East Cheaha Loop - Sat, Feb 25 2017

East Cheaha Loop

The Basics:

Event Type:

Backpacking

Event Location:

Cheaha State Park, Talladega National Forest, Alabama

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Feb 25 2017 10:30 am >> Sun, Feb 26 2017 2:00 pm (Carpool Departure: 8:30 am *log in for location*)

Registration Opens:

Mon, Jan 9 2017 8:00 pm

Registration Cut Off:

Sat, Feb 25 2017 4:00 am

Event Duration:

1 Days 3 Hours 30 Minutes

Difficulty Rating:

D4: Moderate to Difficult

Distance:

14 Miles

Pace:

Moderate

Trip Leader(s):

Richard A. Zalik

Email Trip Leader(s)
You must be logged in to get the Trip Leader contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

9 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Yes

Itinerary:

From the parking lot, we will walk 5 miles south on Cave Creek and Nubbin Creek to our campsite. The next day we will walk a mile to where the Nubbin Creek Trail dead ends on the Odum Scout Trail, take a right and walk about one mile to Caney Head, where the Odum meets the Chinnabee Silent Trail and the Pinhoti Trail. After a brief stop we will walk about 7 miles back to the parking lot. About 2.5 miles from the parking lot we will do a short detour to a scenic spot where we will stop to rest and have a snack. We will also see the remains of a plane that crashed in the area many years ago.
Optional: After the hike we may have lunch at the restaurant in Cheaha. The view from the restaurant is really spectacular. After lunch we may drive to the summit of Mount Cheaha, which at 2407 ft. is the highest point in Alabama.

NOTES: We will meet at the trailhead at 10:30 am Eastern Time (Alabama is on Central Time).

Cave Creek Trail does not have any steep elevation changes, except towards the end, where it descends steeply. It starts at the parking lot and ends after 4 miles at Nubbin Creek Trail. In the remaining two miles to the Odum trail we will ascend about 400 ft. That is the hardest part of the trip.

This section of the Pinhoti is very rugged, with many rocks and boulders along the way and several steep (but short) ascents and descents. It is very scenic.

Required Items to Bring:

Some water. Good walking shoes, sleeping bag and mat, cooking utensils, food for lunch and dinner, and trail snacks.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Tent. A walking stick would be useful. There is water at the campsite and I will bring filtering equipment.

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Cheaha trail head parking lot, Cheaha State Park. Drive east on I 20 to Alabama exit 191. Turn left (south) on US 431 for about 3.7 miles. Take a right onto County Road 131, which loops back towards AL 281, where it dead ends after about ½ mile. Turn left on AL 281 and continue 11.9 miles. You will see the parking lot straight ahead, at a point where the highway does a sharp turn to the right, 1/3 mile from the Cheaha resort and park offices.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

190Mile(s)

Carpool Departure Time:

8:30 am

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Estimated cost per vehicle for this event is $76.00 using a reimbursement rate guideline of $0.400 per mile. The total amount should be divided by the number of people in the vehicle, including the driver. This is a guideline, not a rule, for drivers but the cost should not be higher unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Notes:

* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Cost Includes:

Share gas costs with carpool driver. If you stay for lunch it will cost you around $12. To drive to the summit of Mt. Cheaha costs a couple of dollars per person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review the AOC cancellation policy.