BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID:-//Meetup Inc//RemoteApi//EN VERSION:2.0 METHOD:PUBLISH CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-ORIGINAL-URL:http://atheists.meetup.com/132/calendar/9835426/ical/Hiking+ Adventures+Alabama/ X-WR-CALNAME:Events - Hiking Adventures Alabama BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Hiking Adventures Alabama DESCRIPTION:The Birmingham Atheists Meetup Group\n\nWe will be hiking along the Sipsey River in the Bankhead National Forest\, just north of Double Sp rings\, Alabama. The Sipsey is as beautiful and clear a river as I have eve r seen\, and it is protected because it is specifically named as a "Wild Ri ver" by an act of Congress. Also\, this hike will go through some of Alabam a's only "Old Growth" forest\, which hasn't changed much since the end of t he last Ice Age.\n\nWe will leave at 8:00 AM from the Ullman/Bell Parking l ot at University of Alabama at Birmingham. This is lot 15A\, and is located between 12th and 13th streets\, between the Ullman/Bell buildings and Univ ersity Boulevard (8th Avenue South). Please arrive a few minutes early. We plan to return about 5 PM.\n\nIMPORTANT!!! Alabama goes on Daylight Savings Time on the morning of Sunday March 8! Be sure to "SPRING FORWARD" all of your clocks or you will be late and will be in the parking lot all by yours elf. IMPORTANT!!!\n\nDress appropriate for the weather (layers are good). E specially\, wear comfortable\, well-broken in shoes with socks. No flip flo ps or heels! Bring a sack lunch\, snacks and at least 1 quart of something to drink (preferably non-carbonated and definitely non-alcoholic). A day-pa ck will enable you to walk hands-free.\n\nIt is a 2-hour drive to the trail head. If you do not have transportation\, please arrange ahead of time to ride with someone.\n\nThe hike parallels the Sipsey River and Borden Creek for several miles. Inexperienced hikers may feel that this is a "challengin g" hike. None of the trail is paved\, it is occasionally muddy\, parts of i t are irregular and strenuous\, and there are 2-3 places where we will have to wade through part of the river if the water is high. Minimum distance w alked will be 5.4 miles. If we're having fun and have time\, we may hike 2- 3 miles farther.\n\nIf you have claustrophobia: There is one place where yo u will have to squeeze through a space between rocks that is very tall but only about 15 inches wide. If you cannot do this\, you will have to wade ar ound it in the river\, in knee deep water. \n\nHikers with health concerns: This is one of the most isolated areas in the Southeastern US. Cell phones do NOT work in this area. Much of it is in a 150 foot deep canyon without roads or any other way to get you out or get help in an emergency\, except walking out (or carrying you) and driving to the nearest hospital\, which i s 30 miles away. If you have any health concerns that would make this dange rous for you\, please wait until our next hike\, which will be in a much mo re accessible area and will take place in April or May. \n\nPets: There is a sign on the trail that this is a Wildlife Management Area and dogs are pr ohibited\, but I saw several hikers with dogs.\n\nLegal liability: This hik e is not sponsored or endorsed by any organization or individual. You are r esponsible for yourself.\n\nCost: There is a charge of $3 per car for parki ng.\n\nCancellation due to weather: If there is a severe/dangerous weather warning in effect for northwest Alabama at 7 AM on Sunday\, March 8\, or ne ws reports say that the roads are too icy for safe travel\, or the forecast ed high for the day is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less\, we will cancel the h ike. Otherwise\, dress for the weather and join us!\n\nBirmingham\, AL 352 01 - USA\n\nSunday\, March 8 at 8:00 AM\n\nPhoto: http://photos2.meetupstat ic.com/photos/event/e/5/2/1/event_3118657.jpeg\n\nAttending: 9\n\nDetails: http://atheists.meetup.com/132/calendar/9835426/ LAST-MODIFIED:20090318T003503Z UID:event_9835426@meetup.com CLASS:PUBLIC CREATED:20090227T041023Z DTSTAMP:20091210T223457Z DTSTART:20090308T130000Z DTEND:20090308T150000Z GEO:33.52;-86.81 URL:http://atheists.meetup.com/132/calendar/9835426/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR