Chinnabee Silent Trail - Sept 2008
Trail conditions report from Sept. 20, 2008.
This report only covers the section of trail from the Lake Chinnabee Trailhead to Cheaha Falls Shelter.
There are 3 significant blowdowns on this trail. They have been here for some time as evidenced by the hiker-made re-routes around the trees. While this is not good for the trails, it is currently the only way around them. A small bow or hand saw can easily clear these up if anyone is in the area.
Also of note... short cuts have been created where the trail makes switchbacks. Please avoid using these shortcuts as they are detrimental to the forest and do not follow LNT principles. I tried placing several downed limbs and branches across the access to these shortcuts, but the trails have been used for sometime and cannot be easily blocked.
I have also alerted the Forest Service to these problems.
If you are out for a day hike in this area, I also suggest bringing a small (or large) trash bag. Because the Devil's Den area is so readily accessible from the Lk Chinnabee Trailhead, much trash has been discarded along the walk to the water. It was quite disheartening. The farther you get away from the DD area, the trash is noticibly less. The shelter area was cleaned up of trash last spring, but some has returned. The shelter also needs a new broom. *Someone* has removed the handle from the one that was there and the broom head itself is unuseable.
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I visited the Chinnabee
I visited the Chinnabee Silent Trail yesterday, Sept. 24, 08, I started from the trailhead on 281 and hiked to the Lake and back out, approx. 7 miles. I found the trail conditions to be as stated. The first small creek you step over from the 281 trail head was all but dry. The Chinabee Falls area of the creek was flowing modestly, not conducive of water fall photography. This area was relitively litter free as apposed to the rest of the trail in the Devils den area, in which the water flow was somewhat fair, however not impressive. The three blowdowns Cuffs spoke of are of concern. If not attended to, along with the switch back short cuts, there will be significant damage to these areas and increase erosion problems. ( sorry I didn't read this post before I went). The shelter was surprisingly clean dispite the broom issue. There were no notable concerns on the trail from the 281 trailhead to the shelter. HOWEVER in the parking area there was evadence of two broken out auto windows on the ground, tint and all. Bringing up concerns about overnight parking in this area.
It was however a very easy and enjoyable hike. Fall color is starting to slowly make it's way in. I'm assuming it will be spectacular soon. When I arrived at 6am it was quite cool, I'm guessing in the 40's with about a 15 knot wind, awesome hiking temp! By the time I left at 11:30 I was drenched in sweat. I was toting that all too heavy pack ( approx. 45lbs. ). Pretty good time for a crippled man! This was a trial hike to see what I was able to do..........