Silent Trail Report

[mich4076]

I decided to get up early Saturday morning and give the Silent Trail a whirl. It was cool, rainy, and windy but it was still a wonderful trip! I thought I might be able to hike the entire thing but as Stevebo was saying in a earlier post, I over-estimated what I could do. I was probably less than 1/2 a mile from The Devil's Den but I decided to go ahead and turn around. Right as I did however, I kept hearing a hooting noise and then I went back a few steps and finally saw two boys coming my way. I decided to wait on them since they were the first people I have seen all day. The were both really nice and just so happens they live less than two miles from me which is about 2 hours from Cheaha park, in Dora/Sumiton, AL. What a small world! There company was great and we had a great time hiking back. We had stopped at the Cheaha Shelter for lunch and a good rest. I found a baggie hanging on the wall that contained trail journals from 2007, and only one from Feb 2008. One entry stuck out in my mind... It was about how a black bear had chased them on the trail. I'm not sure about how truthful it is but I was about too tired to read clearly. There was also a packet of salt, Non-Dairy Coffee Creamer, and someone left a small bottle of Tobasco on the floor. I saw a few spiders and yellow jackets, none of which bothered me. The only thing that did bother me were the mosquitos that tried to carry me off when I stopped at the scenic overlook to take pictures. I met some really nice people on the way back though and stopped for just a second to chat. The trail is very well maintained but is starting to get overgrown in a few small spots and the area 1/4 of a mile before the shelters, right in front of the creek/falls is a little confusing but after I looked around a second I quickly found the trail again. It really started to rain on the way back and the doggies were starting to bark at me. Thank goodness for the trekking poles!! They gave my arms a great workout and kept my clumsy self from falling on the wet rocks. I am sore today but I had a wonderful time and can't wait until it cools off slightly more and I can go back and hopefully complete the trail. Thank you to all those who work hard on the trail to keep it as beautiful as it is! Maybe by the time I can go out again I will be a lot more in shape and can go the entire length to Chinnabee lake.

[auwesman]

The story about the black bear isn't true.  That was actually a buddy and I.  We kind of have a running joke putting that in trail journals.  Generally it's two entries and goes like this.

Made it!  Ran for my life as a black bear chased me here!  -  John 2008

Found rookie hiker.  Chased through forest in bear suit - Pete 2008

That shelter is one of my favorite shelters I've ever stayed in!  Much better than most of those found in SMNP (cleaner)

[Cuffs]

I decided to get up early Saturday morning and give the Silent Trail a whirl.   Is this the CHINNABEE Silent Trail?
in Dora/Sumiton, AL. What a small world! Youre not too far from me... Fultondale
We had stopped at the Cheaha Shelter for lunch and a good rest. Cheaha Falls Shelter  The formerly named Cheaha Shelter was in the middle of Cheaha Wilderness.  When it was airlifted out and relocated it was renamed Cheaha Falls Shelter.  Anyone have photos of that event?
I found a baggie hanging on the wall that contained trail journals from 2007, and only one from Feb 2008. Shelter Register?  If someone left their journal their, it probably needs to be returned to them (if their info is in it.)

Were you out overnight or just for the day?  I love hiking in the rain! Well, not in lightning, but in rain!  Sounds like you had a very nice trip!  Any trails on your agenda for the fall?

[auwesman]

I found a baggie hanging on the wall that contained trail journals from 2007, and only one from Feb 2008. Shelter Register?  If someone left their journal their, it probably needs to be returned to them (if their info is in it.)

It's just a baggie with paper in it for you to journal when you visit.  I can't believe there have been no other entries since my last trip in Feb!  Surely othres have stayed since then.

[mich4076]

I found a baggie hanging on the wall that contained trail journals from 2007, and only one from Feb 2008. Shelter Register?  If someone left their journal their, it probably needs to be returned to them (if their info is in it.)

It's just a baggie with paper in it for you to journal when you visit.  I can't believe there have been no other entries since my last trip in Feb!  Surely othres have stayed since then.

Some of the pages have seen better days but I just flipped through it quickly... I think it's pretty much full and that's why there wasn't any others there...

I decided to get up early Saturday morning and give the Silent Trail a whirl.   Is this the CHINNABEE Silent Trail?
in Dora/Sumiton, AL. What a small world! Youre not too far from me... Fultondale
We had stopped at the Cheaha Shelter for lunch and a good rest. Cheaha Falls Shelter  The formerly named Cheaha Shelter was in the middle of Cheaha Wilderness.  When it was airlifted out and relocated it was renamed Cheaha Falls Shelter.  Anyone have photos of that event?
I found a baggie hanging on the wall that contained trail journals from 2007, and only one from Feb 2008. Shelter Register?  If someone left their journal their, it probably needs to be returned to them (if their info is in it.)

Were you out overnight or just for the day?  I love hiking in the rain! Well, not in lightning, but in rain!  Sounds like you had a very nice trip!  Any trails on your agenda for the fall?

It was the Cheaha Falls Shelter... I think it was just registration... somepeople had written about their travels in it... I was just there for the morning. I was back to the car and on my way home by 12:30. I'm actually glad it was rainy and windy b/c it helped me keep cooler...

I have noticed Alabama tends to be a rather small state... lol... I have found many people, even old friends in the strangest places.
This fall I am planning on doing random trails... just dayhikes on some and over nighter on others. I hope to get to spend some time on the Pinhoti but some of the side trails look pretty inviting too... I'm a sucker for pretty landscapes... I love taking pics of them. Soon I will have some photos from Saturday and some of my other photos uploaded to one site so everyone can look at them.

The story about the black bear isn't true.  That was actually a buddy and I.  We kind of have a running joke putting that in trail journals.  Generally it's two entries and goes like this.

Made it!  Ran for my life as a black bear chased me here!  -  John 2008

Found rookie hiker.  Chased through forest in bear suit - Pete 2008

That shelter is one of my favorite shelters I've ever stayed in!  Much better than most of those found in SMNP (cleaner)

lol... that sounds about right.. It was a very nice shelter! I didnt seen any mouse droppings anywhere like I have read about at other shelters. I can't wait to talk my husband into doing an overnighter with me there at that shelter.

[mich4076]

Pics can now be seen by going to the website connected to my profile or going here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74409264@N00/

p.s. I am still uploading so it may be a few before everything is there

[cwhiker]

Sounds like you had a good time despite the rain. nice photos thanks for sharing.

[Cuffs]

I just saw the photos, love the butterflys!  Thanks for sharing!

[mich4076]

I just saw the photos, love the butterflys!  Thanks for sharing!

Sounds like you had a good time despite the rain. nice photos thanks for sharing.

Glad you liked them!

[Joshua Szulecki]

The blue butterflies! Those suckers were EVERYWHERE in Talladega the Fall of 2005 after Katrina, and there was a massive fallout of the orange ones in Birmingham.

[Graceless]

Oh phewy! I knew I forgot something when we went out there camping! I had a notebook to leave! There wasn't any paper time before last ! Anyone going might take some paper,although someone might have left some by now that was last month!