Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area Day/Overnight Hike

Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area

Day/Overnight Hike

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area, is a rugged 8,000-acre wilderness area between Alexandria and Natchitoches. There are tens of miles of hiking trails snaking through this section of National Forest, with the best option being the Backbone Trail, an 8-mile hike traversing hills and long leaf pine savannahs.

For more information about the Wilderness Area see  http://www.backpacker.com/trips/louisiana/weekends-kisatchie-hills-louisiana

For more details about this hike see our facebook page www.facebook.com/BatonRougeSierraClub
Event Page: http://facebook.com/events/496067633898072

Head to the Hills! - Kisatchie Hike November 7th

Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area Hike

Weather Update 11-5-2015 ***Due to rainy weather this weekend, the Kisatchie Hills Wilderness hike is postponed. At this time there is not another date set, but it will likely take place during January. We'll keep everyone up to date as best as possible.*** 

Join the Baton Rouge Group of the Sierra Club on November 7, 2015 for the second hike in a series of outdoor excursions this fall and winter. Members and non-members alike are welcome to tag along for a hike on the Backbone Trail in Kisatchie National Forest's Kisatchie Hills Wilderness Area, one of only three wilderness areas in Louisiana. The region is home to rugged hills and a large swatch of longleaf pine, a species of tree that once spanned millions of acres of the Southeast before they were destroyed by logging.

The Backbone Trail is 7.6 miles and runs through the heart of the wilderness area, offering a secluded view of the longleaf pine forest and various sandstone outcroppings.

Go Take a Hike, to Clark Creek

Join the Baton Rouge Group of the Sierra Club for the first in a series of outdoor outings this fall and winter. Members and non-members alike are welcome to tag along for a hike at Clark Creek Natural Area in Mississippi, right across the Louisiana state line. The area is known for its rugged hills and stunning waterfalls.

DETAILS: We'll be hiking the primitive loop trail, which is 4.7 miles through the heart of the hills, offering an up-close and at times secluded view of the several waterfalls that dot the area. The path traverses several rugged hills through a diverse and stunning mixed hardwood and pine forest just a stone's throw from the Mississippi River.  DIFFICULTY: Intermediate to Advanced

Canoe A Shaded Bayou without leaving Baton Rouge

CANOE A SHADED BAYOU WITHOUT LEAVING BATON ROUGE

Take a leisurely paddle along Bayou Manchac and have time for another activity in the afternoon!

Saturday, June 6, 2015

9:00 am -12:30 pm

Highland Road Park

Our guide, Nathaniel Klumb of PaddleBR says by starting at 9am and using a novice speed, we should finish about 12:00 to 12:30.” 

Canoes and Kayaks are available for those who do not have one, if you contact Nancy Grush (nancygrush@gmail.com) by Thursday, June 4. 

We will meet at Highland Road Park at 9:00 and put-in there. We'll enjoy some watermelon after the  paddle.

Rain Date is June 13. If you email Nancy that you plan to attend we can notify you of any change in plans.

Canoeing Lake Martin of Ascension Parish

CANOE LAKE MARTIN, Ascension Parish

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Jim Bolner, has asked that we visit this lake, which is about a 20-minute paddle from the Amite River.  He's concerned that the Pontchartrain Levee District & Ascension Parish will succeed in getting a wetlands permit from the USCOE & the La. DNR to build a 4.5 mile levee that will destroy the wetlands in this area.  The levee will run through the White Cypress Swamp from the existing Laurel Ridge Levee to just south of Port Vincent.  It  is expected to cost $26.5 million but will benefit only about 280 homes.  The other approximate 3720 homes are now above the 100-year base flood elevation.  Jim is also working with LEAN, Gen. Honore, and the Gulf Restoration Network.  The USCOE has just opened the comment period & Jim will have handouts regarding the comments.

DETAILS:  Meet at 9 a.m. at the boat launch.  The paddle will last 2 hours at the most, but if you paddle to the Amite, more time is needed.  If you need a kayak or a canoe, Jim has four extra kayaks & one two-person canoe.

DIRECTIONS:  Take the Prairieville exit off of I-10 & go left, under the interstate.  Take a right at the first signal (also marked by a Shell Station).  I believe the road is La. 621.  You'll cross a signal at Airline and at the second signal, take a left.  That should be La. 44.  At the next signal, turn right on Germany Road.  After about five miles, you'll cross another signal light.  The road will veer to the left, but you want to go straight & that road becomes Lake Martin Road.  You'll reach the end of the road in less than a mile.  On the left is a gravel road, which you'll take for about 100 yards at which point, it bends to the right.  That's the boat launch, where parking is allowed.

Once you leave the interstate, you should be at the boat launch in about 15 minutes.  If you get lost, Jim's # is (504) 442-0707.

CARPOOL:  Meet at 8:15 a.m. in the Lowe's Parking Lot off of Siegen.

CALL  Gwen at 225-573-1137 for cancellation information, if weather looks bad

Wildflower Hike Rescheduled

WILDFLOWER TRIP RESCHEDULED

Due to rain predicted for the weekend, the trip is rescheduled for Sunday, March 29 at the same time.

Tunica Hills Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage

CANPS Wildflower Trip

Tunica Hills Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
with Capital Area Native Plant Society
SUNDAY, MARCH 22 to the Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area in West Feliciana Parish

Leaves from  College Drive Albertsons parking lot at 8:00 am. Hike begins around 9:15am at Nature Trail Head (30.934704, -91.509770).
 IMPORTANT NOTE: You must have either a Wild Louisiana Stamp or a fishing/hunting license of some sort to enter any state Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The Wild Louisiana Stamp costs about $10 and is valid for all WMAs throughout the state for the entire year.

We will try to finish our morning hike in Tunica WMA at around 12:30 or 1 and perhaps stop in St. Francisville for a bite to eat (at the Magnolia Cafe perhaps?). Anyone needing to get back quickly can make those arrangements before we leave. The option to stick around for further exploration in the area is also available, with possible stops at the MaryAnn Brown Preserve or the Audubon State Commemorative Area. Let us know if your interested via the RSVP link above.

Be advised - this is some of the hilliest country in Louisiana, and you will be walking up and down slopes - some of them quite steep if you're feeling adventurous.

Click the above link for more information. 

Clark Creek Hike for February 28, 2015

Clark Creek Hike

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Eating all those King Cakes & chocolate candy have you feeling a bit guilty?

If so, you should join us next Saturday for a hike at Clark Creek in Pond, Miss.

Peg Reilly & her husband, Barrett Kennedy, will lead a Sierra Club hike on the primitive trail. The primitive trail hike is challenging, particularly depending on whether there has been a lot of rain. The trail then becomes quite slippery when going downhill or uphill.

However, you can still see most of the waterfalls by sticking to the improved trail.

We will leave the parking lot at Trader Joe's at 9 a.m. with plans to start hiking at 10:30 a.m. Rain Date is Feb. 28.  Last-minute notices will be posted on http://brsierraclub.blogspot.com/

Boots are recommended for the primitive trail. Bring water & snacks. After the hike, St. Francisville has some good eateries, most notably the Magnolia Café.

For more information, contact Nancy Grush at (225) 938-9353 or nancygrush@gmail.com.

You can also get more info at http://www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/ms-state-parks/clark-creek.aspx

Meetings and Outings - 1st Quarter of 2015

Here are several of our upcoming events. Hope to see you at any or all of these. No RSVP required for General Interest meetings, though appreciated for ExCom meetings and sometimes necessary for Outings.

Saturday, Jan. 24, Hike at Port Hudson State Historic Site. Carpool from Coffee Call on College at 9 a.m. There are about six different trails that allow one to hike about a mile to as long as 6 miles. Some of the trail can be slightly hilly, but it's worth it. There are also two lookout towers. Admission is $4. For those 62 and older, admission is free. For more information, contact Nancy Grush or call 938-9353. Rain date is Jan. 31.

Thursday, Jan. 29 at Backpacker at 7 p.m., Dan Favre of the Dogwood Alliance will speak on Save Our Southern Forests. Refreshments provided. 

Wednesday, Feb. 4 at La Madeleine at 7 p.m., BR Group Executive Committee Meeting. All members welcome to attend. Dinner at your option prior to the meeting. 

Saturday, Feb. 21 Hike at Clark Creek Natural Area. Carpool from Trader Joe's on Perkins and Acadian at 9 a.m. Hiking the Primitive Trails with Peg Reily and Barrett Kennedy. Rain Date of Feb. 28. Nancy Grush or call 938-9353. 

Thursday, Feb. 26 at Backpacker at 7 p.m., Mathew Herron from Capital Area Native Plant Society ("CANPS") will speak about native plants (some of which are endangered) in the Baton Rouge area. Refreshments provided.  

Wednesday, Mar. 4 at La Madeleine at 7 p.m., BR Group Executive Committee Meeting. All members welcome to attend. Dinner at your option prior to the meeting.  

Friday-Sunday Mar. 13-15 at Chicot State Park - Delta Chapter Members Retreat. All members of Sierra Club in Louisiana are invited to this annual Chapter Retreat filled with outdoor excursions, outdoors skill trainings, meals, music and camaraderie. RSVP and Prepayment required. Contact Chapter Chair Woody Martin to reserve. More info on the Delta Chapter website. 

In late March, we'll hear Kevin Nee talk about cycling the Natchez Trace from start to finish. Location T.B.A.

Also, if anyone's interested in visiting Grand Isle the last weekend in March (3/28-3/29) to ooh and ahh at all the beautiful migratory song birds on their way up the great Mississippi Flyway, please email Nancy Grush.  We are in the process of planning an overnight beach camping trip.