April 1, THURSDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Weekday Walk Very Near Birmingham
Where: Turkey Creek Nature Preserve near Pinson in Jefferson County, Alabama
Details: You are invited to participate in an easy, fun Southeastern Outings short dayhike in the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve near Pinson. Come walk with us through this heavily-wooded area. We’ll hike on a new trail on which we have not hiked previously. The trail extends through the woods from the parking lot at the main park gate. Along the way we will also pass by a large creek with a beautiful, long, sloping waterfall in the middle of the preserve. Total hiking distance is about 3.2 miles. Please bring drinking water with you.
Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve Main Gate parking lot on Turkey Creek Road. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Please note that this is a different parking lot from where we have always parked on all of our previous hikes in the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. Share an adventure. Bring a friend or friends.
Info. and trip leader: Christine Heckemeyer, 205-979-5730
APRIL 3, 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 to each other.
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.
All participants on this hike shall have made a good faith attempt to be vaccinated against the Covid 19 virus provided that the vaccine is available to them.
Please bring picnic lunch and water with you.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 9 and over welcome.
Please bring three dollar exact change admission fee per person charged to use Payne Lake Recreation Area.
Please meet 8:45 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 9:00 a.m.
Information and Trip Leader: Francis Rushton, 205-290-5557.
APRIL 10, SATURDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Bicycle Ride
Where: Horse Creek Trail, Dora and Sumiton, AL
Details: Join friendly folks on an easy, approximately 7-mile bicycle ride on the Horse Creek Trail in Dora and Sumiton, in Walker County, sort of near Jasper, Alabama. The trail itself is about 3.5 miles long one way. Everyone 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 even 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.
After the bicycle ride, we will offer an optional opportunity to bike a second 7-mile round trip on the trail for those who would like to bicycle some more.
Please meet 9:45 a.m. just outside the left front door of the Wal-Mart in Sumiton, Alabama. We plan to depart by car from there at 10:00 a.m. and drive to the nearby start point of our ride on the trail.
Info and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680.
APRIL 11, SUNDAY, Meet 1:45 p.m.
Southeastern Outings Second Sunday Dayhike in Oak Mountain State Park
Details: Enjoy a moderate 4 to 5-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 without complaining 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. and Trip Leader: Randall Adkins, 205/317-6969
APRIL 14, WEDNESDAY, Meet 9:00 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Mountain Laurel Walk, Dunnavant Valley Greenway Walking Trail (DVGWT)
Details: The trail winds along a bubbling stream, Yellow Leaf Creek, overhung with majestic American beech, oak, and hickory trees. The stream rapidly expands to 15-feet wide before the end of the trail.
We may offer two options. Option A involves a short moderate hike off trail to view a pretty waterfall nearby, and then return to the main trail where we will hike to the far end of the trail and back to the start. Dan Frederick will scout Option A on April 12 or 13 to ascertain whether the waterfall is likely to be running or not on April 14. Option B involves easy hiking on the main trail from start to end and return on the trail. There are footbridges over the streams, and, except for a steep patch over a ridge, walking on the trail itself is easy. Happy hiking! Please bring your picnic lunch and water with you.
All participants on this hike shall have made a good faith attempt to be vaccinated against the Covid 19 virus provided that the vaccine is available to them.
Please meet at 9:00 a.m. in the DVGWT trail head parking lot on Shelby County Highway 41. We plan to depart from there at 9:15 a.m.
Information and Trip Leader: Francis Rushton, 205/290-5557
APRIL 17, SATURDAY, Meet 9:30 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike
Where: Noccalula Falls Park, Gadsden, Alabama
Details: This will be Southeastern Outings first ever hike to Alabama’s highest waterfall and surrounding area. Located just over two miles from downtown Gadsden, Noccalula Falls Park and Campground allows you to escape into nature. When visiting for the day, this unique attraction will quench your appetite for both adventure and history.
The falls are a 90-foot drop into the Black Creek gorge. It is naturally fed by Black Creek alone. Being a natural waterfall, it is dependent on rainfall to feed the cascade. When we see high volumes of rain we can see it flood (often in the winter and spring.) When we see little rainfall in the late summer and fall we may only have a trickle of water. Regardless of the amount of water, it is always a site to see!
One of the special attractions to Noccalula Falls is that by accessing the Gorge Trail you can pass under the Falls. In addition, the bridge leading over Black Creek above the Falls allows a 360-degree view of this grand natural waterfall. Hike rated moderately easy.
Optional dinner after the hike.
Well-behaved,
properly supervised children age seven and up able to walk the distance of
about 4 miles without complaining and complete the hike are welcome.
Please meet at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Applebee’s in Trussville We plan to depart from there at 9:45 a.m. Or you can meet the group at Jack's parking lot, 1502 Noccalula Rd, Gadsden, AL 35901 at 10:30 a.m.
Information and Trip Leader: Marmy Nelson, marstar7@gmail.com or phone 612-245-3036 cell
APRIL 18, SUNDAY, Meet 1:45 p.m.
Southeastern Outings Walk in a Forest Preserve in Homewood
Details: The City of Homewood owns two forest preserves on Shades Mountain adjacent to the Homewood High School. Come and spend a relaxing two hours walking and admiring spring wildflowers with us in the lower preserve. Rated moderately easy. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 6 and older welcome.
Please meet 1:45 p.m. in the Homewood High School east (nearest Brookwood Village Shopping Center) parking lot, just off Lakeshore Drive in Homewood. We plan to depart from there at 2:00 p.m.
Info: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net, phone 205/631-4680
APRIL 22, THURSDAY, Meet 9:00 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Leisurely Weekday Mountain Laurel Walk
Where-Dunnavant Valley Greenway Walking Trail (DVGWT)
Details: The trail winds along a bubbling stream, Yellow Leaf Creek, overhung with majestic American beech, oak, and hickory trees. The stream rapidly expands to 15-feet wide before the end of the trail.
There are footbridges over the streams, and, except for a very short, steep patch over a ridge, walking on the trail itself is easy. Happy hiking! Please bring your water with you.
Optional lunch at a restaurant in the Lee Branch Shopping Center on Highway 280 after the hike.
Please meet at 9:00 a.m. in the DVGWT trail head parking lot on Shelby County Highway 41. We plan to depart from there at 9:15 a.m.
Information and Trip Leader: Chris Heckemeyer, 205-979-5730
APRIL 24, SATURDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings 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 canoed 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 24 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 70 one-person kayaks for rent, so be sure you call to reserve early. Once all their solo kayaks are reserved for April 24, 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 24 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 24 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 the outfitters listed.
Please bring with you 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 Kayak and Canoe Trips at the end of this calendar.
Please meet at 9:45 a.m. at the Cleveland Chevron Service Station. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 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 are bringing a canoe or kayak and whether you need a paddling partner. You may leave a message on Dan’s answering machine if you wish.
If you want to come on the April 24 SEO kayak and canoe trip AND you are renting a boat from the outfitter at the site of the trip, in this instance you are required to call or contact ONLY the trip leader and notify him that you are coming! Dan will inform the outfitter how many rental kayaks he will need to provide to SEO people for this trip.
Info. and Trip Leader: If you have further questions, please contact Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680.
Note for Kayak and Canoe Trips
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. Life jackets or personal flotation devices are required and must be worn. Bring your own boat, borrow one, paddle with a friend, or rent a kayak from River Beach Outfitters.
Please bring in the boat your picnic lunch, something to drink, and a towel. Put your belongings in a waterproof dry bag in the boat. Wear old, thick-soled shoes you don’t mind getting wet (old sneakers work well). Also bring at least 6 feet of sturdy cord to tie up your boat if you don’t already have cord attached to your own boat. If you have further questions, please call the trip leader.
When you make your reservation with the trip leader, 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, want to rent a canoe from Aree Frederick or bringing your own boat (kayak or canoe)
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.
8. Please do NOT just show up at the meeting place without making an advance reservation!!
9. If you have made a reservation to participate and then decide to cancel, please be absolutely sure to call and notify the trip leader 1 ½ hours or more before the event departure time. Don’t just tell your friend if you intend to cancel!!
If you have made a reservation for a friend whom you have invited to come on this trip and your friend is not coming, you must notify the leader of this cancellation 1 ½ hours or more before the event departure time! No-shows cause considerable logistical complications for the leader and for the outfitter!
