Postponed - Pinhoti Loop Overnighter and Alatrails Birthday - Postponed

[Magic City Matt]

This event has been been postponed untill further notice

[Firedog]

Sounds like a plan. We had a similar paddlin event on the Coosa last month and had over a hundred friends show. It was a great time. Encourage everyone to make it if you can. Carl W.

[JC785]

Sounds like a great idea.

[Tacky Hiker]

Sounds like a great idea.

X2

[ednotmilkman]

I'll put this on my calender. Can't be sure yet, but would def. enjoy meetin up if I can go.

[squidbilly]

Looks like I'm free that weekend. Sounds like a great idea.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I'm not going to be able to attend. Talladega is too far from Nashville to really accommodate in a standard two day weekend, and too far to head down after work on Friday, at least if I want to camp. I do, however, hope that a bunch of people turn up and have a lot of fun.


 

[Firedog]

Come on Szulecki, it's not that far. You can work it out.

[squidbilly]

[quote

THIS EVENT WILL BE 18 and UP
[/quote]

So, I can't bring my boys?  Oh well, I was looking forward to meeting some of you.  Maybe some other time.

[ednotmilkman]

I don't think you can resrtrict more than your immediate campsite to 18 and up, or any other restrictions, can you, Matt ??

I'd say, "bring anybody that wants to come as long as you will be responsible for the kids, or any others that may not be welcome to the party of the first part."

Edwin

[dogwood]

I'm interested!  Hopefully, will be able to spare the time...

[Magic City Matt]

So, I can't bring my boys?  Oh well, I was looking forward to meeting some of you.  Maybe some other time.

Ok, no 18 and up restrictions. However anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. My primary concern is the length of the hike and terrain.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Come on Szulecki, it's not that far. You can work it out.

Nah, I'd only have a few hours each day to actually hike, after the drive, setting up, etc... I'll see y'all on another trip.

[JC785]

Any more thoughts on this trip as to what time and etc?

[Magic City Matt]

Unless opposed I think we should meet friday night at turnipseed hunters camp. There is a fairly large campsite area just north of the adams gap intersection on skyway. We will hike there for any body who want to meetup for a day hike on Sunday.

[bellaleo]

i would love to join your guys. i'll see what happens with work as the date gets closer. if nothing else i should be able to join for  a day hike.

[melonhead]

What would be expected on the friday night/saturday morning hike? Might be driving from mobile and wandering about what would be on the agenda scenic wise...Thanks

[ednotmilkman]

Could you give us the plan again Matt, about where we go Sat night to camp?  We are car camping Friday at Turnipseed right? Then we will backpack to where ? Then loop around to Turnipseed by Sunday afternoon?

If some of us can hike 1/2 the loop, can we place car shuttles to return back early? I would prefer going home early Sunday morning if possible.

[Magic City Matt]

What would be expected on the friday night/saturday morning hike? Might be driving from mobile and wandering about what would be on the agenda scenic wise...Thanks

This loop is about 17.5 miles long and goes directly over Talladega mountain giving you some of the best views in the state. It is not for the faint of heart though as you have almost 4000 feet of elevation gain over the loop. On the other side of the loop is the dense forest surrounding the skyway loop trail and the more lowland areas of the loop. Plenty of creek and rolling hill action there.

Could you give us the plan again Matt, about where we go Sat night to camp?  We are car camping Friday at Turnipseed right? Then we will backpack to where ? Then loop around to Turnipseed by Sunday afternoon?

If some of us can hike 1/2 the loop, can we place car shuttles to return back early? I would prefer going home early Sunday morning if possible.

Tentative Schedule:

Friday Evening - Camp at Turnipseed Hunters camp

Saturday - Hike to Adams gap on the Chinnabee/Pinhoti over Talladega Mountain, then camp just north of the trail head from Adams gap on the Skyway trail.

Sunday - Hike back to Turnipseed via Skyway/Chinnabee and leave

So yes you could leave your car at Adams gap and leave out early sunday

[JC785]

Sounds good to me, I should be there.

[squidbilly]

Count us in too.   Is there any water at or near Adams Gap?  I've never been there, but I would guess the branches there are all dried up.  

[ednotmilkman]

can we get a count of who's coming?

yes
TBD to be determined
no, but wish I could

I'm in the TBD category right now because I've got to go Thurs-Tues for a family memorial service in WV. I wonder if they have had decent rain up that way this month?

[dogwood]

TBD - might try to join camping at Adam's Gap Saturday evening or join for dayhike on Sunday.  Prior commitment on Saturday, so i'm unsure if i'll be able to attend, at this time.

[Tacky Hiker]

TBD - my brother wants to come down for the weekend.

[Tacky Hiker]

I should be there...90% sure !

[melonhead]

What do yall consider the best trailhead to start at when doing the loop? Clockwise or Counter CW? Unfortuantely, not gonna be able to go until next month and was trying to get opinions. Thanks

[Magic City Matt]

We usually start at Turnipseed and go clockwise. it's beneficial because it puts the initial climb up the mountain right at the beginning and has good water sources right about where you need them for refills.

m

[Magic City Matt]

Unless we get some rain soon we may postpone this event because of all the fire warnings and lack of water.

m

[Tacky Hiker]

Since there is a chance we may have to postpone the trip I will just tell my brother to come into town. I can go any other weekend.

[melonhead]

Thanks matt. Bummer about the trip. I hope everything can go as accordingly.

[Rob]

TRAIL CONDITION UPDATE..... I took the liberty of doing a hike yesterday ( Friday 9/24 ) down Chinnabee Silent and the Skyway loop from Chinnabee Rec. area ( included the 2 mile loop around Lake Chinnabee, you wouldn't be missing much if you elected to skip this part, a little beaver activity on the west side of lake)  to the first overlook on the Skyway and the conditions are not good..... Water down Chinnabee is flowing at a moderate trickle with large pools of water sufficient for pumping from. The pools are not yet stagnant, however they are filling with heavy algae growth. The falls area at Devils den is heavily littered with trash, empty bottles, dirty baby diapers, etc. Water on the Skyway is Extremely low at Hubbard Creek, very slow movement, not yet stagnant, a couple of very shallow pools to pump from, I would surmise that if there is no rainfall within the next week it will be all but dry. The "bald" on Skyway Trail where the infamous Pine beetles have done their deed is heavily over grown with weeds/wildflowers. Basically the whole area is a tinder box. Due to the heat, and extremely dry conditions the hike was not as enjoyable as I would have liked for it to have been. The only way I would consider safely doing this hike would be to have someone shuttle water to Adams gap, and not have a camp fire. I would seriously consider rescheduling the hike as suggested by Matt.

[Magic City Matt]

Everybody I am going to postpone this event until further notice. Thanks for your interest.

[melonhead]

When would be a more suitable time to do the loop? Would there be enough water say by Nov 12-14? Thats when i was hoping to go..THanks

[Joshua Szulecki]

Barring a major tropical storm in the next few weeks, I wouldn't expect November to be any better. November is still within the lower rainfall part of the year for most of the eastern US, with October being the worse (around an inch lower than sept and nov, which are an inch or two below spring levels themselves), and Talladega NF always seems dryer than more northern and western parts of the state, presumably due both to climate and soil drainage. I wouldn't expect wetter conditions until at least January in a normal year, more like February or March. That being said, the fire risk may diminish before then, I'm just pointing out the seasonal rains for drinking water purposes.

If it is this low before October has even started it will likely only be worse over October and November.

  

[wirerat123]

If it is this low before October has even started it will likely only be worse over October and November.

Wasn't that way last year, October and November were WET!  Because we were out in it a lot lol.  The Terrapin at one point was well above flood stage early November.  And Talladega over Halloween weekend was WET.

But that's not the norm he he.  We'll see what happens.

[Tacky Hiker]

Montgomery got plenty of (much needed) rain today !

[wirerat123]

We were getting planty of rain this morning in Guntersville no doubt!

[squidbilly]

Instead of the Cheaha Loop, I think we will do Section 9 of the Pinhoti From Pine Glen to FS 500 Trailhead. We have not done this section yet, plus we won't have to carry as much water.