The Chinnabee Silent Trail Take Two

Chinnabee Silent Trail

Travels with Charlie (Curbie)

If you grew up in the 50's and 60's you know that Captain Kangaroo had a cartoon on in the mornings called "Tom Terrific and Manfred the Wonder Dog". John Steinbeck wrote a novel that I loved called "Travels with Charlie" about his trek across the country in a truck camper with his mutt dog Charlie in the 60's. Curbie has turned into my Charlie and Manfred the Wonder Dog both.

Curbie is a lab mix that Karen picked up as a stray dog in Tarrant. She was one flea bitten mess but she had the sweetest personality. All she ever really wants to do is play unless it thunders. Then all she wants to do is get under the stairs and not come out for a day. When I got back to hiking I knew that I was going to want some company and the beagles cannot go to the woods without a leash. The thought of walking mountain ridge lines holding a leash and wearing a pack did not interest me. So Curbie was my only option. No, Karen was not an option. She is always welcome to come but she does not do hiking.

Curbie and I have done very well hiking together. She stays in front of me for the most part unless she gets real tired then she follows close behind me. I have been able to get her to drink at just about every creek whether she needs to or not. Just in case I bring a plastic bowl and an extra liter of water for her. She will drink out of the bowl but she prefers wading in the creek to cool off and hydrate.

Today Curbie and I hiked the Chinnabee Silent Trail outside of Cheaha State Park. The trailhead was at Turnipseed Parking Area just above Turnipseed Hunting Campground. The trail goes along some nice pine ridge lines, across a waterfall, past a shelter with a great overlook, past Cheaha Falls and into the Chinnabee Recreation Campground. The total distance is about 4 miles one way. This will be a great hike during the fall after the leaves are off the trees. There are a couple of vistas that will be very nice without the leaves. Cheaha Creek runs next to the trail the last third of the trail and the waterfalls while not large are very picturesque.

Curbie and I had brunch at the campground on a picnic table overlooking Lake Chinnabee, a very pretty small lake at the terminus. We brewed some tea, ate some fig newtons and Curbie had a small can of dog food. It does not get any better than that.

After we had our brunch and hydrated we headed back to the Turnipseed Parking Lot the same way we came. The only problem was that it was considerably hotter on the way back. I had to make sure that Curbie drank more than usual as we went over and past the creek. We were both very happy to see the truck.

I went to the Park store and purchased two nice maps of the area. I am interested in doing an overnight trip on the Pinolti Loop Trail. Which is the Chinnabee Silent Trail, Skyway Trail and a section of the Pinholt Trail. The total length of the hike will be 17 miles which is easily done in two days. I want to wait until the fall to do this because I do not like to sleep with the mosquitoes.

I will be posting some pictures of my trip after this post.

Seeing Alabama Again for the First Time

Curbie and I are going to make a road trip this Saturday to Cheaha State Park to do some scouting for a future hike. I have not spent any time in this area and that is a shame. I have been doing some light research as to the types of hiking that may be available in the area and things do look promising.

The Pinhoti Trail is an old Alabama trail covering more that 100 miles in Alabama. The trail runs from around Piedmont southwesterly to near Talledega. Over the last few years the Alabama Trail Hiking Association in conjunction with Georgia are attempting to tie this trail into the Appalachian Trail which continues from North Georgia to a terminus in Maine. The Pinhoti Trail is part of Cheaha State Park for a short distance and connects with other trails inside the park. There is a 17 mile loop called the Pinhoti Trail Loop which looks to be a great overnight weekend hike.

So Curbie and I will go up and check out the park and find some of the trailheads inside the park and do some short day hiking just to get the lay of the land for future hikes. Eventually we will do the same thing around the Sipsey Wilderess. But for now Cheaha State Park looks like our destination for this weekend.

"Give my knees to the needy"

One of my favorite John Prine songs is "I woke up this morning and went into the kitchen and died". The title to this blog segment is a phrase from that song. At this point I do not think that the needy would accept my knees because they sure song like they need oiling. The right one is sore and makes funny noises. I think it is simply a case of getting older. I will only put the pack on a couple of days a week (Tuesday and Thursday) so that I do not overdo it.

Spin class was not very tough today. Either that or my fitness level continues to improve. I never really got to breathing hard until the very end when I was actually in a stationary sprint because I had a lot left to give. One of the girls in the class was not coming back after today so that she could get ready to have her first child. I think the baby is due in about 6 weeks.

I am starting to think about where I want to go hiking next weekend. A lot will depend on the weather. I do not want to do 11 miles in that kind of humidity again and I am certain that Curbie agrees.

"The Walking Man"

I am still trying to recover from a 11 mile hike at Oak Mountain State Park this morning. Curbie and I got on the trail about 6 am this morning before the heat set in. We started on the yellow trail which was full of ups and downs as it crossed the foothills. It was nothing very difficult but there was just a lot of it. I was looking for the yellow/white connector sign but I never saw it. We wound up at park headquarters road around 9:30. We went down the road until we hit the red trail and went back to the North Trail head from there.
By the time we got out the heat index was over 100 degrees and we were both soaking wet. I drank all my 2 liters of water and Curbie hit every creek we crossed. She and I shared a fig newton which she seemed to like as much as I did.
My age is showing because I left my cell phone on the kitchen counter. I specifically put it on the charger so I would be prepared. I am now going to have to put together a packing list even for a day hike.
It was so hot today that I saw almost no wildlife. Curbie chased a squirrel and a chipmunk but that about all we saw. I thought sure I would see a deer or some turkey but nothing was moving.
From a physical fitness standpoint I held up very well. I was tired at the end and my right knee was sore but other than that I was fine. I will have to find my hiking boots before I go to Texas because the hiking shoes I am wearing in Alabama will not be sturdy enough for the rocky trails of Big Bend National Park. I am putting a MSR Miniworks water filter on my wish list.

"Down That Dusty Trail"

Robert Earl Keen is one of my favorite singers. Even though I am not one of the biggest country music fans (other than Willie, Patsy, George and Waylon) I am kind of partial to the Texas boys. The title to his song "Down That Dusty Trail" is appropriate for the trip to Big Bend and for that matter around here if it does not rain soon.
The heat and humidity in Birmingham is horrible. Karen and I were out yesterday afternoon and it was stifling. I was going to the Sipsey Wilderness for a day hike tomorrow but I think it is too hot to drive all that distance and not be able to enjoy myself. Instead, Curbie and I will go to Oak Mountain State Park and do the Yellow trail instead. We can get an early start and be out before it gets too hot.

My Sharona

When I was on the treadmill this morning I had on my Ipod just listening to music and putting one foot in front of the other. My mind began to wander and I thought about what would be the worst songs to listen to while out walking in the wilderness. When I got home I googled the topic and guess what. National Geographic compiled a list of the ten worst songs to have in your head while you are hiking into the solitude of the wilderness. Below is that list:
10. “We Built This City,” by Starship
9. “Achy Breaky Heart,” by Billy Ray Cyrus
8. “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega
7. “Whoomp! There It Is,” by Tag Team
6. “Who Let the Dogs Out,” by Baha Men
5. “Copacabana,” by Barry Manilow
4. “Ants Go Marching,” by artist unknown
3. “Tie a Yellow Ribbon,” by Tony Orlando
2. “My Sharona,” by The Knack
1. “My Humps,” by Black Eyed Peas

Not a bad list although I know Karen likes Barry Manilow a lot. I would love to hear some that would be on your list.

"The Road Less Traveled"

This is a Garth Brooks song the title of which indicates the preliminary route I plan to take the guys in Big Bend National Park. In an effort to be prudent yet let the guys sense the true pleasure of hiking BIBE, I have created a hike that gives them some rest and acclimation time prior to hitting the tougher parts of the trip. We will start out in the Basin which is in the middle of the Chisos and hike up to the South Rim using the Pinnacle Trail the first day. We will get a late start but we should be able to get to the campsite before dark.
The second day will mostly be day hikes exploring the South Rim and a trip to the top of Emory Peak, the highest point in the Chisos at about 7800 feet. This will be a true photographic opportunity because you can see south into Mexico and the Dotson Trail below. From their we will hike over to Boot Springs and spend the night.
Early the next morning we will hike down Juniper Canyon (my knees will not be happy) to the Dotson Trail head. After a short lunch break we will go across the Dotson to either Fresno Creek or the Dotson Ranch House. Hopefully, Fresno Creek will have water so we can get resupplied if not then we will have a water cache that we will get to the next day.
We will get up the next morning and head over to the ranch house just before Blue Creek Canyon Trail. We will pick up our water cache and move up the trail a short distance and spend the night. The next day we will head up Blue Creek Canyon Trail to the Chisos (long hard slog uphill) and spend the night at Laguna Meadow. The next day will be a short downhill hike to the truck in the Basin.
I think this should be a great hike for these guys and one they will remember for a long time. I know that I will always remember my first trip more than any other.

"Carry That Weight"

The Beatles tune that seems to fit the item of the day. A friend of Wes who is going on the trip called me this morning to find out what kind of pack he needs to "carry that weight" in Big Bend. Most outdoors individuals that I know are gear nuts in addition to loving the activity. I do not know what drives this but I just know I love to look at, talk about, compare and eventually buy gear. I once had to have the best money can buy but now I want to get value for my money. In addition, since I am older now, I want to find the lightest gear I can find. I cannot control the weight of the water that I carry (desert hiking) but I can control the weight of everything else I put into the pack.

The latest on the backpacking chat rooms is light-weight and ultra light-weight packing. This ranges from homemade alcohol stoves rather than backpacking white gas stoves, to tarps instead of tents or just no shelter at all. I think like most things this can kind of get out of hand. However, by reading and studying what is being taught you can alter this to fit your own needs.

Backpacking is hard enough without trying to make the experience something that cave men used to do. I try to make sure of a few things when I go: I do not like to be cold, wet, hungry or thirsty. I will pack as much gear as I can to make sure that I am not any of the aforementioned. At least not for any extended time.

Today was a regular Monday exercise program. I did spin class for 45 minutes, then core exercises for 30 minutes then on the treadmill with my pack on for 30 minutes. I was a little sore from the down hill I did on Saturday but all in all everything went well.

Curbie and Me

Not Marley and me but Curbie and me. Curbie is our 2 year old (or thereabouts) combination lab and your guess is good as mine. This morning Curbie went with me to hike the blue/white loop at Oak Mountain State Park. It was a little warm and humid but we made the loop in about 3.5 hours covering about 6.2 miles topping out at about 1268 feet in elevation. Curbie was a great hiking partner by always staying within 30 yards of me and never complaining. I believe she can follow a trail better than I can. The only negative was she found some fresh scat and had to rub her neck in it. I do not know why and she smelled the high heaven.

This hike was so much better than Moss Rock Preserve. The scenery was much better and much more elevation change. My fitness program is really working because I never really got tired. The downhill was hard on my knees and hips but it always is like that. I found a couple of nice camping spots for the early fall which I think Curbie will get a chance to use.

Just when you get a little cocky and think how well you are doing along comes this guy who is running the trail rather than walking it. I was impressed but not enough to try and emulate that guy. I think I will just stick with the program.

I am a Rock

Simon and Garfunkel's old song is a long range goal of mine. One is to get in as good as physical shape as possible and then to be mentally strong enough to be an island. The rock portion is the easy part but the island part is quite difficult. Everything is about creating the discipline, the confidence and the single mindedness to approach life as an individual and not worry about what others might think. This is a long term goal and I will not get there quickly. As I have learned other the last decade "One day at a time".

Changes in Attitudes, Changes in Latitudes

"Changes in Attitude, Changes in Latitude" I have more Jimmy Buffett songs on my Ipod than any other artist. There is something about him and exercise that goes together for me. The songs are not too slow or not too fast. Just right. But this song seems to fit my program very well right now. I am changing old habits and creating new ones. Eventually I will change latitudes temporarily. I think we all tend to fall into habits or ruts. Even when I started this work out routine I wind up falling into habits at the gym. I think that is why I tend to challenge myself more each week. Habits and attitudes need to be monitored all the time. It is too easy to become complacent. It is too easy just to say "What the hey!" We all do it from time to time. I am trying to get up every morning and think today is a new day and lets make the most of it. I am not always successful but I am going to keep trying. For now I am working for that change in latitude taking place January 1.

The Road Goes On Forever

Robert Earl Keen sings a song called "The Road Goes On Forever" which is what it feels like getting ready for Big Bend. Two hours a day (sometimes longer) and a hike on the weekend and we still have over 5 months before leaving on New Years Day. I am spending a lot of time working my core to get ready for the long days of up and down ridge lines. The backpack is not so much heavy as it is cumbersome. It is very easy to lose your balance because of the shifting weight load. By working your core muscles you not only create strength but balance as well. This makes the trip a lot safer and more fun.
Even though it feels like the road goes on forever each day is closer to the end and the fitness level goes up just a little. With a little discipline and hopefully no injuries I should be in great physical shape by January 1.

Selected photos of Big Bend over the years.

The Chisos Mountains from Mariscal Mine

The start of the trip to Big Bend

On September 15, 20009 I quit smoking after 45 years of more than a pack a day habit. I had tried to quit many times before but was never successful. This time I but them down and have not picked you up since. The problem came in the form of extensive weight gain on top of already being overweight. Beginning in late October, I made another life changing decision: Lose all the weight. I started working out at the gym at Dawson Baptist Church in Homewood, Alabama. One thing led to another and now I am working out 5 days a week for an average of over 2 hours a day. Monday, Wednesday and Friday I get to the gym at 6 am for an hour spin class. I then do my core exercises for another 30 to 45 minutes. Then I put on my backpack and get on the treadmill for another 45 minutes. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I work out with Stephen Blackwell, my personal trainer, for an hour then I get back on the treadmill with my backpack for another 45 minutes.

Why do I torture myself like this? Well, I am 62 years old, soon to be 63 in October, and I decided to get in shape, get active and enjoy life. Backpacking has always been a hobby of mine and I decided to get serious with it. I am taking my son, nephew and possible one of their friends to Big Bend National Park in January for a week long backpacking trip.

I have been making this trip for many years since my old friend Dr. Ed McGuire from my old home town of Monroe, Louisiana introduced me to the park in the mid 1980's. As we have gotten older we have quit backpacking but would truck camp in the back country of the park and photograph.

But now I want to get back to backpacking, which meant that I had to get into top notch shape since I was taking some young men who are not that experienced at making a trip like this. Big Bend National Park is a wild and inhospitable place at times. It is the least visited park in the Park System but one of the most beautiful.

As I write in this blog I will relate more about the park and what keeps me coming back almost every year. This blog is not meant to be as much about me telling anyone about my experiences but more about me putting my thoughts in writing and staying motivated to the end goal. Maybe one day my grandson, Jack Wesley, will read this and understand his Papaw a little better.