Another year passes as I ride down the lonely Alabama highway. To my right and to my left I see the huge mountains with rock cliffs lining the tops with blue skies and white clouds above. It is the perfect Alabama spring day and the trees are started to bloom and the birds are flying on their way home.

Every year I would see the same beautiful view and then suddenly sadness fell over me and I started to sense a change. A change that has only gotten bigger and seems to be on a killer trend throughout the state of Alabama. The beautiful Alabama trees are fighting the battle of their life, man!

It all began a few years ago as I was making my way from Birmingham, Alabama to Fort Payne one cold winter day. I was driving down the interstate listening to some Tom Petty when I looked to my right and noticed that a huge amount of trees were gone from the side of Lookout Mountain. I was in shock, my whole life I had passed the untouched mountain and always got such joy from the Alabama mountainside.

I felt as though I suddenly had a piece of heaven taken from me and that I realized it would never be the same. I felt darkly depressed and grieved for the animals and plants that once made their habitat on the side of the mountain. I was lucky as a teenager to get to hike the side of Lookout Mountain looking for ginseng and running into a rattlesnake every once in awhile. The Alabama trees and hills are awesome and it so sad to see them being cleared away.

I had been a fortionate soul to be intimate with the Big Wills valley woods and to get to see much of the wild life that lived in the area. I even hunted as a teenager and spent many cold mornings sitting in the Alabama woods waiting for a big buck. I never got the chance to kill a deer but I did find a love for nature and found respect for life and the world.

Over the past 5 years I have noticed a huge increase in the trees being cut from the side of the mountains. They are being cut faster and faster and often are not replanted, if they do it will be in pine and they wait a few years. It is sad to think that all the hardwoods will be gone one day and people choose wood over life. Can’t there be a better solution or a better alternative than cutting down trees for resources? What about bamboo or hemp? Lets try to save as much habitat as we can, the deer and owl are starting to run out of land. Unfortunately in America we are finding that many of our mistakes are now beginning to surface and show the ill effects. We have managed to hurt and disturb the environment at an alarming rate and continue with the practice, like it isn’t an issue! Does anyone care anymore? We know we are killing the environment and we keep doing it, why?

I wish the answer were so simple and wished that people would think more and build thought into action. I have noticed that in the Northeast Alabama there has been a great amount of mountain being cut down for chert! There are chert pits everywhere and they are just cutting the side off of mountains everywhere. Maybe they have been mining the mountain for years, but are they going to cut the entire mountain down?

I recently was in the Blountsville area and noticed that have cut the side of many of the mountains away. At first I just thought they had huge cliffs and then suddenly realized that they have been cutting the side of the mountains away and leaving rock walls. I wonder what they have been mining for? The same thing I have seen near Collinsville and Fort Payne and even near Scottsboro. It is one thing to cut the Alabama trees, but to move the Alabama Mountain! Where I grew up in Geraldine, Alabama they are cutting the side of the town creek away. Someone has been mining the chert from the side of the creek and have cut down all the trees to get to it. It saddens me because I know Town Creek is a major player in providing water to Guntersville Lake backwater. They aren’t even using any kind of buffer to keep the dirt from washing into the creek.

Not only are they chopping the trees away and digging the dirt, it is rite beside highway 75 bridge. Next time we have a huge flood it is going to wash away the bridge. Someone needs to intervene with this operation before it cost much more.

Guntersville is a state park and is one of the most beautiful areas in Alabama. From Geraldine all the way to the park is a wonderful preserved area that is host to much wildlife. It also has some awesome whitewater and waterfalls and on a hike you may get lucky and get to see some wild turkeys playing in the creek by the beautiful Alabama trees.

What is going on with the world and why are they chopping the mountainside down? What is so valuable to kill the habitat that hosts the precious beginning of life? Are we really so stupid to know that we are killing the environment and our self? Has greed taken over consciousness, are we closed to change and using smarter methods? Can we save the great Alabama trees and preserves the rivers and the water? The actions we take today will literally effect the Alabama environment tomorrow. This is true for Alabama as well as the world and if we stop killing the trees in the rain forest we may have a chance!

One day I hope that we begin using renewable resources that protect our environment and leave the forestlands alone for the wildlife. The truth is that there are better and safer ways to produce the materials that we need for sustaining and growing. Instead of laying hardwood floors, buy bamboo flooring! Buy pine furniture over pricey oak, that way more pine will be planted! I have pretty much figured out that the use of wood is on the increase and that land=wood=money! The biggest issue with using wood as a material is the grow rate. Take a hardwood and you are talking about 20-50 years before maturity and a pine anywhere from10-20. (It varies from species and location; there are old growth forest that are a thousand years old)

Controlled cuts and thinning is the best solution for everyone. Commercial thinning is so much better for the forest, rather than cutting ever tree. If you really want make more money plant a field with black walnut or maple. It may take your whole life to mature, but in would be a nice retirement fund. Tree farming is big business and there is a right way and a wrong way and maybe one day we will find the right balance for everyone.

Want to be involved with a movement and save the precious land we have in the state of Alabama? Donate a few bucks to your local park or protection agency. Join the AEC or another protection agency. Get involved with local or state parks and volunteer time and energy! Grab a bag and start picking up trash on the side of the road or on the creek! Report dumping or illegal tree harvesting to protection agencies!

• Here are a few Alabama Parks: Horse Pens 40, High Falls, Guntersville State Park, Desoto State Park, Buck’s Pocket, Cathedral caverns, Chattahoochee, Badon Springs, Lake Lurleen, gulf, Joe Wheeler, Frank Jackson, Florala, lake point, Meaher, Monte Sano, Wind Creek, Oak Mountain, Rickwood Caverns, Roland Cooper, Paul M Grist, Russell Cave, Little River Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Tuskegee, Natchez Trace, Cheaha, Blue Springs, Chickasaw, Claude D. Kelly, Conecuh national Forest, Camden state Park, Cedar Creek State Park, Blowing Wind Cave, Demopolis State wildlife management, Fort Toulouse, Selma State Park, Spring Hill, Talladega National Forest, W F Jackson State park, Sumter State Park, Roland Cooper , Saint Stephens, William B Bankhead National Forest, Ruffner Mountain and Noccalula Falls Park.

If you really want to help, start planting trees! When you see something that isn’t right report it to your local state agency and help the Alabama Environment. If we all give a little today, tomorrow will be such a brighter day. So next time you are at the creek, throw some seeds in and spread a seed of life.

The year was 1540 and Hernando Desoto and his Army of Spanish Conquistadors were on their way down the ChattoogaRiver heading toward Cedar Bluff, Alabama. On June 4^th, 1540 they arrived and camped for almost a month on an island. It was soon named McCoy’s island, ‘Chiaha” was the name given by Desoto’s historians.

As they arrived they found the beauty of the two rivers and the Coosa valley to be very pleasing. They decided to rest at McCoy’s Island to heal the men and horses. It was also very abundant in food and the perfect camp after a long hard journey through the Appalachian Mountains. A journey that was very difficult and a challenge for even the most experienced warrior!

There were rumors of gold to be found in the north and west hills of Lookout Mountain. So Desoto decides to send a small army of men led by lieutenant Vilabo and Silva. They departed on June 1570 and passed between Menlo, Georgia and Blanche, Alabama toward Desoto Falls near Mentone, Alabama! They decided to camp for a few days at the

104 foot waterfalls. It is located on the west fork of little river on Lookout Mountain.

For several days the troops searched the area for gold and other treasures and then proceeded to pass through Big Wills to Henagar Alabama. Here they found south Sauty Creek and followed it all the way to Buck’s Pocket State Park. It is said that the men were blown away by the view from point rock and did not find gold but found iron Oxide high in the cliffs around Buck’s Pocket! There is no historical evidence that says they went any further than Buck’s pocket or ever saw the Tennessee River!

From this point the party headed back toward McCoy’s Island and passed through the town of Sand Rock, Alabama. The men returned to Chiaha (McCoy’s Island) near Hokes Bluff. They arrived to discover that Desoto and the main party had set trail June 28, 1540 down the Coosa River. Desoto had left a few wounded men behind to wait for the Sand mountain crew to return. They departed to catch up with Desoto and arrived on June 18, 1540 only two days behind Desoto’s arrival on July 16, 1540. They camped at the mouth of the Talladega creek in Talladega County.

Many people say that Desoto discovered the falls but there is evidence that the area was used by Indians and even the Welsh! Located near 325 feet above little river are three caves that are interconnected by openings between the caverns. They are protected by the cliff and only a narrow trail leads the way to the Welsh caves. It is rumored that only a few men could fight off an army of troops. The trail was so narrow that only one man could pass at a time.

It is believed that the Welsh traveled to the New World over 300 years before Columbus and made 3 trips. They sailed into Mobile Bay and traveled to Lookout Mountain. The Indians of the time did not possess the skill of excavation and it is believed that the Welsh came and built the caves high above little river. There were also six skeletons found wearing brass armor with the Welsh coat of arms.

Desoto falls is an awesome waterfalls and seeing it in person is inspiring and beautiful. To see the foliage in the fall is breath taken and colors are super vibrant. I could not imagine what it would have looked like 500 years ago. The area is still very preserved and has an abundant supply of wildlife.

In the 1920’s Arthur Abernathy Miller and self taught electrical engineer built a twenty-foot high damn above the falls. Author built the damn to supply power to his hydroelectric generator on the west side of the gorge. There is still a square concrete slab where the generator one was. It supplied power for fort Payne, Collinsville, Mentone, valley head, Alabama
> and Menlo Georgia.. If it wasn’t for Miller’s genius many people in the area would have been without power.

Desoto State Park is one of Alabama most beautiful areas and has many things to do year around. They have cabins, chalets, swimming, picnic area, hiking trails, and many special events. You can’t forget all the waterfalls in the area either: Indian falls, Azalea falls, laurel, lost falls, Lodge Falls, and of course Desoto Falls! You could spend a week in Desoto state park just looking at waterfalls and hiking. Little river falls and many other falls around Little River Canyon are just a short drive away!

There are a few great trails, Wildflower trail that is perfect for you flower lovers. It is only 0.49 and begins and ends at the lodge! Looking for a longer hike you can take Laurel Creek Loop and is a total of 2.9 miles long. This is the perfect trail for you waterfall lovers and passes by laurel falls, lost Falls and azalea cascade. When it is dry you may not find Lost falls so be prepared! It also starts and ends at the same place making it a great trail for you hikers.

They have an awesome camping area with 58 water and electric sites and two comfort stations with restrooms with hot showers. You will want to make reservations, first come first serve. They also have 20 primitive camping spots and offer a group rate and a single person is $5.35 as of 2008. It is $3 per person with the group rate! You can also use the bathrooms and showers!

Need food, you have the Desoto State Park Mountain Inn cooking all the home classics.

There are also places in Mentone like Cragsmere Manna Restaurant and Dessie’s Country Chef, just like mom used to make!

While you are in the area you must check out Little River Canyon National Preserve with great 700 foot cliffs and waterfalls along Lookout Mountain. Little River is a rock climbers paradise and also has white water for you water ducks out there. Come

to Alabama and see the beauty of the mountain and lose yourself into nature. If you come in the winter time be sure to check out Cloudmont Ski and Golf. They start blowing Alabama snow as soon as it gets 28 degrees and the area gets an annual snowfall of 12 inches! Who would have ever thought it, Alabama snow!

Thanks for reading about Desoto Falls on Lookout Mountain. Come see Alabama and understand why they call it “Alabama the Beautiful!”