Date: Saturday, 9/18/2010
Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (same start, length depends which hike you do)
Location: Munny Sokol Park, click here for exact location. We will meet in the upper parking lot on the left hand side (up near the soccer fields and playground) from the Old Colony Rd. entrance.

Featuring the work of 18 writers coming from all reaches of the South and across the country, Slash Pine Press presents its 2010 Writer Hikes collectively entitled 6,5,4,3. Four hikes of varying length and difficulty will be run concurrently in the confines of Munny Sokol Park. Click on each hike for information about writers and terrain.

• Death by Concrete, three writers, easy hike.
• Pond & Field, four writers, easy hike save one hill at end.
• Fallen Barn, five writers, rolling terrain with some steep hills, moderately hard.
• Transformer, six writers, rolling terrain with some steep hills, long.

The event in total will cover over 10 miles of mountain bike trails in this city park that can feel as remote as state forest, the majority of which is shaded–a nice relief even in September. Each hike is lead by an intern from Slash Pine Press, who has been walking these trails for months.

As was the case with last year’s hike, the writer is not the only person reading his or her own work. Rather, the work is serialized: each writer will have three other people read a selection of the writer’s work before the writer finishes his or her own presentation. Each reader is stationed in varying strange and notable places along the hike, and the writer will read his or her work at a prechosen destination. Between readers, the hike is lead in silence as nature takes its lead.

Generally speaking, the shortest hike is relatively flat and covers about a mile and half. The hardest hike is over 4.5 miles and has a decent amount of rolling terrain with a few notable hills. However, all hikes are held on mountain bike trails, so we will be sharing the trail with the public, some of whom are bikers. Bikers are given right of way on all trails.

Finally, even for the shortest hike, come prepared with a good amount of water and a snack (it is Alabama in September). Bring sunscreen and don’t go on any hike that is beyond your limits–none of these trails are paved; many have tight turns. You are responsible for your own safety.

Finally, let me also offer you a kickoff event and afterparty event. First, on Friday, night there will be the Pure Products/Slash Pine co-reading at the Mellow Mushroom Pizza btw 6:30-8:30 p.m. with six amazing writers and scholars. 

After the hike, everyone’s invited to Wilhagan’s to watch the game and mingle.