2014 Adventures
...the year in review...
The early part of the year brought a return to Cane Creek Canyon Preserve, hiking some new additions added and a number of new waterfalls to explore, plus a hidden jem in central Alabama in the Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. I met up with James for our first hike in years at Long Hunter State Park in Tennessee later that spring, and explore almost every single trail at DeSoto State Park, AL, a place I hadn't been to in close to a decade. Come summer I checked off a bucket list item of camping on an island, with a stay at Tims Ford State Park. I met Robin that summer as well, exploring many places in central Alabama that had never crossed my radar before. Fall brought numerous outings with The Dog Wonder, hitting a number of small state parks in Tennessee, like Henry Horton State Park, where we'd finish the last hike of the year.
All Hiking Adventures[Camping Trips in RED, Cabin stays in BLUE] |
| Date | Preview | Locations | Length | Photos | Journal |
| Dec 22 |  |
Henry Horton State Park, TN
Hickory Ridge Trail, Wilhoite Mill Trail, |
6.5 mi |  |
|
| Dec 7 |  |
Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
"The Creek With No Name" |
10.5 mi | |
|
| Dec 6 |  |
Vestavia Hills Preserve, AL
Boulder Canyon Nature Trail |
1.3 mi | |
|
| Nov 7-8 |  |
Oak Mountain State Park, AL
South Rim Trail, Shackleford Point Trail, Foothills Trail, Moccasin Wildlife Trail |
15 mi | |
|
| Nov 3 |  |
David Crockett State Park, TN
Shoal Creek Trail, Waterfall Trail, Trail of Tears Trail, Overlook Trail |
4 mi | |
|
| Oct 26 |  |
Bankhead National Forest, AL
Corinth Recreation Area, Bobwhite Trail |
2.6 mi | |
|
| Oct 22 |  |
Blevins Gap Nature Preserve, AL
Bill and Marion Certain Trail, Lowery Trail, Varnedoe Trail, West Bluff Trail |
5 mi | |
|
| Oct 4-5 |  |
Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Randolph Trail, Rippey Trail, Sipsey River Trail, Bee Branch, Borden Creek Trail |
15 mi | |
|
| Sep 27-28 | |
Talladega National Forest, AL
Coleman Lake Recreation Area, Lake Trail, Pinhoti Trail |
5.5 mi | |
|
| Sep 13 |  |
James 'Sloppy' Floyd State Park, GA
places |
1.5 mi | |
|
| Sep 6-7 |  |
Talladega National Forest, AL
Pinhoti trail north to CCC road, Bald Rock Boardwalk, Bald rock connector, Pulpit rock trail, CCC Garden trail, Cheaha Tower |
12 mi | |
|
| Aug 30 |  |
Rickwood Caverns State Park, AL
Fossil Mountain Trail + photos from Turkey Creek Preserve, Pinson, AL |
1.25 mi | |
|
| Aug 9 |  |
Kymulga Grist Mill Park, Childersburg, AL
Glovers Ferry Road Trail, Upper Creek Trail, Sugarberry Trail |
1 mi | |
 |
| Aug 3 |  |
Wade Mountain Preserve, AL
Wade Mountain Greenway, Cottonvalley Trail, Fossil Bench Trail |
4.25 mi | |
|
| Jul 19-20 |  |
Brierfield Ironsworks Historical State Park, AL
Furnace Trail |
1 mi | |
|
| Jul 19 |  |
Bolton-Orr Ecological Preserve, AL
"Ebenezer Swamp" Boardwalk |
0.75 mi | |
|
| Jul 16 |  |
Watercress Darter National Wildlife Refuge, AL
Boardwalk Trail |
0.4 mi | |
|
| Jul 4-5 |  |
2014 Backyard Camping Trip, AL
The Backyard + photos from Noccalula Falls Park, Gadsden, AL |
1 mi | |
|
| Jun 28-29 |  |
Tims Ford State Park, TN
Lost Creek Overlook Trail, Overlook Trail, Marble Plains Loop Trail |
11 mi | |
|
| Jun 15 |  |
Hays Nature Preserve, AL
Horse Trail through the "New Growth Wilderness", "Little Big Woods", "100-Acre Woods" |
3 mi | |
|
| May 25-26 |  |
DeSoto State Park, AL
DeSoto Scout Trail + photos of DeSoto Falls, Pool Loop, Wildflower Trail, Lost Falls Trail, Laurel Falls Trail, Azalea Cascade Trail, Family Bike Loop, Cabin Trail |
10.25 mi | |
|
| Apr 26-27 |  |
Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Fall Creek, Garrison Creek |
12 mi | |
|
| Apr 26 |  |
Bankhead National Forest, AL
Poplar Log Cove |
4.6 mi | |
|
| Mar 23 |  |
Mountain View Glades State Natural Area, TN
unnamed trail |
0.25 mi | |
|
| Mar 22 |  |
Long Hunter State Park, TN
Volunteer Trail |
4 mi | |
|
| Mar 22 |  |
Fort Negley Park, TN
unnamed trail |
0.25 mi | |
|
| Mar 22 |  |
Hamilton Creek Park, TN
East Trail (loop A) |
1.4 mi | |
|
| Mar 14-15 |  |
Tishomingo State Park, MS
Flat Rock Trail, Saddleback Ridge Trail |
2.25 mi | |
|
| Mar 8-9 |  |
Joe Wheeler State Park, AL
Shellcracker Slough Loop, Campground Trail Loop, Blue Trail |
3.75 mi | |
|
| Mar 2 |  |
Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge, AL
Old roads/no established trails |
1.75 mi | |
|
| Feb 23 |  |
Sipsey Wilderness Area, AL
Mattox Creek, Thompson Creek, Lick Branch |
5.5 mi | |
|
| Feb 8 |  |
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, AL
Thompson Trace, Hamby Hollow, Boy Scout Trail, Highland Trail |
4 mi | |
|
| Feb 1 |  |
Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve, AL
Waterfall Trail, Ridgetop Trail, East Cane Creek Trail, Canyon Rim Trail, Shelf Trail, Cane Creek Trail, Devil's Hollow Trail, North Devil's Hollow Trail, North Cane Creek Trail |
12 mi | |
|
| Jan 19 |  |
Bankhead National Forest, AL
Upper Brushy Creek+ Fall Creek [in Sipsey Wilderness Area] |
7 mi | |
|
| Jan 1 |  |
Bankhead National Forest, AL
Rush Creek |
8 mi | |
|