Volunteer Workday in Sipsey Wilderness, July 16

Join Wild South for a volunteer workday in the Sipsey Wilderness,

Saturday, July 16

8:30 a.m.

Wild South office, 552 Lawrence Street, Moulton, Alabama

Sign up at janice@wildsouth.org or 256-974-6166

Sipsey Wilderness Trail 207 on the eastern side of the wilderness is targeted for our work day, and crosscutters will also be needed for a site about 2 miles in from Cranal Road on Trail 201.

On Trail 207, we will walk the trail as a through-hike to trim out encroaching vegetation, clear smaller blockages, etc.

Distance for non-crosscutters on Trail 207:  approx. 6 miles from the Gum Pond Trailhead to the Borden Creek Trailhead.

This will be a physically demanding workday as we must hike 6 miles carrying all tools and performing trail maintenance as we go.

After departing the Wild South office in downtown Moulton, we will drive to the  Gum Pond trailhead (Trail 208) on the Gum Pond Motorway, which is where we will begin our hike down Trail 207 to Borden Creek.

If it’s more convenient to meet the crew at the trailhead at 9:00 a.m. instead of at the office in Moulton, please let us know.

All tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own loppers, pruners, hand saws and hard hat if you want.

Be prepared for

• a 6 mile hike
• trimming blackberry thickets
• ticks (read our recommendation below)
• weather (watch the forecast)

 

Dogs are not allowed on work projects.

Bring:

• a small backpack with lunch, snacks, plenty of drinking water
• a hard hat if you have one (we’ve got one for you if you don’t)
• good, sturdy work gloves
• Epi-pen if severe reaction to insect stings is an issue

 

Ticks:  The most effective protection against tick-borne diseases is the type of permethrin product that is sprayed on clothing.  Permanone (by Repel) and Sawyers are a couple of brands.  Spray on clothing (not skin) at least 4 hours before wearing (that) clothing.  It has no scent whatsoever and it works.

Wild South’s Helping Hands Volunteer Program is made possible by the support of our generous donors and by a matching grant from The National Forest Foundation, a grant from the Community Fund of the Walker Area Community Foundation, and by a grant from The Munson Foundation.