What I'm doing

[WolfVanZandt]

My original intention for these trips was to visit random counties in Alabama, do a technical hike, eat at a good restaurant, visit a local church and see a few sites before returning home and try to do it on a reasonable budget. After this trip, I've figured out that the technical part is unrealistic - I'm just way too undisciplined to decide on a trail and stay on it - also a regular pedometer isn't going to give me accurate distances. Nevertheless....

Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve is on Highway 147 north in Auburn near the fisheries. If you take the  US 280 exit off I 85, look for 147 on the left as you leave Auburn/Opelika. The gate to the Preserve will be on the right just north of the fish ponds.

The park has about 4 miles of trails forming a figure 8 through the area and going around the boundary. The terrain  is easy and the park gives you a pretty complete overview of the local landscape. It's an interpretive trail with some interesting exhibits along the way. You can pick up a map at either of the two entrances.

Paul and I parked in the lot just off 147 and took the trail leading along the border of the park (Rill and Dell). The forests are both hardwood and pine with some reintroduction of long leaf pines. The trails are well maintained. They are so meshed that it might be difficult to follow a set itinerary but, if you get off the planned trail, it's not hard to get back on. At the heart of the preserve is a marshy lake with some boardwalks that allow you to get a close look at the plant and animal life. The runoff creek cascades over Hidden Falls - about 15 or 20 feet high before continuing on it's way, bisecting the park - the headwater springs is within the boundary of the preserve. Also cutting across the preserve is a power line easement in which humming bird feeders have been set up. In the woods to the side is a station with a telescope for viewing the feeders from a distance.

An amphitheater and pavilion provides seating for a variety of educational and recreational events. There was a birthday party going on when we were there. We took about 3 hours to walk about 2 1/2 miles. We took plenty of time looking over the exhibits.

Other trails in the Auburn area include the trail system at Chewacla State Park, A city park with a network of trails popular with local joggers and strollers on Wire Road, and the Arboretum on College near the President's mansion. We walked around the arboretum Sunday afternoon. It's well maintained with an exceptional collection of plants that are labeled - this is a good place to brush up on your plant identification skills. They even have a collection of pitcher plants. You can also take a hike through the campus (don't get lost). The architecture is interesting and many of the buildings have exhibits of their own.

The Auburn/Opelika area is a great place to eat with  a variety of great restaurants at a broad range of prices. We ate at the Amsterdam Cafe which is listed on the 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die brochure. It's sorta pricey but worth every cent. Everything on the menu is unique. The lunch menu (served all day) runs from $7.00 to $12.00. The supper menu runs mostly in the $20s. I ate scallops with an interesting mix of vegetables (sweet potato, Brussels sprout leaves, and herbs flavored with bacon),a nd a key lime pie for dessert. My friend ate a steak that must have been 4 inches thick, mashed potatoes, and what looked like asparagus with some other kind of greens. He had no complaints. Actually, I've eaten there three times before and have always been pleasantly (and more than mildly surprised).

The China Palace has moved and I wish I could tell you where - all I know is that it's in one of the hotels on the main drag - it would be worth a search. It's one of the better Oriental restaurants that I've eaten at.

If you like shopping, there are plenty of big malls in the area including the relatively new (and huge) Tigertown off 280 near the Interstate. When I'm in the area, I try to go by the World Market there. This time I snagged some poopaki mushrooms and a bottle of mead. There's also a huge movie theater in town near Village mall.

Next month, the weekend just after the 15th (that's when I get paid), I plan to hike the southern part of the Pinhoti. I'll have to get a tire before then so it's going to be close. Afterwards, I'm going on a three month hiatus to take care of some personal expenses before the fall Howl season kicks off.

[WolfVanZandt]

I'll be hiking the lower portion of the Pinhoti (from the established trailhead) as far as daylight will allow (according to whether I have one vehicle or two) in two weeks. I still have to identify a local campsite so, if someone else is interested, I'll go ahead and do that so we can meet up that Friday night (or if anyone has a suggestion). I'll be getting up with the sun to hit the trail and I plan to eat at a good restaurant in Talladega County Saturday night. I'll get up Sunday morning and go to a local church and then I think I'll check out the local covered bridges Sunday afternoon before heading back to Selma.

[WolfVanZandt]

I was planning to camp somewhere near the southern trailhead of the Pinhoti (Hollis?) in Friday night (the 18th) but the nearest campground seems to be Desota Caverns and  I'm not going to pay that kjind of fee for a night in my van so I guess I'll stay at Cheaha, unless......

What do rangers and such think about camping at the trail heads? Is that permitted?

[weathermansam]

I was planning to camp somewhere near the southern trailhead of the Pinhoti (Hollis?) in Friday night (the 18th) but the nearest campground seems to be Desota Caverns and  I'm not going to pay that kjind of fee for a night in my van so I guess I'll stay at Cheaha, unless......

What do rangers and such think about camping at the trail heads? Is that permitted?

hop 10 ft into the forest off the parking lot and pitch a tent.  I doubt they'd say anything

[Joshua Szulecki]

I have no clue if it is allowed or not, but I have seen plenty of tent campers right at the High Falls Trailhead, especially during redneck naked swimming season. A van might creep the rangers out a little more than usual. I'll call and ask maybe?

 

[WolfVanZandt]

That's probably what I need to do. Thanks.

[WolfVanZandt]

I talked to a ranger and there's no problem with parking at the trailhead overnight and staying in the van or carrying a tent a little way in and setting up camp. I will be staying Friday nght at the trailhead and will get up at sunrise and hike as far in as I can before turning around and returning to the trailhead by dark. If there are more cars, We can parkone car at the next point on the trail and go further. Either way, if anyone is going to be around the southern terminus of the Pinhoti Friday night/Saturday morning, look for me.

After the hike, I plan to go into town for supper and stay the secong night at Cheaha (hopefully the lower campground). Then I'll find a local church to go to Sunday mornin and probably vist some of the local covered bridges after before going back home.

[WolfVanZandt]

Okay, it looks like I will be at Bull Gap near Sylacauga about 9:00 am Saturday. Barring car problems and such, I want to be on the trail then.

I'm staying with a friend in Auburn Friday night - that should save me from a baking one night.

[WolfVanZandt]

Woof!

If it wasn't for this randomization gimmick, I don't think I would have ever chosen to hike Rebecca Mountain in 90+ degree weather. I enjoyed it though. I stayed overnight with a friend in Auburn and it only took us 1 1/2 hours to drive to the trailhead at Bull Gap. We hiked 7 or 8 miles in, turned around and came back out. The blackberries were ripe and the storms that came in at the end cooled things off quite a lot.

This time of year the folage blocks much of the scenery but there are some interesting wildflowers and lots of interesting fungi.

Since my Talladega County weekend had pretty much turned into a Clay County weekend (I was thinking the southern terminus was a little further sounth), we headed up to  restaurant on Cheaha for supper - always a good choice. Their blackberry sundae is in season and well worth the somewhat elevated price. We then headed up to the tower and, after he headed back home, I got a campsite in the lower campground and stayed overnight in my van. The evening air cooled down considerably and I slept well.

I woke up around 6:30 and had plenty of time to track down Waldo and Kymulga Covered Bridges before sunday school and church at the First Baptist Church in Sylacauga - very nice people.

In a very irritating turn of events, I could not find a regular restaurant for breakfast and settled for an Arby's milkshake back in Auburn to take my pil salad which I was supposed to take at breakfast time. Everyting but fast food and Mexican restraunts were closed for Sunday (neither of which I wanted.)

But, back in Auburn, my friend and I went to an excellant Chinese Restaurant (grff! I can't think of the name - I'll have to get my friend to remind me - it really is a hidden gem of Auburn.)

Well, now I have poison ivy on my feet (and possibly elsewhere), but I'm happy with the trip. Once I get some rest, I'll provide directions for everything (although I would bet that just about everyone here knows how t get to the southern terminus of the Pinhoti Trail).

[WolfVanZandt]

Huh! It wasn't poison ivy - it was chiggers. I should have known because I started itch while we were hiking.

For those who don't know the way to the southern terminus of the Pinhoti Trail (and I had a little trouble finding it), You can either drive west from Millerville on highway 148 (Millerville is between Ashland and Goodwater), or east from Sylacauga on Highway 148. Rebecca Mountain is the biggest thing on the road and hard to miss. Despite the ranger's contention that Rocky Mount Church road is marked, it isn't. If you're coming from Sylacauga, watch for a well kept dirt road at the very top of the mountain to the left. If you're coming from Millerville, you'll pass two bridges and the road will be on your right at the top of the mountain. The parking area is right there at the turn off on the left side of the road.

Although there is a blue blaze at the parking lot, the trail begins a little further up the road on the right side. There is another blue blaze where it enters the forest. The Pinhoti is about the clearest, best marked trails I've ever seen at this point.

Waldo Covered vridge was a little hard to spot. If you drive from Talledega to Ashland on 77, it's just outside of Talladega on Talladega Creek. It's not visible from the road but the Old Mill Restaurant is, on the left side of the road. The covered bridge is behind the restaurant. It doesn't span the creek completely and is in rather delapidated condition. The restaurant has a good reputation in the area but doesn't open until 11:00 on Sundays, so I didn't get a chance to try it. Their specialty seems to be barbecue.

Kymulga Covered Bridge is also on Talladega Creek, the way is clearly marke from Winteboro on 21 south of Talladega. It is accompanied by a working gristmill and park. Adult admission is $3.00. They also sell their own cornmill and grits, and local honey and sorghum syrup. They'll give you a tour. There is about 2 miles of nature trails in the park that features big trees, wildflowers, and animal sightings. There are also geese that think they own the place.

I didn't realize that Sylacauga was the oldest town in the US.

[weathermansam]

I didn't realize that Sylacauga was the oldest town in the US.

It was an indian town when desoto wrote about it in his journals.  As far as an established european settlement, I would think the crown still falls to St. Augustine, FL.

[WolfVanZandt]

LOL. You know, we have at least three "deepest gorges" east of the Mississippi in the southeast (Little River, Tallulah Gorge, and Linville Grge), a score of highest waterfalls, and who knows how many "only one of two natural briges in Alabama".

I was actually talking about a sign in Kymulga gristmill which makes that claim.

You're probably right about St. Augustine, but, then, it wasn't originally in the United States and if the sign was correct, Sylacauga is older than Jamestown.

Which ever, it's probably extremely debatable.

Nevertheless, they do make their own cornmeal........

[WolfVanZandt]

Whao! It's more debatable than I thought. According to the cities' websites, St. Augustine has been a continuous settlement since 1564 when the Spanish founded it. Sylacauga has been continuously settled since before 1540, when DSoto mentioned it as an Indian settlement and it's been used ever since by Native Americans, French, and Spanish settlers. Sylacauga was incorporated in 1838, and St. Augustine became an American city in 1821.

I guess it has to do with how you mark age.....

[weathermansam]

I guess it has to do with how you mark age.....

...or how you're classifying the city....indian, european settlement or incorporated as an United States town. 

[WolfVanZandt]

Aye, frankly, I take all such claims with a teaspoon or so of salt.

I also noticed that Sylacauga claims to be sitting on the largest, purist deposit of white marble in the world. I(t is pretty marble, though. I like the pink better - especially when it has some pyrite in it.

[weathermansam]

I'm readily amused at all of the "tallest waterfall east of the Rockies/Mississippi" labels around here. 

[todd150hp]

I grew up in both Sylacauga and Childersburg. As far as I know Sylacauga never claimed to be the oldest settlement in the U. S.. That distinction would belong to Childersburg. Yes, it is a rather dubious claim as I understand it. However, that hasn't stopped the city of Childersburg from stamping it on the sides of their Police cars and painting it all over town. The covered bridge and gristmill you saw are not in Sylacauga. They are actually owned and operated by the Childersburg Historical Society (or at least they once were). When I lived in Childersburg I used to ride my bike the 4 miles to the gristmill. Sylacuaga is about 10 miles or so down the road from Childersburg.

Childersburg I believe claims to be the site of an indian village which DeSoto stumbled upon. Thus the naming of Desoto Caverns also located near Childersburg. Apparently one of Desoto's men became ill and was left behind with an African slave thus becoming a European settlement before St. Augustine was founded. It is highly debatable and considered by many of the scholarly sort that it is unlikely that Childersburg is this location. However according to reports from DeSoto's expedition this Indian village of the Coosa nation was located along the river we now call Coosa and situated between two creeks named Tallaseehatchee and Talladega. The city of Childersburg is on the Coosa River and does incorporate an area between two creeks bearing these names. My memory is very sketchy on this subject it has been over 20 years since I considered this matter, that is how I remember the argument being framed.

[WolfVanZandt]

Hmmmm....well, now that you mention it, I can't swear that the sign I saw at Kymulga didn't say Childersberg instead of Sylacauga.

But the information I posted in my last two posts was most definitely from the Sylagauga and St. Augustine websites.

[todd150hp]

Yes, I think Sylacauga claims to be near the site of another Indian village which Desoto encountered. However, they don't lay claim to being an European settlement as does Childersburg due to the ill Spanish Soldier and slave allegedly left behind there. As far as cities located near historical Indian villages goes I would think that would be true of a lot of towns. I mean, a good location for an indian village is likely to be a good location for a town.

The last report I read on any of this conflicted with a lot what I thought I remembered so I should probably quit while I'm ahead. I used to be semi-interested in the subject because I lived there and was familiar with the area but after reading so much contradictory info, became somewhat disillusioned.

[WolfVanZandt]

Well, I guess, if anyone goes by Kymulga, check out the sign in the griss mill and tell me what it actually says.

I'd appreciate it.