Help with planning an overnight hiking trip

[brewyet]

My girlfriend on me are wanting to take a hiking trip and we are looking at the Pinhoti trail area.  We are looking to make a overnight hike to a camping spot, and the next day make the trek back to the car.  We want to make the trip worth it, so hopefully end at a nice summit, or some other interesting place.   Thats where I need the help, I'm trying to get any recommendations on where to hike from and to.  I've been searching around the Pinhoti sites, but I figured asking would probablly yield better and quicker results. 

We live in Mobile, and won't be making this trip until it warms up a bit (Maybe in May).  And I'm asking early since I know it takes awhile for people to respond on the forums.  Looking at driving up there and camping at a local park Friday, and then saturday morning heading to the trail head and starting our adventure.  We don't mind if its a crowded section or not, just looking for a cool place to go to.  We are newbie hikers, and we are practicing with car camping and day hikes in our area right now.  I've hiked alot, but nothing very long, just short day hikes.  So hopefully when we go on this trip,  we will be ready for it.  I would like to hear of what sections might fit what we are looking for, and really any recommendations or warnings that we might need to know about the Pinhoti trail.

[DavidR]

Paul,

I've only hikes the southern portion of Pinhoti so I can't offer much advice on a specific section to hike. The section I have hiked has great views here and there, but I'd imagine there are better sections to go to. My trip report is at Alabama Tent and Trail if you want to look over the tracks, waypoints, and guide. I have a few other Pinhoti resource links as well. Since your girlfriend is going with you, you'll be able to park one car at one end and hike form the other. Of course lots of folks here are on the trails and might help with a shuttle if you need one. Good luck with the planning and welcome to Alatrails!

[brewyet]

Thanks for the site, I'll be going through the trips.  Also we started all this from geocaching, and we are just loving to get outdoors.  

We are coming from Mobile so we are only paying for gas for 1 car.  So a "there and back" route, or a loop will be needed, something where we start and end at the same point.   We are wanting to get into multi-night hikes and maybe a thru hike, but we just want to start small and have a nice little weekend get away.  

[Mountain Dog]

The question is just how far in a day do you want to hike.  I live in Pensacola.  I can easily drive to Cheaha, park behind the store, and hike/camp to/at McDill point, the prettiest mountain view camping on the Pinhoti.  I've done that and then hiked the mountain loop (Pinhoti to Odum, to Nubbin, to Cave Creek) the following day and retrieved the car.  You can reverse the trip if you want to start your hike in the morning.  You can start up Cave Creek in the morning, reach McDill in early PM and be back at your car mid morning the second day.  There is reliable water on the Nubbin section.  Otherwise, plan a dry hike unless someone can verify there has been water recently at the Pinhoti/Odum crossing.  There is rustic camping about 5 miles south of the park HQ at Turnipseed campground.  Go to   http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org/ if you need details about the trail.  Better still, go there and order the data book.  It is worth having if you plan to do much hiking on the Pinhoti and you will be supporting trail efforts.

[brewyet]

Looking at maybe around 7+ mile hike.  Its flat down here, so I'm not sure how to translate that into elevation changes.    The Cave Creek to McDill sounds interesting. 

Yeah I just found the trail packet guide part on the site, I'm going to send in my $10  now.  Thanks for the info. 

[buck]

Looking at maybe around 7+ mile hike.  Its flat down here, so I'm not sure how to translate that into elevation changes....

In the Pinhoti Guide for Section 6 take a look at this section in reverse order. If you park at the Cheaha Trailhead and hike south for 7 miles you will be at the top of the 'stairway to heaven." Along the way are the best views of any 7 miles I've hiked on the Pinhoti, not to mention many good camping spots. Only negative is a lack of water sources, but for this short a distance you could pack plenty of water.

If you hiked to McDill (tad over 2 miles) there is a large camping area on the McDill Overlook Trail. Set up camp and hike south along the ridge headed toward the stairway to heaven and you'll come upon many views that won't disappoint. Plenty to explore before returning to camp.

Or, hike on to Little Caney Head (about 5.3 miles), set up camp (large campground), grab a bottle of water and head south down the Pinhoti. Many spectacular views and rock formations in this area. Return to camp, sleep, head back to the trailhead the next morning. In this scenario you might save McDill for the trip out.

[Mountain Dog]

The hikes recommended to date do not have any segnificant elevation changes so do not worry about that. BUT, the trail base is really rocky on the Pinhoti section I recommended.  The rocks will make the trail feel longer than the flat land sandy trails down here.  Still, 7 miles a day is easily doable.  I'm retired and I took my wife to the Cheaha mountain loop.  I planned two nights because of the rocks, her limited hiking experinece, and, well, we are retired.  But, she only used one night.  As mentioned by Buck, there are plenty of overlooks on the mountain loop.  Take plenty of snacks, water, and a camera.  The time it takes you to make that hike will be dependent mostly on how many times you stop and enjoy the roses.  One word of caution.  Once you start hiking the Pinhoti you might become addicted. 

[brewyet]

Yeah I think an overnight at Cheaha state park on Friday then head out to section 6 Saturday morning sounds like really good for a first trip.  I'm waiting for the trail packet now, I bet that will have some more info for me.  Bringing all of our water is a good thing to know.  Thank you for the help and I'll try and post a trip report when we get done. 

[stevebo]

Excellent choice !  You will not be disappointed-----------the whole pinhoti is great, but the Mcdill point area is pretty special.  (I keep going there time and time again, not for lack of options, but its just so beautiful!)   One thing to mention, on the Pinhoti trail, between Mcdill and the Chinnabee/odem/Pinhoti  junction, there is a boulder field you have to navigate through.  Its maybe a half mile long of shifting head sized rocks.  Its not a big deal if you take your time, but if youre in a hurry,  it could  be "interesting"!   That whole loop/section is full of really interesting rocky bluffs etc.  You really cant go wrong!  I honestly think Ive never been on a section of trail that offers so much natural beauty, for so little effort----------its a really good deal!  Have a great trip!

[brewyet]

We are thinking about adding Cave Creek Trail on the return, any thoughts? 

[squidbilly]

Returning via Cave Creek Trail will make a nice loop hike.  Pinhoti to the junction of Chinnabee/Odum. Take Odum to Nubbin Creek Trail. Then take Nubbin to Cave Creek Trail.  Be sure to see the cave on Cave Creek Trail.

[brewyet]

Well me and my girlfriend did a 9 mile(by GPS) practice hike with all of out gear.  We had a good time and are looking forward to our hike.  I had wanted to get some feedback on out camping plans.  We are looking to go the weekend of the April 9th(weather permitting). Also all the water that we need is really heavy, adds up real fast. And any ideas on water along the trail would be great. 

We will be starting at Cheaha and heading south on the Pinhoti

and we are looking to camp at little caney head.  Possibly stopping here and hiding our extra water(loosing the weight)

Then head out to the stairway to heaven, enjoying the sights, and then heading back to caney head to set up camp.

then the next morning head back on Pinhoti, or Cave Creek.  Probably see how we feel in the morning. 

Any comments are welcomed, and I'll be sure to post a trip report when we are finished. 

[jedbear]

May I ask where you did the practice Hike?

           jedbear

[brewyet]

Tuxachanie Trail outside Biloxi, MS.  Its a flat trail, but we wanted to test out our gear before we took off.  We forgot the keys to our other car, so we did the first bit twice.  We started at the Hwy 49, and walked to Airey Lake.   THe first part was nice and cool little streams, but then it got into long straight stretches, not much to see.

[Mountain Dog]

No need to carry so much water.  I've never seen Caney Creek (that part that crosses Nubbin between Cave Creek and Odum) dry.  That is one water source I'd plan on having water.  The section of the Pinhoti south of the Pinhoti/Chinnabee/Odum crossing is nice but I'd choose to spend more time at McDill and even rounding the corner at the crossings to reach the water on Nubbin rather than carry water for the first day, that night, and the followoing mroning.  There are good camp sites south of the water on Nubbin.  To give you some idea about distance and time, My wife hiked from McDill to the trail crossings and then backe down Odum/Nubbin/Cave creek to the parking lot in one relatively short day.  She does not hike much so I'd think your girl friend could do it easily (we are retired so I'd guess you have the advantage of age over us).   There is probably water at the Pinhoti/Chinabee/Odum crossing too but I'd want someone to verify that before I'd gamble on that source.  I'm curious about how much weight you plan to pack onto the trail the first morning.  You'll spoil the hike if you carry too much.  

[brewyet]

My pack came in at 45 lbs, with 100 oz and two 70oz camelbak bladders, my girffriend's came in at 30 lbs with two 100oz bladders. 

Is there a map with the Nubbin trail and the water sources.  I have a water filter and would love to just get water while we are out there, but I'm having problems finding one map with pinhoti, nubbin, chinnabee, and cave creek.  I've found this one: http://jahudson.wiki.hoover.k12.al.us/Cheaha+Trail+Maps

But I can't seem to find caney creek on any of them. 

[southmark]

If you take the Cave Creek Trail back to your car be very careful. There is a point along the trail where it goes between some large rocks that some people have gotten lost. The Cave Creek Tail continues left and is sometimes difficult to see but there is another trail to the right that leads to a large camping spot and then continues on downhill to an old road bed that will take you out to the highway miles from your car. Maybe this intersection has been better marked since I was last there.

[Mountain Dog]

The trails on top of the mountain have been reblazed/improved to prevent people from getting lost.  There were so many dayhikers getting lost that the rangers finally got permission to make the trails more hiker friendly.  The confusing area you mention, if I am picturing the right place, has been obscured by piling brush on the old trails when headed both south and north to prevent people from going off trail.  As for maps, you need the forest service map for section 7.  This forum and others have renumbered the trails from the south to the north.  Ergo, their section numbers do not line up with the forest service maps for the Pinhoti.  The last forest service map I saw, which had been updated just a few years ago, still had the Cheaha mountain fully enclosed in their map 7.  Realistically though, and I realize I've done the trails several times, you do not even need maps.  If you start hiking south on the Pinhoti where it crosses hwy 281 north of the HQ on Cheaha, you'll see plenty of blazes that will get you to the Pinhoti/Odum/Chinnabee crossing.  The sign at the crossing points south for the Pinhoti, west for the Chinnabee, and east for the Odum.  Taking the Odum, you will come to another sign when you intersect the Nubbin which heads back north.  When on the Nubbin and within 2 miles of the P/C/O crossing, you'll see some good camp sites and then decend to a good creek.  I like camping here.  Continue north and you will come to the Cave Creek Trail (there is a sign),  The Nubbin continues east and the Cave Creek north to the parking lot you'll see on hwy 281.  Your pack weight is way too much for me.  I carry less than 30 pounds when I'm out for a week, and that includes the water I walk into the woods with.  Go to http://forums.backpacker....bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi? and read what people do to keep their weight down.  The worst thing you can do in to go to a national outdoor store and ask their advice.  It might not be practical for you but right now is the time to be at the outfitter in Neels Gap in Georgia to see what people start the AT with and see what the outfitteers convince them to replace so that they can actually hike and enjoy the days.  Have fun.  That is a really good trail around the mountain's top with soem really good views.  But with leaves on, you might have to step off trail some to see the vistas.

[brewyet]

Thanks on the info on the Nubbin trail, Thats what we'll plan on doing.  If I cut the water to one 100oz bladder I'm at 35 lbs and she is at 24 lbs.  We have light stuff, besides water, the tent is the next heaviest at 8lbs(tent, poles, stakes, and  groundsheet). Its a Quarter dome T3+ so yes a large tent, but worth the weight.  Just we sweat alot, and therefor drink alot of water, thats why I was packing so much.   But with this we should be fine.

[squidbilly]

If you take the Cave Creek Trail back to your car be very careful. There is a point along the trail where it goes between some large rocks that some people have gotten lost. The Cave Creek Tail continues left and is sometimes difficult to see but there is another trail to the right that leads to a large camping spot and then continues on downhill to an old road bed that will take you out to the highway miles from your car. Maybe this intersection has been better marked since I was last there.

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