Wild Alabama events for February

BANKHEAD NATIONAL FOREST - Wild Alabama has a number of events planned in the Bankhead National Forest this month.
“Wild Alabama works to provide opportunities to enjoy, value and protect the wild places of Alabama,” said Executive Director Heather Tucker. “We would love to have you join us on the trail.”
There will be Traditional Tools work days with Lindsay Madison in the Sipsey Wilderness on Saturday, Feb. 8, Tuesday, Feb. 11, and Sunday, Feb. 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. These days will be focused on crosscut saw work.
On Sunday, Feb. 9, and Sunday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m., Kim Waites will lead the Volunteer Wilderness Rangers and those interested in becoming a ranger on a 2-4 mile patrol in the Sipsey Wilderness. Patrol duties include cleaning fire rings, collecting trash, clearing trail obstructions, marking areas that need attention and interfacing with visitors to provide guidance on Leave No Trace and the history of the area.
The Cranal Road Trash Dash will also be on Sunday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone is welcome to join. Volunteers should meet at the Sipsey River Trailhead in the upper parking lot at Sipsey Fork.
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 15, Janice Barrett will lead Chinese privet control work days in the wilderness from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Waites will lead 4-person Traditional Tools hands-on training from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, Monday, Feb. 17, and Tuesday, Feb. 25.
On Sunday, Feb. 16, and Thursday, Feb. 27, Madison will lead Legacy Trails work days in the wilderness from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. There will be another Legacy Trails work day on Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Also on Feb. 16, Barrett and author/poet Anne Markham Bailey will lead nature therapy in the Bankhead from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Madison will lead another Sipsey Ranger Patrol on Saturday, Feb. 22 , from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit Wild Alabama’s Events page at www.wildal.org/events.html for more events, details and to register for events. Group sizes are limited to 10 in the Sipsey Wilderness, so registration is required. Registered participants will be given the location of hikes.