Entries by Steve Jones

Mid-December Visit to the Mississippi River

December 19, 2019 I visited the Tunica River Park along the Mississippi River just 30 miles south of Memphis and immediately across from Arkansas. The Mighty Mississippi stirred my soul. Oh, the stories it could tell. Okay, I’ll admit that a Tunica casino and the overwhelming human urge to risk wealth to beat the 25-cent […]

Early Winter Hiking a New Trail at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge

December 10, 2022, I hiked a new trail, simply referred to as the Hiking and Biking Trail, that begins near the Refuge entrance gate for the Visitors Center. Fellow Nature enthusiasts Chris Stuhlinger, Jim Chamberlain, and Ed Mullin accompanied me. The flat, hard-packed fine gravel path winds through the deliciously varied habitat of mixed pine/hardwood […]

Epic Cold Frontal Passage December 22-27 in the Deep South

Winter is racing past. I’m completing this Post narrative February 24, 2023, a full two months beyond the deep winter episode that is the subject of this photo-essay. Yesterday (February 23) Madison recorded a high of 83! I have a backlog of these Posts ready for publishing. I thought it is approaching past-time to issue […]

The Nature of Forest Equity

I normally write about The Nature of a specific wild place either here in Alabama or wherever travel may take me. View this Post as a compendium of observations, reflections, and photographs (ond one video) assembled from my forest ventures in diverse wildland settings around a contemporary theme. I have devoted my life as a […]

Eufaula, Alabama — A Certified Sustainable Community Since 2000

I visited Eufaula, Alabama the afternoon of October 13, 2022, while in the area exploring Alabama’s Lakepoint State Park and the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge. I present photographs, reflections, and observations from a brief hike on the Yoholo Micco Trail. In addition, with assistance from Ron Dodson, long time friend and fellow Nature-enthusiast, we offer […]

Lake Wheeler Autumn Tour of Joe Wheeler State Park

I visited Joe Wheeler State Park October 19, 2022, touring the Park by pontoon boat the afternoon ahead of our quarterly Alabama State Parks Foundation Board meeting. I offer this Post as a view of the Park from Lake Wheeler. Don’t look for my occasionally heavy narrative explaining the Nature of a trail or a […]

A Land Legacy Gift Ahead for Wild Alabama

October 28, 2022, I visited a Lawrence County woodland property that the owners are donating to Wild Alabama, whose mission is to inspire people to enjoy, value, and protect the wild places in Alabama. Headquartered in Moulton, Wild Alabama (http://www.wildal.org) launched on January 1, 2021 with Maggie Johnston (maggie@wildal.org) as Executive Director. Maggie led our […]

Alabama’s Lake Point State Park; Natural Forest Features

I enjoyed my first visit to Lakepoint State Park the afternoon of October 12, 2022 through departure early on the 15th. I focus this Post on special hardwood forest features I encountered along my several hikes. I’ve grown to increasingly appreciate the intense competition among dominant and co-dominant trees for full sunlight in the canopy […]