Join SEO for a moderately strenuous, 3.4 mile 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 pass remnants of old limestone quarry operations which took place on the mountain, and we’ll hike on the back (south-facing) side of the mountain on several trails on which Southeastern Outings has not hiked previously.  At the proposed lunch spot we may have splendid views from the overlook where you can see all the way to the Miller Steam Plant on the Locust Fork River on a clear day.  We’ll also have several beautiful scenic views overlooking the Birmingham skyline and views to the hills to the north. 

This trip will involve considerable elevation gain hiking from the lowland section of the park to the top of Ruffner Mountain.

Please bring water with you.  Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 8 and up welcome.

Depart 10:00 a.m. from the Ruffner Road Ballfields Trail Head.

Info: David Shepherd, davidshep2@netscape.net or 205-240-4681

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Ruffner Road Ballfields Trail Head-From Birmingham traveling east on I-20 (just east of where I-59 and I-20 diverge), take the Montevallo Road exit (exit 132B).  At the end of the off ramp, turn left onto Montevallo Road.  Proceed 4/10 miles to the third stop sign which is at 16th Street.  Turn left on 16th Street.  Proceed 3/10 miles to Ruffner Road.  Turn right on Ruffner Road.  Drive 3/10 miles on Ruffner Road to where Ruffner Park and its baseball fields and parking lot are located on the right side of Ruffner Road.  Park in that lot.  The trail head is just across Ruffner Road from this parking lot.

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 300 members.  We scheduled ninety-two events during calendar year 2014 for an average of 8 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.  Twenty-nine people, on average, have participated in each outing during the first five months of 2015.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in 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.