Postponed - Pinhoti Loop Overnighter and Alatrails Birthday - Postponed

[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.