Southeastern Outings Creek Wade in Collier Creek, Bankhead National Forest

This is one of the prettiest creeks in the Bankhead Forest.  There was even a special magazine article about its beauty!  We hope to see at least six waterfalls running on this outing.  Collier Creek is located in a heavily forested area with lots of hemlock trees.

Participants on this hike will be expected to be able and willing to walk at least 4 ½ miles off trail over rugged terrain including wading 3 miles in two creeks, portions of which may sometimes be knee deep, wear hiking boots and long pants to hike through the woods to and from the creek, and bring and wear old shorts or swim suit and wading shoes for the creek wade.  Sturdy foot protection you don’t mind getting wet and dirty is required to wade in the creeks.  Old sneakers work well.  Bare feet, flip-flops, loose slip-ons and thin-soled “beach shoes” are not acceptable!  Also please do bring a large plastic bag with twist tie or Ziploc to put your wet shoes in and a hand towel to dry your feet before putting your socks and hiking boots back on for the walk out.  You are strongly encouraged to bring a hiking stick or hiking poles with you on this outing for use when you are wading in the creek.  The creek bottom is rocky and uneven.  Poles help you keep your balance and aid in preventing falls.  Also please bring a towel, your picnic lunch and at least a quart of drinking water per person.  Please come only if you are willing to get wet!

Enjoy an adventure.  Bring a friend.  Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 9 and over welcome.

After the outing we are planning to go to a restaurant for an optional dinner.  You can shower and change clothes at a campground a few miles from the restaurant.  If you would like to shower and/or clean up and have dinner with us at the restaurant, please bring a change of clothes for dinner and your shower things.  No charge to use the campground rest room just to wash up and change clothes.  If you wish to shower, please bring $2.00 exact change cash for shower fee and be sure you give your shower fee to the trip leader on August 28 to forward to the campground owner!

Depart 8:00 a.m. from the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride or 8:30 a.m. from the Mile 300 Rest Area on I-65 just south of Cullman, Alabama.  Please note that the group will NOT be meeting at Double Springs at all on this outing.  This outing is in the eastern section of the Bankhead National Forest and not near Double Springs or the Sipsey Wilderness.

Info: Dan Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205-631-4680

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE
Hayden/Corner Park and Ride—171 State Highway 160, Warrior, AL 35180. Exit 284 off I-65 North, take right on AL 160 at end of exit ramp, immediate right on U.S. 31 and then enter fenced parking lot on right.

DESCRIPTION OF SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS

Do you wish you had friends who share your active lifestyle and enjoyment of outdoor activities?  Then become active with Southeastern Outings (SEO), a nonprofit organization committed and created to serve people who enjoy being active in the outdoors.  The organization plans, organizes and leads outings such as dayhikes, easy kayak and canoe trips, stream and waterfall walks, bicycle rides, lake events and other fun activities to beautiful sites in our natural environment.  From time to time we also sponsor potluck suppers and other socials.  All events and activities of the group are open to the public.  Participating in SEO activities is a splendid, simple way to make congenial new friends who enjoy the outdoors.

NO DOGS OR SMOKING ALLOWED, PLEASE, ON ANY SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS EVENTS.

The organization currently has over 400 members.  We scheduled ninety-one events during calendar year 2015 for an average of 8 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.  Nineteen people, on average, have participated in each outing since January 1, 2016.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in one r two SEO activities.  Dues are only $10.  Please contact Dan Frederick, President, 205-631-4680, or seoutings@bellsouth.net for more information and to obtain three free monthly newsletters with membership application and a complete description of all our outdoor events.

Southeastern Outings now has a website.  Just go to seoutings.org to find announcements of all our upcoming outings scheduled plus some brief, general information about Southeastern Outings, a membership application and 1500 lovely photographs from several of our outings.

Thank you.