A Hike Down, Then Up To the Summit.

Feb 11, 2010 - As the light barely began to filter through the window of my room, I rose at about 5:30AM and drove up to the picnic area near the summit. Here I shivered in the frigid wind while taking pictures of an absolutely inspiring sunrise. I was ready to hit the trail.

After considering my all of my options, it was decided that the Lake Trail/Rock Gardens Trail would be the most difficult approach considering the fact that I had an 11:00AM checkout time. My ascent (which actually begins as a descent) began at the loop road for cabins 7, 8, 9, and 10. This is where the Lake Trail/Rock Gardens Trail begins. Granted, it's not a long hike, but again, like Chinnabee, it was very rocky at the top (thus the Rock Gardens name). The views from the Rock Gardens on this morning were gorgeous. In the photo below you can see the lake in the background, to the left of one of the granite crags of the Rock Gardens.



Down 1200' I went traveling through granite boulder fields, hardwood forest with a couple of small creek crossings, until I reached the shoreline of the lake 45 minutes later. After taking a few pictures of the mountain from the lake, I began my ascent going the same way I came down. This trail is not for those that have issues with steep, rocky (boulders) trails. A 1200' elevation change in one mile is no picnic.

Once I got back up to the car, I continued across the road and bushwhacked my way up the ridge until I came out at the campground near the group picnic shelter. From here it was a walk on the asphalt until I reached the high point. The observatory tower wasn't open and I walked around until I found the USGS marker identifying the high point. My travel time from the lake to the summit took one hour and sixteen minutes.


(above) View of Cheaha Mountain (high point at tower) from Cheaha Lake

This time of year in this park was ideal for me. Though it may seem anti-social, the fewer people I run into on the trails, the better. In my almost 24 hours spent in the park, I ran across a total of two people, none on the trails. I basically had the park to myself. I definitely plan on returning, as I hope to finish my hike to the summit using the Chinnabee Silent Trail and the Pinhoti Trail.

If you ever find yourself traveling I-20 between Atlanta and Birmingham, I definitely recommend that you detour south and visit Cheaha State Park. Like most state parks, the facilities are obviously suffering from budget cuts, and the place really needs a bit of a makeover (unfortunately, the summit tower sits right beside the ugliest, run down, junky looking communications tower facility), but once you are on the trails, the variety of terrain from boggy pine bottoms, to talus strewn side slopes bisected by clear flowing streams, to granite boulder ridge tops, is wonderful. Check it out.

Chinnabee Silent Trail

TALUS ON CHINNABEE SILENT TRAIL

I have finally recovered enough to check in here and give a few details about my latest adventure. Ok, so the truth is that it's been more of a case of the lazies, than a need to recover.

Feb 10, 2010 - I arrived at the park a little after noontime, and by the time I checked into the lodge, got my gear together and studied the trail map, it was already early afternoon. One of my requirements in reaching the state high points is that the hike cannot be the easiest route to the top. Many of the states highest peaks have been turned into attractions that the general public can take advantage of by accessing the area by vehicle. Mounts Washington, Greylock, Brasstown Bald, Clingmans Dome, all have roads that lead to, or nearly to the summit. In my mind, to go this route and claim it as an ascent of the mountain is akin to cheating. I want each summit to require more effort than a drive and a walk on a paved path to the top.

With this in mind, I decided the best way to "work" for the summit would be to travel south down Hwy 281 to where the Chinnabee Silent Trail crosses the road, and access the Pinhoti Trail via the Chinnabee Silent Trail, then hike north.

The Chinnabee Silent Trail proved to be a difficult, but beautiful climb, with the last 1/2 traveling through a very rocky, talus strewn landscape. By the time I reached the Pinhoti Trail ( 1 hr 17 mins), it was obvious that the trip to Cheaha Mountain, plus the return, could not be accomplished by dark. I thought about continuing the hike, sleeping in the lodge, then hiking back to the car in the morning. However, posts on the web about cars left overnight being vandalized in this area made me decide against that.

I walked north on Pinhoti for a while, then back to the trail intersection where I hiked east on the Odum Scout Trail for about 20 minutes out and back. I was hoping for a scenic overlook to the southeast, with no luck. Obviously, I didn't travel far enough as I have since read that there are some spectacular views from this trail. Eventually I retraced my steps to the car and drove back north to the lodge and enjoyed the sunset from the deck of the empty restaurant. The wind was whipping and added an extra chill to the already frigid air.

After snapping a few photos, I retreated to the warmth of my room, thankful that I wasn't going to weather the cold wind all night in a tent. I dined on a banana, some wheat thins and roasted peanuts while studying the park maps and began plotting my route up to the Cheaha summit for the next morning.

SUNSET LOOKING SW FROM CHEAHA MOUNTAIN

Cheaha Mountain, here I come!

I'm headed to Cheaha Mountain (AL) to check off state high peak number seven. I have previously bagged New Hampshire (Mount Washington), Vermont (Mount Mansfield), Massachusetts (Mount Greylock), Connecticut (Bear Mountain), Georgia (Brasstown Bald), and Tennessee (Clingmans Dome).

After Alabama, I still have NC, SC, VA, KY, WV, MD, PA, NJ, NY, & ME to go on my quest to hike the highest peaks in every state that includes part of the Appalachian Mountain Range.

Following a day or so of hiking, it's off to Mobile, AL for some Mardi Gras parades and some Moon Pie catching. I also hope to add at least 10 birds to my list on this trip. I'll report soon!