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March and April Activities
MARCH 6, SATURDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike
Where: Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
Details: On March 27, 1814, Major General Andrew Jackson‘s army of 3,300 men attacked Chief Menawa’s 1,000 Red Stick Creek warriors fortified in a horseshoe- shaped bend of the Tallapoosa River. Over 800 Red Sticks died that day. The battle ended the Creek War, resulted in a land cession of 23,000,000 acres to the United States and created a national hero of Andrew Jackson.
In March 1814, General Jackson's army left Fort Williams on the Coosa River, cut a 52-mile trail through the forest in three days, and on the 26th made camp six miles north of Horseshoe Bend. The next morning, Jackson sent General John Coffee and 700 mounted infantry and 600 Cherokee and Creek allies three miles down-stream to cross the Tallapoosa and surround the bend. He took the rest of the army - about 2000 men, consisting of East and West Tennessee militia and the Thirty-ninth U.S. Infantry - into the peninsula and at 10:30 a.m. began an ineffectual two-hour artillery bombardment of the Red Sticks' log barricade. At noon, Coffee's Cherokee allies crossed the river and assaulted the Red Sticks from the rear. Jackson quickly ordered a frontal bayonet charge, which poured over the barricade. Fighting ranged over the south end of the peninsula throughout the afternoon. By dark at least 800 of Chief Menawa's 1,000 Red Sticks were dead (557 slain on the field and 200-300 in the river). Menawa himself, although severely wounded, managed to escape. Jackson's losses in the battle were 49 killed and 154 wounded, many mortally.
Though the Red Sticks had been crushed at Tohopeka, remnants of the war party held out for several months. In August 1814, a treaty between the United States and the Creek Nation was signed at Fort Jackson near the present day city of Wetumpka, Alabama. The Treaty of Fort Jackson ended the conflict and required the Creeks to cede 23 million acres of land to the United States. The state of Alabama was carved out of this domain and admitted to the Union in 1819.
In 1828, partly as a result of his fame from the battles of Horseshoe Bend and New Orleans, Andrew Jackson was elected the seventh President of the United States.
We may have the opportunity to watch a short film and view the exhibits before we begin our hike which is rated easy. Viewing the film is contingent upon the visitor center being open on March 6. As of the time this announcement was written, the visitor center, restrooms and picnic area were closed.
Hike distance is 5.8 miles.
Admission to the park is free.
Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age eight and over welcome.
Optional restaurant dinner after the hike.
Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the Publix in The Village at Lee Branch in Greystone. We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.
Info: Randall Adkins, 205/317-6969
MARCH 13, SATURDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Hike
Where: Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve
Details: Join SEO for a moderate, approximately four to five-mile, moderately strenuous big loop hike on the lovely, well-maintained trails in the 1000+-acre Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, one of the largest in-city nature preserves in the country.
We’ll see remnants of old iron ore mining operations which took place on the mountain. We’ll stop by and visit three old iron ore crushers, stop by the entrances to three, different types of iron ore mines, walk around the new wetlands area, see a real artesian well which still emits copious amounts of water, and view foundations for ore car hoists and various water tanks.
This trip is likely to involve some elevation gain hiking between the lower sections of the park to the top of Ruffner Mountain.
Please bring your picnic lunch and drinking water with you.
Meet 9:45 a.m. at the Ruffner Mountain Nature Center Pavilion or in the parking lot next to the pavilion if the pavilion is cordoned off on the day of the hike. We plan to start hiking at 10:00 a.m.
Info: David Shepherd, davidshep2@yahoo.com or 205/240-4681
MARCH 14, SUNDAY, 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 without complaining 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. and Trip Leader: Randall Adkins, 205/317-6969
MARCH 17, WEDNESDAY, Meet 9:15 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Weekday Hike
Where: The new Shoal Creek Park, Montevallo, Alabama
Details: A pleasant 3-mile hike through fields and woods on a well developed loop of trails through Montevallo's newest park.
Southeastern Outings has planned an easy, approximately 3-mile hike in the new Shoal Creek Park in Montevallo. On October 30, 2018, ten people participated in an SEO scouting trip there led by Shane Baugh, the Montevallo Parks and Recreation Director, and we were delighted at what we found. We subsequently had highly successful hikes there for the entire group on December 22, 2018, March 9, 2019, May 14, 2020 and November 21, 2020.
This 167-acre park has some new trails (2.1 miles and 1.6 miles) already constructed and some less developed trails which we will also hike. One trail does follow Shoal Creek for some distance.
The park is located on both sides of Shoal Creek about 2 miles upstream from Orr Park where we have begun our past hikes on the Montevallo Parks Trail.
The restrooms in the park are now completely constructed and open for your use.
The park is located 1.1 miles south of American Village on AL Highway 119 in Montevallo.
Please bring your picnic lunch, water, and a hiking pole or two with you.
Please meet at 9:00 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 9:15 a.m.
Admission to the park is free!
Information and Hike Leader: Bill Ennis, 205-405-4636
MARCH 20, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike: Cahaba River Park in Western Shelby County north of Montevallo
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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 March 20 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
MARCH 25, 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
MARCH 27, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Dayhike, Alabama Nature Center, Millbrook. Alabama
Details: The former Lanark Estate in Millbrook, Alabama, was conveyed to provide for long-term stewardship of the property and development of an outdoor education facility that is now known as the Alabama Nature Center. The Center is a planned use facility offering hands on, outdoor-based educational programs and activities for students, educators, church and civic groups, and the general public.
The Center contains 350 acres of striking forests, fields, streams, wetlands and parks that are traversed by five miles of boardwalks and trails in three regions. Please bring $5.00 per person Nature Center admission fee with you. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 7 and over able to walk two miles without complaining are welcome on this outing.
Optional dinner after the hike.
Meet for this outing at 8:45 a.m. at the McDonald’s Galleria. We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.
Info: Dexter Duren, 205-765-2293
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.
Southeastern Outings 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
APRIL 12, SUNDAY, Meet 1:45 p.m.
Southeastern Outings 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
APRIL 14, THURSDAY, Meet 9:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings 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. Information and hike leader: Francis Rushton 205/290-5557 or ferushton@gmail.com
APRIL 18, THURSDAY, Meet 8:45 a.m.
Southeastern Outings Bicycle Ride
Where: Horse Creek Trail, Dora and Sumiton, AL
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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.
Info and Trip Leader: Dan Frederick, seouting@bellsouth.net or 205/631-4680.
APRIL 25, SATURDAY, Meet 8:45 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 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.
Revised Southeastern Outings Covid 19 Pandemic Information
Most of you are already familiar with the stay-at-home
orders issued by the Governor of Alabama.
The Governor stated, “A person may leave his or her place of residence to participate in outdoor activity so long as the person maintains a consistent six-foot distance from other persons.
Notice of Southeastern Outings 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 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.
Optional potluck dinner parties will be cancelled until further notice.
In any case, of course, if you have flu-like symptoms (fever, aches or pains in the joints and respiratory system problems) please stay at home and do not come on outings with us! This is just common sense.
We want to point out that walking in the woods outdoors where there are not many other people present is considerably safer at this time than being in crowds of people or in heavily populated public places. Participating in our events will give you opportunities to be in the outdoors, get some beneficial exercise, and do something you enjoy with other people while still allowing you to easily and conveniently maintain safe social distancing.
