 Wild Alabama is excited to announce that the National Wilderness Skills Institute (NWSI) is now accepting proposals for presentations for this year's virtual event, scheduled for June 3-4, 2025. This annual gathering brings together professionals, volunteers, educators, and enthusiasts to share knowledge, ideas, and best practices in wilderness, wild & scenic rivers and backcountry management.
Submit Your ProposalProposals are being accepted through March 6, 2025. We invite submissions on a wide range of topics related to:
Event Details
If you have any questions about the submission process or need guidance on developing your proposal, Kim is happy to assist. You can reach her at [email protected]. Why Participate?The National Wilderness Skills Institute offers a unique platform to:
https://wildernessskillsinstitute.org/nwsi/ Let’s come together to inspire and empower the next generation of wilderness stewards. We look forward to seeing your proposals!
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Huntsville, Alabama – December 2024 – Wild Alabama and Landmark Learning hosted outdoor enthusiasts, educators, and professionals at the Leave No Trace Level Two Instructor Course at the stunning Monte Sano State Park. This transformative event, which took place from December 2-5, brought together participants eager to deepen their understanding of Leave No Trace principles and earn certification as Level Two Instructors.The course attracted attendees from near and far, including two students who traveled from Poland, demonstrating the global significance of responsible outdoor practices. Monte Sano State Park provided a stunning and accessible backdrop for the immersive training.
Participants learned how to teach and implement Leave No Trace principles effectively, equipping them to advocate for conservation and responsible outdoor practices in their communities. The course combined hands-on training, group discussions, and individual instruction, offering a robust and engaging educational experience. Two of the participants came all the way from Poland for the course. It was their first visit to the United States. Watch the YouTube video as they reflect on their experience. Read the interview here
A Warm Welcome to Rocket City
Attendees were also encouraged to explore Huntsville, famously known as the "Rocket City" and home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. With its rich history, cultural landmarks, and vibrant natural beauty, Huntsville proved an excellent destination for extending their visit. About Wild Alabama Wild Alabama is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, promoting, and educating about Alabama’s wildlands. Through community engagement, advocacy, and education, Wild Alabama inspires individuals to explore, enjoy, and conserve the natural beauty of the state’s wilderness areas. www.wildal.org About Landmark Learning Landmark Learning is a leading provider of outdoor education, offering nationally recognized courses in wilderness medicine, outdoor leadership, and environmental stewardship. Their commitment to high-quality instruction prepares participants to thrive in and protect outdoor environments. www.landmarklearning.org About the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the natural world by teaching people how to enjoy it responsibly. Through research-based education, training, and outreach, the Center provides innovative solutions to minimize human impact on the environment. By promoting the widely recognized Leave No Trace principles, the organization empowers individuals and communities to preserve and respect outdoor spaces for current and future generations. www.lnt.org Wild Alabama is honored to announce the award of a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts to support the expansion of our Conservation Through Art initiative started in November 2023 with the Saving Alabama’s Hemlocks art and poetry exhibit and workshops. Conservation Through Art: Saving Alabama’s Hemlocks moved across north Alabama from Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment in Huntsville, to the Walker County Arts Alliance, to the Gadsden Museum of Art, and to the Little Rock Building on Highway 195 in Double Springs, Alabama for the final show. This final exhibit of Saving Alabama's Hemlocks opens on November 05 and runs through November 29. In 2025 Wild Alabama will launch Conservation Through Art: 50 Years of the Eastern Wilderness Act in Alabama. Look for news on that soon. Our sincere thanks to the Alabama State Council on the Arts for helping us to fund the program. And thanks to all of the artists, poets, venue staff and others, in particular Janice Barrett, Education and Outreach Coordinator at Wild Alabama, for her vision and commitment, and Maggie Johnston, former Executive Director at Wild Alabama, for her tremendous leadership. Conservation Through Art is made possible in part by a grant from Alabama State Council on the Arts.  Chainsaws are not allowed in designated wilderness areas primarily to preserve the natural soundscape and minimize human impact on the environment. Wilderness areas are intended to remain as wild and unaltered as possible, allowing visitors to experience nature without the intrusion of modern mechanization. The noise generated by chainsaws disrupts the peace and tranquility that wilderness areas are meant to protect. These areas are designated for solitude and a deep connection with the environment, free from the distractions of technology. By limiting the use of motorized tools, including chainsaws, the wilderness experience remains authentic and immersive for all visitors. Another reason chainsaws are prohibited is to minimize environmental disruption. Chainsaws, while effective, can lead to faster deforestation or damage to habitats if not used carefully. Wilderness areas are protected under the 1964 Wilderness Act, which emphasizes the preservation of ecological balance and biodiversity. By restricting motorized equipment, the process of maintaining trails or clearing fallen trees in these areas must be done manually, encouraging a more deliberate, low-impact approach that helps protect plant life, wildlife, and the overall ecosystem. This slower, non-mechanized approach helps reduce soil erosion, prevent the spread of invasive species, and protect the delicate ecosystems within wilderness boundaries. Lastly, the prohibition of chainsaws helps reinforce the concept of self-reliance and traditional skills in wilderness management. The absence of modern tools like chainsaws encourages the use of hand tools, which require a greater physical effort and time investment. This reflects the core values of wilderness areas, where simplicity and resourcefulness are essential. Visitors and workers alike are encouraged to engage with the environment more thoughtfully and with respect for its limitations, ensuring that the landscape remains undisturbed for future generations. The restriction of chainsaws ultimately aligns with the wilderness area's goal of preserving the land’s pristine nature and ensuring its long-term sustainability.  In wilderness areas, crosscut saws are often used instead of chainsaws because they align with the principles of low-impact conservation. These traditional tools are quiet, preserving the natural soundscape, and allow for a more intimate, hands-on connection with the environment. Unlike chainsaws, which can quickly disrupt the peace and disturb wildlife, crosscut saws require human power and skill, making the work slower but more sustainable. Using crosscut saws encourages careful planning and thoughtful decision-making, ensuring that any intervention in the wilderness is as minimal as possible. This traditional method also fosters a sense of respect for the land, honoring the wilderness area's intent to remain free of modern machinery.
Additionally, crosscut saws are preferred because they cause less damage to the environment. Chainsaws are efficient but can be overused, leading to more rapid removal of trees and increased risk of habitat destruction. In contrast, crosscut saws allow workers to approach their tasks with greater precision, focusing on only what is necessary to maintain trails or clear obstructions. This slower, more deliberate method reduces the likelihood of collateral damage to surrounding plants and wildlife. By using crosscut saws, wilderness stewards uphold the balance between maintaining access and preserving the untouched quality of the environment, ensuring that wilderness areas remain wild and undisturbed for future generations. When heading out on a backcountry hike, leaving your itinerary on your vehicle’s dashboard is a crucial step for ensuring your safety. In the event of an emergency, it provides valuable information that could expedite rescue efforts. If you get lost, injured, or encounter unexpected delays, rescuers will have a starting point to search for you. Your itinerary should include details such as your planned route, expected return time, and any potential alternate paths you might take. This information can be the difference between a timely rescue and a prolonged, dangerous situation. Another important aspect of leaving your itinerary visible is that it informs others who may be passing by your vehicle. Fellow hikers or park rangers often check vehicles at trailheads, especially if they notice a car parked longer than expected. If your vehicle is still there after your anticipated return time, they may recognize that something is amiss and alert authorities. This early alert can save precious time in initiating a search, especially in remote areas where cell service is unavailable. Lastly, leaving your hike itinerary on your dashboard is a small but significant way to respect the wilderness. It signals to others that you are prepared, responsible, and aware of the inherent risks of backcountry hiking. It also helps protect the environment by reducing the likelihood of large-scale search efforts that can disrupt wildlife and damage delicate ecosystems. By taking this simple precaution, you’re contributing to a safer and more respectful use of natural spaces. Get a ready-to-use template for your next wilderness adventures. CLICK HERE  Honoring the 60th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act: Recognizing the Land’s First Stewards8/15/2024 As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, we must reflect on both its significance and the complex history it intersects. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964, the Act was a landmark in American environmental policy, creating the National Wilderness Preservation System, which now safeguards over 111 million acres of wild landscapes. While this legislation marked a pivotal moment in the conservation movement, it’s essential to acknowledge that these lands were never "untrammeled" in the way the Act defined. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples have lived, stewarded, and thrived on these landscapes, long before they were designated as "wilderness." The Wilderness Act was innovative for its time, offering legal protection to areas where nature could exist without the imprint of modern civilization. However, the language of the Act—describing wilderness as a place "where man himself is a visitor who does not remain"—overlooked the deep, ongoing relationship between Indigenous communities and their ancestral lands. These lands were, and continue to be, central to Indigenous cultures, histories, and livelihoods. As we honor the Act, it is crucial to recognize that what was framed as "preservation" often involved the erasure of Indigenous presence, stories, and rights to these lands. Margaret Murie, known as the "Grandmother of the Conservation Movement," was a key figure in advocating for the passage of the Wilderness Act. While her work was instrumental in protecting wild landscapes like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, it’s important to remember that these areas were not empty or untouched. Indigenous peoples had been stewards of these lands for millennia, managing ecosystems and living sustainably. The Muries’ contributions to conservation were significant, but our understanding of wilderness today must evolve to include the perspectives and rights of the Indigenous peoples who were, and still are, the original guardians of these landscapes. As we mark this 60th anniversary, we celebrate the Wilderness Act's achievements while also recognizing the need for a more inclusive approach to conservation. Honoring the Act should go hand in hand with acknowledging the enduring presence of Indigenous peoples on these lands and supporting their sovereignty and stewardship. The future of wilderness conservation must embrace this holistic view, ensuring that protected areas are not only preserved for their ecological value but also respected for their cultural and historical significance. By doing so, we can forge a path that honors both the legacy of the Wilderness Act and the deep, ancestral connections that Indigenous peoples have to the land.  Wild Alabama has received a $25,000 grant from the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance to enhance the trails in Sipsey Wilderness. This funding will address trail blockages caused by fallen trees following recent floods and storms. Utilizing the Survey123 app, hikers and volunteers identified these obstacles, prompting action. Read more here www.wildal.org/nwsagrant
It's cool to stay cool! Understanding Heat-Related Illnesses: Stay Safe in the Summer Heat7/24/2024  It's cool to stay cool! Understanding Heat-Related Illnesses: Stay Safe in the Summer Heat As summer is upon us, many of us eagerly embrace the sun’s warmth and the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities. However, it’s crucial to be aware of the risks associated with excessive heat exposure. Heat-related illnesses can range from mild discomfort to severe conditions that require immediate medical attention. In this blog post, we'll explore the different types of heat-related illnesses, their symptoms, prevention tips, and what to do if you or someone you know shows signs of being affected. Types of Heat-Related Illnesses 1. Heat Cramps: These are painful muscle spasms that often occur during or after intense physical activity in hot weather. They are caused by dehydration and loss of electrolytes. 2. Heat Exhaustion: This is more severe than heat cramps and can occur when the body loses too much water and salt through sweating. Symptoms may include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache, and fainting. 3. Heat Stroke: This is the most serious heat-related illness and requires immediate medical attention. Heat stroke can occur when the body’s temperature regulation fails, and body temperature rises to dangerous levels (above 103°F or 40°C). Symptoms include confusion, hot and dry skin (no sweating), rapid heartbeat, and unconsciousness. Symptoms to Watch For Recognizing the symptoms of heat-related illnesses is crucial for timely intervention: Heat Cramps: Muscle pain or spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs. Heat Exhaustion: Heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache, cool and clammy skin, and a weak pulse. Heat Stroke: High body temperature (above 103°F or 40°C), altered mental state or behavior, confusion, hot and dry skin (no sweating), rapid and strong pulse, and possible unconsciousness. Prevention Tips To prevent heat-related illnesses, follow these tips: Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid beverages with caffeine or alcohol, as they can contribute to dehydration. Stay Cool: Seek out shade or air-conditioned environments during the hottest parts of the day (usually midday to late afternoon). Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and use hats and sunscreen to protect against sunburn. Take Breaks: If engaging in physical activity outdoors, take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors. Pace yourself and listen to your body. Monitor Vulnerable Individuals: Keep an eye on young children, elderly individuals, and those with chronic medical conditions who may be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. What to Do if Someone Shows Signs of Heat-Related Illness If someone shows symptoms of heat-related illness: Move them to a cooler place: Bring them indoors or into the shade. Cool them down: Use cold compresses, ice packs, or a cool bath or shower to lower their body temperature. Hydrate: Offer them water or a sports drink (if conscious and able to swallow) to help rehydrate. Seek Medical Attention: If symptoms worsen or if the person shows signs of heat stroke (high body temperature, confusion, unconsciousness), call emergency services immediately. By understanding the risks of heat-related illnesses and taking proactive steps to stay safe in hot weather, you can enjoy summer activities while minimizing health risks. Remember to stay hydrated, stay cool, and stay informed about the symptoms of heat-related illnesses. Together, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable summer season for everyone. Stay cool, stay safe, and enjoy the sunshine responsibly!  by Anne Markham Bailey
We drop into a narrow canyon in a gap between storms. The narrow creek rushes beside us and off the bluff, water aloft and falling into the larger creek below. The hemlocks begin to fill the mid-story as we descend. We move more quickly than is typical on a Forest Bathing immersion because we want to reach the rock shelter before the next line of weather arrives. Still, we move into silence after our initial introductions and safety protocols at the top of the trail. The forest begins to take us in as we begin to open. We are hosting four military veterans on this immersive Forest Bathing session, a beta session for a new program for military veterans that we are launching and seeking to fund. For over two years I have collaborated with Janice Barrett, the Bankhead Outreach and Education Coordinator at Wild Alabama on a monthly day-long Forest Bathing program in the Bankhead National Forest. In heat and in cold, we guide participants into deep connection with what is now being termed the more-than-human world rather than nature. The term nature implies a separation between humans and everything else (air/water/rocks/trees), when in actuality, none such separation exists. We move into the senses through guided prompts, and participants most often feel the reality of our connectedness. This process yields impressive evidence-based benefits for physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being. In addition to the military veterans on this blustery day, we are hosting Sheila Holifield, Regional Public Relations Specialist for the Southern District of the US Forest Service. Sheila is writing an article on the launch of our new Forest Bathing program Forest Bathing For Veteran Wellness. Wild Alabama has applied for an NEEF grant to fund the new program. (Sadly, we did not get the grant.) The Forest Service launched a new initiative that focuses on how nature connects us, and our program is a good fit for an article. Our program is different from the wilderness programs for veterans. We developed a protocol for persons with disabilities as well as for those who can hike the relatively short distance into the steep narrow canyon. The program does not require out-of-state travel, and is workable as a day trip. We begin the program by noticing the feeling of breathing, a crucial relationship in our lives that we typically ignore. This is an opportunity to notice how much we are isolated in our thoughts, even though we are made for connection. We are only connected with all of being regardless of our beliefs or ideas. When we breathe, we engage with the living air so that we might live. We can explore this relationship by noticing the details of our experience. What does it feel like to be a body breathing? Does anything shift when a person becomes aware of the air as a fundamental ally? The sky darkens and the birds are silent. The storms breaks as we settle into our bodies. Torrents of water stream through the tulip poplars, oaks and hemlocks. The creek gushes, The waterfall roars. Together in the rock shelter, we notice the lightening and thunder beyond the veil of rain. We move through the program protocols, coming into a sharing circle after each invitation to notice with the senses, exploring an expansive relationship with the forest - the trees, the water, the stone, and the sky. Several participants voice the power of the dramatic flow of water. All express gratitude for the experience of the storms from within the rock shelter. Eventually we make our way back up the trail after the storms have passed, after our final sharing circle. A week later Janice and I facilitate a follow-up session with the veterans on Zoom to gather feedback. The veterans want more. They want to offer the program to more veterans. They want to do more Forest Bathing. They felt the power of our fundamental connection as beings. They feel the support of planetary forces such as gravity, water, and air. They resonate with the trees, and the soil. I take notes. In the summer of 2023, I made a promise to a young veteran. His name is Joel Cruz, and he participated in a Wild Alabama Forest Bathing program with Janice and me. He felt the healing power of the Forest Bathing practice, and he wanted more veterans to be able to experience the benefits. I decided then that I would find a way to start a program and to find funding for the Forest Bathing For Veteran Wellness program. Six months later, we were setting up the first exploratory program through a VFW in Birmingham, and Joel was helping with the process. We know that this program will grow so that we can reach more veterans. If you have any connections to funding sources or wish to support this effort to bring healing and well-being to veterans, please reach out to me! [email protected] -Want to learn more about Forest Bathing? https://www.annemarkhambailey.com/forestbathingfaqs -Want to learn more about Forest Bathing with Wild Alabama? https://www.wildal.org/forest-bathing.html Want to donate to the work of Wild Alabama? Donate now.  Sipsey Fork rapids ~ Photo credit: Tony Barber Click above to listen to this article. The quick answer is yes, most definitely! The Sipsey Fork is Alabama's only Wild and Scenic River, protected under the Wild and Scenic rivers act of 1968. It is part of the larger Black Warrior watershed. The headwaters of the Sipsey Fork undulate freely and without restraint off the Tennessee Valley Divide, a ridge line that runs generally east/west separating the Tennessee Valley and Black Warrior watersheds. For tens of thousands of years, indigeneous peoples, settlers and now locals have used this pathway for many reasons. It's continued high elevation allows for unobstructed travel without having to navigate the intricate canyons and precipitous slopes. These unique features provide outstanding opportunities for water to shed and filter through boulders and creek beds creating pristine clear waters that are necessary for the health of the ecosystems they support. Settlers began to populate the area in the early 1800s bringing with them farming and homesteading practices that would influence the quality of water. Non native plant and animal species such as privet and wild pigs have been introduced to the landscape. The headwaters of the Sipsey Fork have no specific upstream threats such as chicken houses or runoff from farms. The threats to the water quality are local on the landscape. Wild pigs and unburied solid dog and human waste can cause e-coli to be present in the water. When unfiltered water is consumed by recreationists it can cause gastrointestinal issues. Other threats to water quality include sedimentation due to runoff from unsustainable hiking trails and "user made" trails but that is an entirely different blog post. What are the best ways to treat water? The most traditional way to treat water is through boiling. This would involve resources such as a camp stove or fire to heat. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends boiling water for at least one minute with increased times at higher elevation. Further guidance can be found HERE. The disadvantage to this method is having to wait for it to cool down enough that you won't burn your mouth. If you are in a critical position where you are nearly dehydrated, this is not a feasible method. Another method of filtering water is to use a water filtration system that uses a carbon cartridge. Popular brands like Katadyn make several light weight models. The drawback to this method is trying to filter murky standing water. Pro tip: cover the prefilter with an additional prefilter, a paper coffee filter. Take extra according to how many you may need on your trip. Another consideration is they do freeze in winter which can crack the plastic or clog the tubes. One of the most effective methods are tablets. Some brands kill everything from viruses to bacteria. You put the recommended amount into a one liter Nalgene bottle and wait at least 20 minutes. Add more time if the water is cold. The disadvantage of this method is the wait time if you are in a pressing situation with dehydration. A final method of filtering water is through UV treatment. This method will also kill bacteria and viruses. It can be expensive but it takes the least amount of time among all of the methods of water treatment. The downside is the water MUST be free of debris so prefilter, prefilter, prefilter. There are other ways that I did not mention here like LifeStraws and more. Feel free to leave your water filtration advice in the comments. What can YOU do to help improve and sustain good water quality in the Bankhead National Forest?
Kim Waites is a Leave No Trace Level Two Instructor, Wilderness First Responder. She has over 15 years of hiking and backpacking experience and teaches courses on LNT, map reading, Ten Hiking Essentials and more. She can be contacted at [email protected] |
