
If you have already selected a canoe partner and you are
making a reservation for your partner, too, please give the name and skill
level of your partner.
