Trying to find the ideal location...

[uabjeff]

I'm an Assistant Scoutmaster with a Boy Scout troop in the Birmingham area. We are planning a backpacking trip in late October/early November somewhere in the area. Most of the boys are trying to get a qualifying backpacking trip for their camping merit badge. A qualifying trip is a 4 mile backpacking trip, which our Scoutmaster interprets as 2 miles in/camp/2 miles out. We also have a number of new scouts that have never backpacked, as well as a couple of leaders (myself for one) that haven't done any backpacking since they were in scouts (for me 20+ years ago). I'm looking for a location where we could pack in 2 - 2.5 miles to a good camping location. Due mainly to the boys inexperience, we are looking for a trail that is pretty easy going. We are looking for somewhere within 60-70 miles of Birmingham, and there will be about 15 scouts and 5-7 adult leaders. I'm a day hiker, and in the last couple of years, I haven't really strayed far from Oak Mountain, Ruffner and Moss Rock Preserve.

Any suggestions? I would be grateful for your input.

Thanks in advance.

[dogwood]

There are lots of great spots on the Pinhoti Trail system in the Talladega National Forest.  One good place is the Cave Creek Trail, located at the top of the mountain.  You can hike about 2 - 2.5 miles in to a nice overlook and camping area.  Not too steep, just right for a starter.  Also, there are nice places on the Pinhoti North of I-20, in the Choccolocca Mgmt area.  Lots of creeks, fairly easy hiking.

[weathermansam]

I can't remember how far turnipseed camp is to Cheaha Falls on the Chinnabee Silent trail near Cheaha, but that might be something to look into.....

For Sipsey, I would recommend a trip Sougahoagdee Falls [or however you spell the thing].  It's a wonderful little 4 mile trek, secluded, and pretty level.

[Mountain Dog]

Cave Creek is a good suggestion.  There are some good camping spots just north of the first creek you will reach.  The Skyway Loop starting at Chinnabee Camp Ground has a really good camping area a couple of miles in and along side water.  The only problem will be crossing the creek where Skyway intersects the Chinnabee Silent.  It will not be a problem for the kids but older people seem more worried about getting their toes wet :-) I see a lot of scouts parking at Turnipseed and hiking about 2 miles to where the Chinnabee Silent crosses the creek.  There are a lot of camping places on your right just before crossing the falls.  Another good place would be parking at Coleman Campground and hiking south to the first lake.  There is a lot of camping alongside the trail and up on the dam.  Go to http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org/ To research driving directions and exact distances.  There are endless good places to hike on and around the Pinhoti.  If you forsee camping in the future for your troop then now is a good time to start exploring the Pinhoti.  It is one of the premiers short and unpublized trails in the south east.

[Firedog]

Hey Jeff, The Chinnabee Silent trail at Cheaha State Park is perfect for your scouts. The scout troop from Talladega deaf & blind school built the trail in the early 70's. The perfect trip for new scouts campers would be park at Turnip seed parking area hike west thru Cheaha Falls. Continue on past the shelter to Devil's Den and on to Chinnabee Lake. There is great camping spots there complete with toilet. The trip is about 3.7 miles If you start early you can get to camp and set up then the boys can go back to Devil's Den  to swim and play on the rocks. It is about 1/2 mile back up the trail. Also there is a 1 mile loop trail around the lake they can explore and see the dam. If you desire you can drive another vehicle back to the lake from the parking area if you don't want to leave it overnight, or need to carry supplies instead of packing it all in. I was in the scouts till I was 17. We spent lots of nights at Lake Chinnabee. I think you would love this place for the hike, the elevation change is very good for new hikers. There is lots to do and experience. Also the access for the adults in charge is perfect.

Here is a link to get more information.
http://www.n2trailhiking..../HikePage.aspx?HikeID=573
http://www.flickr.com/pho...945746020/in/photostream/
http://upload.panoramio.com/photo/15616700
Carl W.

[uabjeff]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. That definitely gives me some research and leg work to do.

[Firedog]

Hey Jeff, I forgot to check in with you and see where you ended up carrying your scouts.

[uabjeff]

We actually haven't made our trip just yet. We will be going in a couple of weeks. We decided on the Chinnabee Silent Trail. I checked it out back in August and found it to be a pretty good fit for what we were trying to do. We are going to have a couple of our leaders who don't backpack drop us at the Lake Chinnabee Recreation area, and we are going to hike in and camp in the vicinity of the shelter, and then hike out the next morning. (A couple of the leaders felt that this was more in the spirit of the merit badge than using an improved campsite, even a primitive one.) Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions! They may all be used before my son's scouting adventure is over with. If all goes well, I think we may return to the Lake Chinnabee area when the weather is warmer for obvious reasons. Thanks again.

[Lostsheep]

You're just scratching the surface! Welcome. We look forward to hearing all about it!

[uabjeff]

I had meant to post about our trip right after since there was some interest, but I promptly forgot.

We took our backpacking trip on the first weekend in November 2009. We hiked from Lake Chinnabee Recreation area along the Chinnabee Silent Trail, and camped at the trail shelter just above Cheaha Falls. The next day we packed up and hiked the rest of the trail to Turnipseed Camp. The weather was awesome, and we really couldn't have asked for a better trip. Thanks to all for your guidance!

Here's a link to some pics: http://www.flickr.com/pho...s/72157623468334371/show/

[Firedog]

Nice pics Jeff.Looks like a great time. If that hike don't hook a bunch of kids to hiking they can't get it. I grew up scouting and cut my teeth on the same trails your guys did. Back in the early seventies the only trails were the Odum trail and the silent trail on Cheaha. In the early 70's, the Odum started out at the State Park Store. You walked down the road to the west side of the ridge to the first curve then up the hill to three old radio towers. From there it was great. The first 1/4 mile was straight up the mtn. The Odum doesn't follow the original path. If you look at the new maps you can see the old trail running between the Pinhoti and Cave Creek trail down the ridge. I don't know why they changed it but they did. That trip from Cheaha trailhead down Cave Creek trial then to Odum down to High Falls is a great day trip It is a 10 mile trip. In my scouting days we made that hike 6 times. I have some old BSA patches for the Odum Trail. I'll see if I can find one and post a pic. Carl W.

[AlabamaDan]

Good thread.  Thanks for the info.  I'm planning to get my Webelos hiking this summer and fall too.  2 miles in and 2 miles out seems perfect.