I was born and raised in Huntsville, AL at the base of Watts Drive hill in Blossomwood. During the summers growing up, my parents allowed me to discover all that existed outside of the home until dinner. Playing Nintendo was not an option.

Most of my days were spent exploring the Land Trust’s Wildflower Nature Trail a few blocks from my house. To many of my friends, we knew this as a place of refuge and exploration. The trees gave us shade, the creeks provided a cool stream to play in and the hiking trails gave us a sense of independence as we explored ever deeper along the trails.

Untouched Beauty

Twenty years later, my wife Lauren and I along with our dog Owen hike along the same area of untouched wildlife I did as a boy. The Land Tust is important to my family because it is preserving a moment in time for me that I hope will be as cherished by future generations.

Since its founding in 1987, many things have changed. But while Huntsville continues to grow and little boys that once played in the creeks grow up to get married and have families, the Land Trust will be there to preserve a way of life that is unique and fortunate for all that have enjoyed it. As we get older, our lives become filled with smart phones, agendas and deadlines but time spent on any one of the Land Trust trails allows us to reset our focus on what’s truly important in life.

Lauren and I are so grateful to share our support of The Land Trust of North Alabama and we hope you do the same.

Hike Schedule

The Spring Burst Guided Hike series kicks off Sunday March 3rd and continues through May. These hikes are free to the public, but donations are gladly accepted and the funds support The Land Trust’s efforts to preserve greenspace.

Hikes will be canceled if it rains. You can always verify the status of a hike on The Land Trust website or The Land Trust Facebook Page. Suggested hiking equipment: long pants, comfortable shoes with good tread & bottled water. [spacer size=”0″]

March

• Sunday, March 3 @ 2:00 pm:  Wild, Wonderful Wildflower Trail – Part I
  • Length: 1 hour
  • Difficulty Level: Easy with moderate incline
• Sunday, March 17 @ 2:00 pm: Wild, Wonderful Wildflower Trail – Part II
  • Length: 1 hour
  • Difficulty Level: Easy with moderate incline
• Saturday, March 23 @ 10:00 am: Herping* at Matthews Preserve
  • Length: 1 mile
  • Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate
• Saturday, March 30 @ 10:00 am: Spring Wonders of Blevins Gap Nature Preserve
  • Length: 2 hours/ 3.5 miles
  • Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate

April

• Saturday, April 6 at 10:00 am: Historic Trough Springs On Monte Sano Nature Preserve
  • Length: 2 miles
  • Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Sunday, April 7 @ 1:00 pm: Wildflower Stroll on Rainbow Mountain in Madison
  • Length: 2-3 hours/ 3 miles
  • Difficulty Level: Moderate to difficult
• Sunday, April 7 @ 2:00 pm: Wild, Wonderful Wildflower Trail–Part III
  • Length: 1 hour
  • Difficulty Level: Easy with moderate incline
• Saturday, April 13 @ 8:00 am: Walls of Jericho in Jackson County
  • Length: App. 6 hours
  • Difficulty Level: Difficult
• Sunday, April 21 @ 2:00 am: Madison’s Rainbow Mountain – a Spring Jewel!
  • Length: 2 hours
  • Difficulty Level: Moderate to difficult
• Saturday, April 27 @ 9:00 am: Kim on Monte Sano Preserve? Only for the Heartiest Hikers
  • Length: 2 hours/ 5 miles
  • Difficulty Level: Difficult
• Sunday, May 5 @ 2:00 pm: Huntsville Mountain’s Fanning Trail: Love the Rock Ledges and Fossils
  • Length: 2 hours/ 2 miles
  • Difficulty Level: Moderate to difficult

About The Land Trust

The mission of The Land Trust is to preserve land and its legacies for conservation, public recreation, and environmental education to enhance quality of life in North Alabama now and for the future. The Land Trust leads the region and community in planning, preserving, and providing stewardship for public greenspace including: recreation and wildlife corridors; historic and geologic features; wetlands and watersheds; urban open spaces; mountains, hillsides, and scenic views. [spacer size=”0″]

Want to learn more?

• Visit The Land Trust website
• Find The Land Trust on Facebook
• Read about The Land Trust events

About the Author

Lauren and Drew Battle are both Huntsville natives and have been married for two years. Lauren is a graduate of Mississippi State University and is the director of New Business Development for the Lankford/Battle Allstate Insurance agency. Drew, a graduate of the University of Alabama, is an Assistant Vice-President of Commercial Lending at Servis1st Bank in Huntsville.