A moderate 6 mile hike in one of the interesting parts of the Talladega National Forest, mostly on the Pinhoti Trail. This year’s route will vary from most of our previous hikes there and excludes visiting the historic Shoal Creek Church.  Instead, we’ll combine a loop south of the trailhead around beautiful Coleman Lake with a visit to the “woodpecker farm” and then visit spectacular longleaf pine forest areas north of the trailhead on Forest Service Road 500.

The Pinhoti Trail guide describes the woodpecker farm as follows: “The Woodpecker Farm is basically what 92,000,000 acres of the Southeast looked like before Europeans arrived.  The area was formerly completely dominated by very mature longleaf pines up to 400 years old and old growth oak, hickory and tupelo as the canopy over a grass understory”. The area is one of several maintained by the U.S. Forest Service to help preserve the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.        Our route will take us along the Coleman Lake trail, providing a different view as we return to the trailhead.  Then we will walk across Forest Service Road 500 and hike through the longleaf forest in that area.

Well-behaved, properly supervised children age 7 and older welcome.

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

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PITJkp7G4Dm57tXp1

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

This hike is relatively flat but rated moderate because of its length.  Please bring picnic lunch and water with you on the hike.

Optional dinner after the hike.

Please meet at 8:45 a.m. in the Leeds Highway 78 gravel parking lot.  We plan to depart from there at 9:00 a.m.

Info. And Leader: Francis Rushton 205/290-5557 or ferushton@gmail.com

DIRECTIONS TO MEETING PLACE

Leeds Highway 78 gravel parking lot-6995 Parkway Drive, Leeds, AL 35094. Gravel parking lot on Highway U.S. 78 between the Chevron and Marathon service stations at the first Leeds exit, Exit number 140, off I-20 heading east (towards Atlanta) out of Birmingham. Turn RIGHT at the end of the exit ramp coming from Birmingham. See Chevron and Marathon stations on right immediately after first red light.

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 about 300 members.  We scheduled seventy-four events during calendar year 2020 for an average of 6 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in one or two SEO activities.  Dues are only $10 per family or household.  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 most of our outings.

Thank you.