Dad's computer died so it took a while, but I think it was worth it. Thanks Dad for the account of our journey, my comments are in brackets.

Trail Log.

Backpacking trip October 21-24, 1999.

Pinhoti Trail.

I left the Lancaster Pennsylvania area at 2:30 A.M. and headed for the Baltimore Washington Airport. I had my backpacked stuffed and a suitcase with extras. I was headed to Alabama to spend 4 days backpacking with my son on the Pinhoti trail in the Talladega National Forest. It was late October and I was looking forward to the cooler season in Alabama. We had been there several different summers and gone hiking in 95 to 105 degree weather! I knew it was a beautiful area and hoped it would be cool enough to be enjoyable for a northerner.

Leaving Pennsylvania was hard because this was the first fall season I had ever taken off work. I was enjoying many long wonderful days hiking the mountains of PA in my favorite season. The leaves were in full color and the days had been just perfect. I also knew that the leaves in Alabama were not as colorful as here. But, I was also looking forward to the trip and spending time with my son on the trail.

When I arrived in Birmingham we went right from the airport to the trail head on Cheaha Mountain. I should mention that we did stop at Cracker Barrel Restaurant for a breakfast and lunch that would be our last regular meal for 3 days! My son has made a science of packing light which has it's advantages and disadvantages. (I did manage to sneak some extra candy bars and an extra bag of gorp in my pack.) He likes to backpack with no more than 20-25 pounds total, including water and food, for a 4 day trip.

At the trail head we went over our packs and repacked. We changed into our trail clothes and went over our water and food supply. We also shuttled his bike to the trail head were we planned to end our trip at the food of the mountain about 10 miles away [Adam's Gap]. He planned to bike back to our car at the top of Cheaha Mountain.

We were off and planned to hike 8 miles that first day and camp at a trail shelter above the Chinnabee Waterfalls that night. We hiked all afternoon along the Pinhoti Trail along the crest of the mountain. The overlooks were just beautiful and numerous. The trail was well marked at first with metal signs with turkey "footprints" on them. Mark noticed early in the afternoon that the streams were very dry and there was a general lack of water. To save weight we had not packed a whole lot of water planning to fill up at springs and purify the water to drink. Later in the day were able to find enough drinking water [at the creek about 2 miles down the Chinnabee Trail].

When we entered the wilderness area the trail almost disappeared. There were only a few vaguely marked signs. We had good contour maps and were able to find our way out of the wilderness area until he found the intersection of the trail off the mountain [Chinnabee Trail]. Here it was marked again. Where the trails crossed there was supposed to be a good dependable spring but it was totally dry. Mark noted that there was once a shelter at the intersection near the spring, but it had been moved by helicopter to a site above the Cheaha Falls. That was our destination for the night and it was getting late.

We hiked off the mountain to the trail head of the Chinnabee Silent Trail. This trail had been built by students who were deaf, so this was the reason for the name. It was three more miles to the falls and campsite [From the Pinhoti]. It was 3 more miles to the falls and the campsite. The trail went through rolling hills with many valleys and ups and downs. The waterfalls was beautiful and the shelter was clean and comfortable, we could hear the water below.

That night we cooked our meal on Mark's 3 oz. homemade camp stove. It is made of two tuna cans and a wire screen and ran on denatured wood alcohol (remember we are keeping this light)! We made a fire and sat and talked late into the night. We slept under the stars and could see the moon as well. It was in the low 30's that night, just great for sleeping. Of course we were warm because we had 2.3 Lb. down sleeping bags to keep warm (and save weight)!

The next day was beautiful and we planned to only hike 4-6 miles and enjoy the wonderful day and the sights along the way. We had hot tea on the camp stove and oatmeal (ugh) and were off on the most scenic part of our 23 mile trip. We hiked down the trail beside many beautiful waterfalls and stopped to enjoy each one, wishing it was warm enough to take a swim under those gushing rushing falls. We were glad for the cool sunny day as well though. We ended up at a beautiful lade and stopped there to eat our lunch. We met a ranger who worked on maintaining the trail and had a good time talking and giving suggestions about the trail. There was a bathroom (with real seats) and a safe supply of drinking water! We also met an older man who was deaf and unable to speak much and was able to communicate to us that as a boy he had helped build the Silent Trail and was here to work on maintenance for the morning.

We found the Skyway Trail and soon found out why it had the name. It followed the contours of the various hills up and down to the trailhead. We had planned to camp at a stream along the way. It was hard to find the trail at the beginning. After we got through a blown down area it was find.

We found a camping place [that Mark thought we could use]. It was not very good so we decided to go on to another one and we were glad we did. When we got to the next site there were two guys already camping there. After assuring them were sort of ok they were very friendly to two strangers and invited us to camp with them. We had a lot of fun that night sitting around the campfire telling stories and exchanging notes about camping gear, the trail and life in general. Simon and Jon were old college buddies who get together once in a while and go camping together. In real life they have jobs and work each day but enjoy the trail and the mountain. Kind of like us!  

We broke camp early and headed for the trail head about 3 miles away. We met a young couple who were traveling the opposite direction on the trail. We exchanged notes with them briefly. For some reason they were in a hurry and seemed to want to be alone! We met few people on the trail, it is not heavily used it seems.

At the trail head an older retired couple came along in a truck just as we were arriving. After swallowing our pride, we asked them if they would take us back to the top of the mountain and they happily took us, Mark's bike and our packs in the back, to the trail head where the car was parked. Talk about luck, that saved Mark Lee a long bike ride up the mountain [Amen].

The weather was still crisp and sunny and we were loath to go back to Birmingham. Somehow it is hard to end an adventure. So we decided to hike in 2 miles to the Blue Mountain Shelter and spend the night there and go back to the city (oh no) on Sunday. We did find a place to shower and then wend DOWN to the shelter. Yes, we knew it would be uphill all the way on Sunday but we were young (sort of) and it would be a new day and we would be rested and fresh.

The shelter was a very rustic one with a loft. We ate the rest of our food, so we would not have to carry it out of course, and had a restful quite night with a nice fire and beautiful surroundings. On Sunday morning we hiked out. We splurged and ate a late breakfast at the Cheaha Mountain Lodge restaurant. It overlooks the mountains and hills and valleys that we had just hiked over. What a view! We hated to leave but were afraid that they might throw out two very dirty, smelly hikers who had just come off the trail. Finally we headed back for Birmingham. I knew on Monday I would be on the plane back to PA and Mark would be headed back to work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I am hoping that I did not do too badly. For a 55 year old man hiking with a 23 year old college student is kind of an honor. Maybe I'll get another invitation another time to hike some more of the Pinhoti Trail in the Talladega National Forest. Maybe we'll even meet Jon and Simon on another of their rambles. Who knows?