Get outdoors with Mountain High Outfitters
Have you ever wanted to learn how to paddleboard, fly fish, find the perfect camping spot or scale a cliff?
Mountain High Outfitters has planned several fun and educational events for the month of June, ranging from a free standup paddleboard demo at Oak Mountain State Park to a beginner overnight backpacking class in the Sipsey Wilderness on June 20.
Zolen Boogaerts, an Eagle Scout and a certified instructor with the American Mountain Guides Association, will be leading the backpacking and rock climbing trips on June 20 and June 27, respectively. “We just want to get people outside, get active and have fun,” he said.
According to Boogaerts, the popularity of the paddleboarding event has grown significantly in the three years that Mountain High has hosted it. Although other activities such as day hikes and rock climbing outings are relatively new and attendance was low in the first few months, Boogaerts says that attendance has grown exponentially since the first few trips. So far, he says, the trips have received good reviews and he believes more people will continue to attend as word gets out.
No backpacking or climbing experience is required or expected for the Beginner Overnight Backpacking Class in the Sipsey Wilderness or the Guided Rock Climbing Day at Palisades Park in Oneonta. Equipment rental is available through Mountain High.
To receive notifications about future events with Mountain High, join the Meetup.com group “MHO Birmingham Active Adventures."
For more information about Mountain High Outfitters, visit their website or find them on Facebook.
Schedule of Events
6/13 Standup Paddleboard Demo at Oak Mountain State Park, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (free)
6/13 Fly Fishing 101: Casting Class at Mountain High Outfitters at Cahaba Village Plaza, 10:00 a.m. (free)
6/20 Beginner Overnight Backpacking Class in the Sipsey Wilderness. Register and pay at mountainhighoutfitters.com/form/eventreg.html at least 48 hours before the event.
6/27 Guided Rock Climbing Day at Palisades Park in Oneonta. Meet at Mountain High Outfitters at Cahaba Village Plaza at 8:00 a.m. Register and pay at mountainhighoutfitters.com/form/eventreg.html.