Fresh Air Calendar
› Soddy-Daisy chapter of Tennessee Trails Assn.
hikes: Saturday, Booker T. Washington State Park, moderate 7 miles (meet at 9:30 a.m. at park swimming pool lot or at 9 a.m. at Target parking lot on Hwy. 153; call Donna Pyers at 344-9271); Tuesday, Stringer’s Ridge, moderate 4.5 miles (meet at 9 a.m. at parking lot at end of Spears Avenue; call Gail Stokes at 756-8219); April 7, Heiss Mountain trailhead to Retro Hughes trailhead, strenuous 10 miles (will stage vehicles; meet at 9 a.m. at Durham Street parking lot in Soddy-Daisy; call John Politte at 304-8327); April 10, Cloudland Canyon State Park to Ascalon, easy to moderate 5 miles ($5 parking fee at Cloudland; will stage vehicles; meet at 9 a.m. at Food City lot in Red Bank; call Ed or Donna Pyers at 344-9271). › Chattanooga Hiking Club meeting: Monday, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Outdoor Chattanooga, Coolidge Park; free, open to public.
› Chattanooga Grotto Club meeting: Monday, 7-8:30 p.m., Outdoor Chattanooga; free, open to public.
› Rapid Learning whitewater kayaking practice: Tuesday, 7-9 p.m., Hulsey Wellness Center, Southern Adventist University; family-friendly for ages 8-up; first-timers free (except for $2 pool fee), equipment provided, reservations not required; yearly membership $75, family membership $125. Email info@outdoorchattanooga. com or call 643-6888.
› “Taking faith outdoors” Cajun dinner: April 6, 5-9 p.m., First Baptist Church of Cleveland; featuring bass fishing legend Jimmy Houston as speaker; Louisiana cuisine including fried fish, grilled quail, battered-fried alligator nuggets, crawfish, Cajun rice, etc.; give-aways including rifles, custom fishing rods & gifts specifically for women & kids; $15, tickets sold only in advance through firstbaptistcleveland.com or 423-709-9100.
› Intro to mountain
biking skills courses: April 12 & 20, 6-8 p.m., Greenway Farm; sponsored by Outdoor Chattanooga; ages 10-up, $10, reservations required. Email info@ outdoorchattanooga.com or 643-6888.
› Local Tennessee Ornithological Society meeting: April 12, 7 p.m., Ascension Lutheran Church, 720 S. Germantown Road. Contact David Stone at rockturf@epbfi.com or 413-7033.
› Mountain to Town bike adventure: April 13, 9 a.m.noon, beginner-friendly Guild Trail to Tennessee Riverwalk in St. Elmo and on into downtown; ages 12-up; shuttle & instruction (& mountain bike, too, if needed) provided by Outdoor Chattanooga; $25. Pre-registration required at info@outdoorchattanooga. com or 643-6888.
› New Cumberland Trail hiking series:
Saturday-Sunday backpack ($65) April 14-15; advance registration required through info@ outdoorchattanooga.com or 643-6888; moderately strenuous Friday or Saturday guided hikes, 4-7 miles each, April 27, May 11 & June 8 (free). Participants earn credit toward 50-miler award from Cumberland Trail Conference.
› Chattanooga Bicycle Club meeting: April 16, 6-7 p.m., Outdoor Chattanooga, Coolidge Park.
› Wild Trails 200 Mile Club: Encourages improved fitness; cover 200 miles in three months under one’s own power, whether by running, biking, swimming, paddling, walking or other aerobic activities. Anyone interested can start at any time by registering at wildtrails.org/200-mileclub and recording his or her progress there. Getting to 200 makes one a member, and the membership card secures discounts at a variety of places. Club activities include a campout, barbecue and 15k/5k trail races every three months at Lula Lake Land Trust.