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Wednesday–February 24, 2021
Trail Day–009
Trail Mile–11.3/84.6
Location–Cheaha
Up and back to the Pinhoti Outdoor Center at 6:30. Nathan will be shuttling me the hour+ drive to Cheaha State Park, where we’ll meet Stephanie. She’ll be hiking with me today from Adams Gap to Cheaha.
Photo time at the gap sign and we’re out and hiking at 8:00. Thanks (again) for your help Nathan!
An absolutely fine hiking day is shaping up as Stephanie and I get our legs and backs loosened up–on the up climb from Adams Gap. The trail then settles in to a pleasant and easy side-slab along Talladega Mountain until we reach a boulder-strewn area. Here the trail turns to climb up through the helter skelter of rocks and boulders at a place called “Stairway to Heaven”. Much care and total concentration are needed as we climb the “stairs.” Looking around, this whole mountain seems nothing but boulders and rocks as the trail turns to continue through the Cheaha Wilderness–as it follows below the many high bluffs of Talladega Mountain.
Other points of interest today are McDill Overlook, which offers spectacular views to the south and west, and the wreckage of a small plane that crashed nearby.
After climbing Hernandez Peak, highest point on the Pinhoti in Alabama, the trail leads us on to Cheaha (and ice cream at the Cheaha Reception Center).
Thanks for coming along today Stephanie; I’ve had a great time hiking with you!
Happiness is a choice.
[Roy T. Bennett]
