Pinhoti, Chinnabee, Skyway Loop

Tues, April 12 th. Adams Gap
Clearing, 54 degrees, windy, 8:00 AM

I hiked this section to Cave Creek trail head in Jan. 2010 with only a 5 lb. day pack.
I anticipated some extra effort and a several more groans, especially when we got
to the stairway to heaven. We meaning my favorite hiking partner, shadowsue.
   The spring crossings were flowing well with clear water and maybe the 1" of
rain overnight helped. The path was still wet but not slippery and well trodden so
there was no problem navigating. The climb to Heaven was more difficult than I
remembered and maybe somewhat because of the 32 lb. pack I was carrying.
At the top, we took a 'packs off' break and took a look around with the binoculars
that I remembered this time. Should have figured that the long views would be
diminished by the left over moisture in the form of fog from the rain.
   On the way to the intersection of the Chinnabee we enjoyed the panoramic
views looking west along with the easier hiking on the ridges.
   At the intersection of the Chinnabee, the only problem we had was determining
where exactly the trail goes AFTER the only marking for the next mile was an arrow
on a sign at the crossroads. As with any large campsite, there is always several
short dead end paths that people make searching for firewood and taking care of
other needs. I hiked this trail from Chinnabee last April, so I didn't notice all the dead
ends coming into the area. It only took a couple attempts before we found the real
trail and started the 2 mile descent over all the rocks and boulders to Turnipseed Camp.
   We had planned to spend the night at the Turnipseed primitive campground, but
didn't think we would be the only people there, so that made it like camping on the trail.
I don't think it would be breaking any backpacking codes if we left a vehicle at the campsite
along with some charcoal and a couple choice rib eyes if the trail runs directly through the
campground. The Forest Service might frown on a bottle of red wine, but it seems previous
have left half burned Bud light and Miller lite cans in the fire ring.
   Night sounds; several owls, whiporwill, dogs and about 2:30- 8 or 10 rapid fire shots
maybe a mile away in the direction of Cheaha Lodge.
   7:00 AM; the forecast low was for 43 degrees and it felt that cold or colder. The wind
was calm and there was no frost. After a large cup of coffee we were off toward Lake
Chinnabee and the Skyway Trail. We had hiked this trail to Cheaha Falls earlier this spring,
so we had no surprises in this 1 mile section. The Cheaha Creek was flowing full and this
would be the first of 4 streams we would have to scout for the driest place to cross. We
stopped at the Cheaha shelter and had our breakfast before continuing our trek. The only
other hikers we saw in the 2 days were about half way to Chinnabee. I informed them that
I had cleared all the spider webs back to 281 and the said they had done the same back to
Skyway.
I expected the Skyway trail to be a little less maintained since it doesn't get the traffic the
others do, but it was easy to follow the well worn path. The spring growth of huckleberry &
hydrangea were crowding the already narrow trail in the areas of storm damage and tree
harvesting.
The last mile climbing out to Adams Gap was taking it's toll on my partner and myself.
Overall trail condition- good
2 day total- 17 miles
Final note- brown dog ticks are active, we found 6 on us. Seems a little early for them.

blisterbob
shadowsue