High Falls Caption

High Falls, Dekalb County, Alabama

For more information, please contact Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680, or seoutings@bellsouth.net.

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December and January Activities

CANCELED

DECEMBER 8, SUNDAY, please meet 12:45 p.m.

Southeastern Outings Second Sunday Dayhike in Oak Mountain State Park


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Details: Enjoy a moderate 4-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 12:45 p.m. in the Oak Mountain Park office parking lot.  We plan to depart from there at 1:00 p.m.

Please bring $5/person ($2.00 seniors) park admission fee plus your drink.

Info: Randall Adkins, 205-719-7719

 

DECEMBER 12, THURSDAY, please meet 9:45 a.m.

Southeastern Outings Weekday Hike

Where:  Veterans Park, 4800 Valleydale Road, Hoover, AL 35242

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Details: Come with us on a weekday hikeEnjoy an easy 3-mile hike on trails in North Shelby County just off Valleydale Road.  Veterans Park is an 82-acre park with numerous walking trails, a four-acre lake and a one-acre pond. 

        If you are retired or not working or have off 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’ eighth hike in Veterans 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 at 9:45 a.m. in the Veterans Park parking lot right beside the building with restrooms in it at the park.  We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.

Optional lunch nearby after the hike at Metro Diner Restaurant in Inverness.

Admission to Park: Free

Information and hike leader: Randall Adkins, 205/719-7719 cell

 

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Veterans Park-- 4800 Valleydale Road, Hoover, AL 35242.  From Birmingham on I-65, take I-65 South to exit number 247, Valleydale Road, Shelby County Route 17 exit.  Drive to the end of the ramp and turn left.  Drive 4.0 miles just past the Jefferson State Community College Shelby Campus to the traffic light at the entrance to Spain Park High School (NOT the Spain Park Sports Complex!) and turn left into the driveway for the Spain Park High School on Jaguar Road.  Drive less than 1/10 mile and turn right into the driveway into Veterans Park.  Drive to the parking lot beside the building with the restrooms in it.

        From U.S. Highway 280 drive to intersection with Valleydale Road, Shelby County Route 17 and turn right coming from Birmingham, left from Chelsea.  Drive about 2.9 miles on Valleydale Road, Shelby County Route 17, to the traffic light at the entrance to Spain Park High School (NOT the Spain Park Sports Complex!) and turn right on Jaguar Road.  Then follow directions above.

 

DECEMBER 21, SATURDAY, please meet 8:45 a.m.

Southeastern Outings Dayhike

Where: DeSoto State Park and Lost Falls

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Details: Moderately easy hike in DeSoto State Park. We will hike along the beautiful West Fork of Little River.  We’ll also hike various other trails in the park and visit Lost Falls.  We expect to see a total of eight waterfalls during this hike.   This is one of the most scenic state parks in Alabama. 

Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, please click on this link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jvLT4A3GbhPpLgQZ2

 Please be sure to click on the link and view the photographs.

Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 9 and over able to walk about 5 miles without complaining welcome.

After the outing we’ll enjoy an optional restaurant dinner together. 

Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the Applebee’s Trussville. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.

Info. and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205-631-4680

 

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Applebee’s Restaurant Trussville (coming from Birmingham)—4711 Norrell Drive, Trussville, AL 35173.  Take I-59 North to Exit #141 (Chalkville Mountain Road Exit).  Exit I-59 at Exit #141.  Drive to traffic light at far end of interstate exit ramp.  This is at intersection of the exit ramp and Chalkville Mountain Road. Turn right at the traffic light at the far end of exit ramp.  Drive to first road you come to on the left when you are on Chalkville Mountain Road. This is immediately after you pass a Texaco gas station on your left and a Shell gas station on your right.  Turn left there onto Norrell Drive.  Applebee’s Restaurant is on Norrell Drive directly behind the McDonald’s which faces Chalkville Mountain Road at the far left corner of that intersection.  There is no longer a stoplight at this intersection.

 

DECEMBER 28, SATURDAY, please meet 1:45 p.m.

Southeastern Outings Easy Walk

Where: Vulcan Trail inside the City Limits of Birmingham

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Details: Enjoy an easy walk in the woodlands overlooking Birmingham on the Saturday after Christmas.  The trail is level, as it is on an old mining railroad right of way just below the crest of Red Mountain.  This walk is an ideal activity for those holiday guests who have been in your house for several days and with whom you are looking for something to do to get them out of the house.  A previous walk on this trail drew one of the highest number of participants, 67, on any outing SEO has ever sponsored.  Don’t miss it!

Please meet at 1:45 p.m. in the Vulcan Park and Museum Parking Lot where you would normally park to visit the statue and Vulcan Park.  We plan to depart from there at 2:00 p.m.  We will walk from the big parking lot a short distance down some new stairs to the trail head and then on the trail to Green Springs Highway and back.  The formerly unpaved section of the Vulcan Trail has recently been widened and resurfaced. 

There is no charge to participate in this hike and there is no charge for admission to either Vulcan Park or the trail.

Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and older able to walk 4 miles welcome.  After the walk is completed, there will be an optional dinner at Jim 'N Nick's 11th Avenue Grill at Five Points South.  

Share an adventure.  Bring a friend or friends.

Info: Dan Frederick, southeasterneoutings@gmail.com or 205/631-4680

 

JANUARY 4, SATURDAY, please meet 8:45 a.m.

Southeastern Outings Dayhike

Where: Brushy Creek and Sougahoagdee Falls, Bankhead National Forest

Details: The hike will be 6 miles long and is rated moderate.  We will follow a beautiful trail which runs from the Brushy Creek Bridge along Brushy Creek.  At the intersection of Brushy Creek and Sougahoagdee Creek, we turn and follow Sougahoagdee Creek less than ¼ mile upstream to Sougahoagdee Falls, one of the largest and most scenic waterfalls in the entire Bankhead National Forest. 

We usually observe about eleven waterfalls on this hike.  We should also see lovely cliffs, hemlock trees, canyons and perhaps some additional waterfalls.  If we have time, we may also visit the nearby natural bridge (not the one at the town of Natural Bridge) in the Natural Bridge Recreation Area of the Bankhead National Forest.

No charge for admission to the Bankhead National Forest, the Brushy Creek Trail, and the Natural Bridge Recreation Area of the Bankhead National Forest.

Carefully-supervised, well-behaved children age 8 and older welcome.

Please bring a picnic lunch and water. 

Optional dinner after at a delightful Italian restaurant in Double Springs.

Please meet 8:45 a.m. at the Hayden-Corner Park and Ride at Exit 284 off of I-65 North.  We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.  Or you may meet the group at 9:20 a.m. at the Mile 300 Rest Area on I-65.

Info: Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com or phone 205/631-4680

 

JANUARY 9, THURSDAY, please meet 9:30 a.m.

Southeastern Outings Leisurely Weekday Hike

Where: Red Mountain Park

Details: Please come with us for a 3-4 mile hike on a walkable portion of this noteworthy place.  We will hike from the Red Mountain Park Parking Lot on Lyon Lane to the Grace’s Gap and back. 

The walking pace for this hike is rated moderately easy since there are some hills to climb.  We’ll stop often to catch our breath and note flowers, trees, birdsongs and the trail and woods around us. 

Please bring your picnic lunch and plenty of water.  Wear good walking shoes or boots. Dress appropriately for the weather.

Please meet at 9:30 a.m. in the large Red Mountain Park parking lots on the right side of Lyon Lane immediately after you turn right onto Lyon Lane off of the north end of Frankfurt Drive off Lakeshore Parkway.  We plan to depart from there at 9:45 a.m.

Information and Trip Leader: Christine Heckemeyer, 205-979-5730

 

JANUARY 12, SUNDAY, please meet 12:45 p.m.

Southeastern Outings Second Sunday Dayhike in Oak Mountain State Park

Details: Enjoy a moderate 4-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 12:45 p.m. in the Oak Mountain Park office parking lot.  We plan to depart from there at 1:00 p.m.

Please bring $5/person ($2.00 seniors) park admission fee plus your drink.

Info: Randall Adkins, 205-719-7719

 

JANUARY 20, SATURDAY

Southeastern Outings Dayhike, Sipsey Wilderness, Bankhead National Forest

Details: Moderately strenuous 4-mile hike in a highly scenic location, Upper Quillan Creek Forest Area.  Most of the hike is off trail, there are lots of ups and downs, and several rock-hopping crossings are required across small creeks.   

We’ll walk along two creeks and on an old road.  At a beautiful waterfall we’ll visit the site of an old mill.  On this hike we’ll see several small waterfalls on side creeks and tributaries to Quillan Creek.  We will visit at least three very pretty waterfalls on Quillan Creek itself along the way.  We expect to see a minimum of a total of twelve lovely waterfalls on this trip.

Please bring picnic lunch and water for the day.  We expect to finish about 4:00 p.m.  Optional dinner after.  Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 9 and over able to walk 4 miles off trail without complaining welcome.

Reservations Required: If you wish to participate in this outing, you are required to call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or email your reservation to southeasternoutings@gmail.com by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2024.  When you contact Dan, please be sure you leave either your phone number or email address.  This outing is limited to 10 people in order to comply with U.S. Forest Service regulations.  Note that this is a change from the total number of people allowed on this hike listed in our original January newsletter.  We hope the limitation will not prove to be a problem. 

If you make a reservation with Dan to come on this trip and then for any reason decide later to not come on this outing, please telephone Dan, 205/631-4680 right away.  If we have 20 people signed up on the day of the hike and, for example, we have two people on the waiting list and then two people who signed up don’t show up for the hike, those two no-show people have in effect deprived the two on the waiting list from participating.  Please don’t be a no-show.  If you aren’t coming after making a reservation, please notify Dan.

At a later date leader will advise meeting time and place only to those who have signed up and been approved for this trip. 

Information and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, southeasternoutings@gmail.com, or 205/631-4680

 

JANUARY 25, 2025, SATURDAY, please meet 8:45 a.m.

Southeastern Outings Waterfowl Viewing Trip

Where: Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (WNWR), Decatur, AL

Details Experience the thrilling sight of thousands of sandhill cranes, wild geese and ducks plus herons and other birds.  The Refuge has the largest concentration of wintering cranes, geese and ducks in the entire state of Alabama!  You don’t need to be a bird watcher to enjoy this outing!  Experienced birders leading the trip will share their knowledge with all.

This 35,000-acre refuge attracts thousands of wintering waterfowl each year.  WNWR is comprised of diverse habitat types including bottomland hardwoods, wetlands, pine uplands, shoreline or riparian woodlands, agricultural fields, and backwater embayments.  These habitats provide excellent feeding, resting, and roosting sites for wintering waterfowl, white pelicans, sandhill cranes and a few endangered whooping cranes as well as nesting sites for migratory songbirds and many species of resident wildlife.

Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, please click on this link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SvhqhVBWlcJX5qBL2

Please be sure to click on the link and view the photographs.

We are highly privileged to have as our guide Dwight Cooley, the retired Refuge Manager.  Dwight will take us on refuge roads behind locked gates as we drive to various bays and sloughs where you can easily see hundreds of ducks and geese in large numbers.  We’ll also see many other types of birds including, hopefully, bald eagles.  We’ll even see a huge flock of sandhill cranes which winter at the refuge each year.  This winter the Refuge expects to host in excess of 22,000 sandhill cranes and about 20 endangered whooping cranes.  The gated roads are closed to the public but will be open to our group.  

Please bring binoculars, a birding field guide and a spotting telescope with you if you have them.  The leader and Dan Frederick will each bring a spotting telescope which they will share with participants.  Also, please bring your picnic lunch and drink with you.

This outing is rated easy as there is very little walking involved, and we won’t be climbing any hills or walking through thick brush.  Please dress for the weather.  The wind at the refuge can be biting, blowing across open water on cold days. 

Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 10 and over who can remain quiet for extended periods of time (so as to not disturb the birds and bird watchers) are welcome.

Possible optional dinner after the birding trip depending on what time we finish bird watching.

Reservations Required: If you wish to participate in this outing, you are required to call Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or email your reservation to southeasternoutings@gmail.com by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2025.  When you contact Dan, please be sure you leave your first and last name and either your phone number or email address.  If you are bringing guest(s), please be sure to give Dan the first and last names of each of them. 

At a later time Dan Frederick will advise meeting time and place only to those who have signed up and been approved for this trip. 

We look forward to seeing many of you on January 25, 2025.

Info: Dan Frederick, 205/631-4680 or southeasternoutings@gmail.com