This year, Wild South is joining REI on Friday to #OptOutside. Join us for one of our events in Alabama or North Carolina — or tag Wild South on social media with your Friday outdoor adventure! #WildSouth and #OptOutside. See you out there!

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Alabama: Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve Hike at 10 a.m. with Kim Waites, Wild South Alabama Wilderness Volunteer Coordinator

Looking for a fun and family friendly event for Black Friday that does not involve the hustle and bustle of shopping malls and consumerism? #OptOutside with a ranger led hike at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. Ruffner Rangers will lead two hikes starting at the nature center parking lot. Two options will include a long hike and a short hike to accomodate interests and skill levels. Exact hike details TBD. Please RSVP to kim@wildsouth.org. Include the number in your group and whether you prefer a long hike (7 miles roundtrip) or a short hike with a naturalist.

Meet at the nature center parking lot ready to hike at 10 a.m. Please bring water and dress appropriately for the weather. Ruffner Rangers have been on the mountain since May 2015. They are knowledgable of flora, fauna and history of the preserve. They can answer your questions concerning membership. Don’t hesitate to speak up!

North Carolina: Linville Gorge Wilderness Hike with Kayah Gadish, Wild South North Carolina Conservation Coordinator

This fun and adventurous off-trail five mile hike in Linville Gorge Wilderness will explore cliff bases and cover lots of interesting geology talks. We’ll be meeting at the southwest end of Linville at 11am and car pool to our starting point. Space is limited as group size limit in this Wilderness is 10. Please RSVP to kayah@wildsouth.org for more info and to join us!