Talladega/Cheaha Wilderness

[ciphoto]

Went for a hike this past week in the Talladega National Forest/Cheaha Wilderness. Did the Skyway, Chinabee, Pinhoti loop starting at Adams Gap.

Went primarily to try out the sleeping bag underquilt project I had done. Yea it was hot enough I didn’t need it, but wanted to try it anyway, and note the difference in topside and bottom side temps.

The trails were in good shape mostly, with some small patches on the Skyway loop heavily overgrown.

All creeks are at minimum flow, with just small trickles if flowing at all. Some are just scattered pools, and all the seasonal water, small springs are dried up. Including the one at the Chinabee Pinhoti intersection. But there were two very small ones between the intersection and Adams Gap still.

My underquilt worked good, it was of course to hot to keep it pulled up tight but I did at the start of the night and it got warm quickly, since I was laying with just a sheet the it was easy to tell that the bottom side was definitely warmer than the top. Hopefully this fall I will get some good use out of it.

Here are some random pics from the trip….

[Joey]

Beautiful area. I imagine with the current storm pushing up the East Coast from the Gulf that the springs may begin to flow a bit better, for a while anyway.

Those are some great photos! I can look at pics like that all day (while day dreaming of being out there myself of course!)

Looks like you are ready for the cooler weather gear wise. 'Tis good to sleep warm and comfy on the trail!

[ciphoto]

Yep were in need of the rain. Everything up there was very dry, there were large areas of where the ferns were even brown.

I'd rather be warm than cold that's for sure...

[OutandBack]

Enjoyed your TR. Very beautiful picts. thanks for sharing them.
I grew up in N. Al but never made it to Talladega.

[defsquad]

ciphoto, did you happen to cross over cave creek? was it all dried up too? last year around october time is when I went up there and there was enough running water on cave creek. myself and a few of my camping buddies were gonna head back up there this coming weekend.. kinda thinking against it now; even with these storms passing by.. it may not be enough...

beautiful area up there though. next to sipsey, it's one of my favorite areas in alabama.

[mbiraman]

Very beautiful place,,,,nice pics

[ciphoto]

Defsquad,
I didn't go over by Cave Creek, if there is any water it will be down low. The rain this weekend may help out, but like I said even down low the flow was very little.

If you go take plenty water and a filter system with you, I took 5 liters and my MSR filter with me and filled up everything just about every chance I had.

[Dave10]

Never been there but I will go there now.Were all the pics from the top? Heading to sipsey at the end of this month.

[defsquad]

@bassmaster,

keep us posted on your sipsey trip. some friends of mine went in june and said the trails were just completely trashed from the tornadoes. not sure how the volunteer/blazing/cleanup effort has been going for those trails, but i definitely wish much luck to those persons that are helping. from my friends' description, it sounded like some of the trails are covered up/gone.

anyway, yeah, if you do cheaha, make sure to make a pitstop at mcdill point and get some pics from that view.. there was someone hanging up there when i went last year, that would be an incredible spot to hang.

[ciphoto]

Bassmaster,
The last pics with the views are from the Pinhoti section, around 2200, the early one looking down to the creek is on the Chinabee Silent trail at about 1100 probably.

But like Defsquad said if you go do hit Mcdill Point great spot. Actually depending how you go in there are several great over looks along the trail getting there.

I had thought about going to the Sipsey, haven't gone there, but do to time etc, did Cheaha. It is closer to me....