Beautiful Sundays. Beautiful Ruffner Mountain.

I really like Ruffner Mountain. It is pretty much in Downtown Birmingham and no one really goes there. My Hiking MeetUp met there this Sunday. There were about 12 of us or so and it was a lot of fun.

Getting there was pretty tricky. I think I am losing my mind a little bit. I have been to Ruffner a few times, I have always driven myself in my car and have been alone so I had really no distractions. Well, Sunday morning rolls around and I am thinking to myself, “I have no idea how to get to Ruffner”. I mean, NO CLUE. So I think to myself, well, I have my hiking book which has directions – I will just follow that. Thank goodness Kristy came early so we set out. After getting lost about 5 times and proclaiming each time to Kristy, “Okay, now THIS looks familiar….oh wait…..I have no idea” we finally found the brown signs leading us to Ruffner. Geez. Anyway – it was well worth the extra 20 miles we navigated to get to the right place. By the way – I still can’t tell you what exit we took or how to get there. Oh well…..


This is a an old timey rock crusher. And a group picture. From Left to Right....
Jake, Abby, Julie, Sally, Johnathan, TJ, Rawlins and down below are Katherine and Ken.
Kristy.
One of the old mines.
Another shot of the old mine.

This is one of I think 3 Quarries at Ruffner. It was a working Quarry from 1860 to the 1940’s I believe. Another meetup hiker, Larry, he grew up over in this area when he was a kid and told us all kinds of really fascinating stories of how he used to play in the quarries and all the stuff they would find back in the 1950’s. Larry was like our own little private guide! This quarry is so much prettier in the summertime. Everything is green and mossy!

Some trees that have sprung up in the middle of the quarry.

A fern fossil print on some limestone.
There are rocks like these all over the edges of the Quarry. You can walk all around them to a really cool overlook. I haven't been up behind the rocks, Fred Astaire freaks out - but you can do another hike to the overlook that isn't as scary as walking 'the edge' of the quarry.

A tree covered in 'forever moss'.

It was a really pretty day and I am glad I got out of the house to enjoy the sunshine and wonderful weather. I am totally feeling the hike today though! It has been a solid two months since I went hiking last and I can totally feel it! That 6 miles kicked my butt! But I needed it and got to enjoy nature at the same time. Go me!

Next Saturday we are going to do a hike at Lake Martin. I am excited!

If anyone is interested in joining my hiking group - the website is www.meetup.com/birminghamhiking

The more the merrier!

Peace Out -

JM