Sunday, June 7, 2009

This morning I had to make a choice. I had already set up a possible pick-up with my wife (she was staying with her parents who lived just a little over an hour away) at Cheaha State Park. Or I could continue on to Porter’s Gap another 29 miles up the trail.

I stepped off, backtracking up to the Bald Rock Trail to enter the Park. I had already decided to “blue blaze” around the official Pinhoti Trail and walk through Cheaha State Park to see Bald Rock and stand on Cheaha Mountain, Alabama’s high point, which the Pinhoti bypasses. I encountered a rattlesnake in the first few steps, still coiled and resting, which barely seemed to notice me.


I headed up the ridge to Bald Rock. After a rocky climb, I was surprised to see a full boardwalk accessing the level ridgetop.


The view from Bald Rock was one the nicest I have seen any where in the south.


At this point, I decided to call my wife and join her at her parents. I wanted to share this view with her and decided that would bea much more pleasant way to spend the day than hiking the ridgeline in the ever-increasing heat and humidity.

As I headed down from Bald Rock, I also stopped at the firetower on top of Cheaha Mountain. It is very similar to the one on top of Flagg Mountain, the official beginning of the Pinhoti trail 80 miles further southwest. Unlike the Flagg Mountain tower, it was unlocked to provide 360 views.


It is officially recognized as Alabama’s high point.


From there I headed downhill to the camp store, where I grabbed a soda and waited for my ride home.