Chinnebee-Skyway-Pinhoti Loop

[lawnmowwer]

I had to work some Sat. morning so We (Ed not the milk man, Daisy my dog, and I) started at about 10 A.M..

We hit the trail at Turnupseed hunters camp after a short conversation. We headed NW on Chinnebee. At Cheaha falls We did a little cross country on the creek. Daisy took a spill and ended up with a limp. After her slip I took her pack and We stayed on the trail. We slowed our pace a little for the dog and after a little time she worked out her limp.

We enjoyed a few conversations with other hikers and packers.

When We reached the Skyway intersection. Edwin informed Me that He had never been to the lake. So We added the lake loop to our trip. We enjoyed lunch watching the water fall over the face of the dam. After lunch We hit the trail agian heading down Skyway. Where We ran across Jaybird after an hour or so of packing. Jaybird gave us the bad news about the F.S. burn. Being only a few days old the smell was still strong and some stumps and downed trees were still burning. We did hike out of the burn area to find the last couple of campsites unscaved. Just before dark We stop to make camp. Pitching tents and getting water for diner. The company and conversation was very enjoyable. We hit the tents about 8 to 9 for some reading.

 I got up around 6:30 or 7 started breakfast in the vestibule of my new Zephyr 2 tent. My old tent is from just before vestibules got common. I realized that the sound of the water in the creek and the cool night had allowed me to sleep very well the night before. I checked Daisy agian for Her injuries, and she was fine (no swelling or soreness). We got packed up and hit the trail. We wanted to go because of the weather forcast. When We reached the Pinhoti the weather had already started to go down hill. We did keep going, but picked up the pace. About 30 min. after reaching the top of the mountain the wind started picking up as normal (in relation to the lower areas). About a mile from the Chinnebee intersection it started to rain. This was a little concerning to Me as I knew the Chinnebee decent would get very slick. As We moved on the thunder picked up. We kept picking up the pace. Edwin and I got through the rock gardens on the trail with no event, but about 15min from the truck the bottom fell out and hit us on the head. It was raining so hard it filled our boots. We did reach the truck fine but wet.
 
After We got in the truck We talked a minute and headed to My house for showers, and church (sunday service at 5pm).

I must say Edwin had gone in on Friday. He meet Me on the trail and had already covered about 14 miles before We got together.
I hope to hike with Edwin agian.
I hope to see more of Ya'll on the trail. 

[Mountain Dog]

Please give me more info on the burn on Skyway.  About where is it and how long do you hike in it.  Is it along the creek and does it destroy any of the normal camping areas.  Thanks.

[lawnmowwer]

 The burn is in the middle of the trail. I guess the middle 1/4 to 1/3. The camps at each end are in good condition. This was a controled burn to help with underbrush and the very thick ground cover. They didn't burn to the ground just the base leaf cover. We camped on a creek on a creek just a little out of the burn. I can't remember the name of the creek. The sight was existing the trail came down an old road bed and dropped into the right and there was a small stream coming in from the aproach side of the trail ( from the lake). the trail crossed the creek turn back to the right and followed uo the creek. My guess is that a good part of the burn is not that bad now after the rains we have had. You might get a tent sooty if you pitch in the burn but it should recover quickly.

[MoBill122]

 Back in January, I was in the area east of Coleman Lake.... from Intersection of FS-553 & FS-548,  heading north on FS-548, they were doing a controlled burn to the west, all the way to where it intersected with FS-500... close to Coleman Lake. 

 Smoked me out of the woods, and I haven't been back in that area since.   Not sure if they let it burn all the way to the Pinhoti Trail or not.  The FS-548 road is about 5 miles long, in that section, that much I know was burning.

 Wasn't a fun day....to drive from Atlanta... just to see them burning down my favorite area of the woods.