South Cheaha Loop Clockwise Guide from Turnipseed

[bad biscuit]

I've been researching for an upcoming trip. I plan on doing a clockwise loop from Turnipseed. All of the guides I can find start from other locations and go the other direction.

I thought it would be an easy transfer, but my brain cells are starting to hurt! Before I retry - there's no need to re-invent the wheel. Does someone have one they can/will share?

[Matt65]

I've been researching for an upcoming trip. I plan on doing a clockwise loop from Turnipseed. All of the guides I can find start from other locations and go the other direction.

I thought it would be an easy transfer, but my brain cells are starting to hurt! Before I retry - there's no need to re-invent the wheel. Does someone have one they can/will share?


I completed this in December. Here is a link that may help:
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?100318-South-Cheaha-Wilderness-Loop-12-18-13

[bad biscuit]

I have that info and actually was using it for my guide. I wanted accurate information for my starting point and direction of travel - but that one not only starts at a different place (easy fix) but goes in the opposite direction (a little more difficult fix). With the two things combined, it was being a little more difficult than I wanted it to be. It's not that I CAN'T do it but I'm being lazy....

[bad biscuit]

This is one of my questions....

According to the guide:
0.0 ~ ADAMS GAP TRAILHEAD / AL 281 ~ 1444' ~ (Photo)
(http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/images/33.5adamsgap.jpg)


From the parking area, cross over AL 281 and go down the downhill dirt road about
20' and turn left up the hill into the Cheaha Wilderness.


0.1 ~ CHEAHA WILDERNESS BOUNDARY / INFO BOARD ~ 1500' ~ (Photo)
(http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/files/33.6cw1.jpg)1.2 ~ 2.5 ~ 6 SPRING CROSSINGS ~ 1360' +/- ~ SW
3.1 ~ CAMPSITE ~ 1380' ~ LC



There is a fire ring on the left and a spring crossing just up the trail.


3.2 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ 1360' ~ SW
3.5 ~ SIGN BOARD / ROAD BED ~ 1460'



The trail turns right on the road bed and goes 0.2 miles.


3.7 ~ SIGN BOARD ~ 1575'



The trail goes back in the woods on the left. This sign board is off trail 10' on the
left and is easy to miss.


3.7 ~ STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN ~ 1575'



Here is a huge rock garden and there are a lot of tricky little uphill rocky
switchbacks for the next 0.5 miles. Keep a close watch on the blazes!


4.3 ~ PEARLY GATES ~ 2050'



You will have to see it to believe it. Yikes!


4.4 ~ HEAVEN / ROCKY TOP 4 ~ 2135' ~ SC ~ (Photo (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/images/37.9heavenmikeluanne.jpg))
(http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/images/37.9heavenmikeluanne.jpg)


There is a hidden rocky overlook on the left as you scramble your way around the
north side of the peak.
WILDFLOWER ~ Mountain Laurel / Late Spring / White. (http://www.briartech.com/latespring/laurel/plaurel.htm)
(http://www.briartech.com/latespring/laurel/plaurel.htm)


4.8 ~ 5.4 ~ 3 CAMPSITES ~ 2100' +/- ~ LC ~ Good views
5.5 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ 2140' ~ SW
5.7 ~ * ROCKY TOP 5 ~ 2160'
5.8 ~ CAMPSITE ~ 2120' ~ LC ~ Good views
5.9 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ 2120' ~ SW
6.0 ~ LITTLE CANEY HEAD CAMPSITE ~ 2100' ~ LC, SW



Turn left at this big intersection on the Chinnabee Silent Trail and start working
your way down off the ridge.
LC ~ Little Caney Head is a busy place with 6 fire rings.
SW ~ The spring is 50' down the CST, on the left.
WILDFLOWER ~ Mountain Laurel / Late Spring / White (http://www.briartech.com/latespring/laurel/plaurel.htm)
(http://www.briartech.com/latespring/laurel/plaurel.htm)


6.9 ~ SPRING CROSSING ~ SW



The spring is off trail about 50' to the right, through a Mountain Laurel thicket.
You'll be able to hear it a lot better than you can see it.


7.6 ~ CREEK CROSSING ~ LC, RW
7.8 ~ TURNIPSEED HUNTER'S CAMP ~ LC



The trail goes straight across the camp road. You can go right on the road about 50
yards to a new outhouse. The old hand pump across the road has been removed
because of bacteria in the water.



But if you look, the trail from Turnipseed to Adams Gap is only 5.67, not 7.8 miles or am I looking at it incorrectly?

[blisterbob]

The 7.8 miles +- is correct either way.
Everyone that has hiked it both ways including myself say it is easier clockwise.

See my post about storm damage before you head out.

[Dogwood]

I've been researching for an upcoming trip. I plan on doing a clockwise loop from Turnipseed. All of the guides I can find start from other locations and go the other direction.

I thought it would be an easy transfer, but my brain cells are starting to hurt! Before I retry - there's no need to re-invent the wheel. Does someone have one they can/will share?

Got one better for ya. Planned for 2 yrs to thru the CDT NOBO doing about a 3200 mile route. I had it all figured out: resupplies, alternates, trail descriptions(written in NOBO fashion!), logistics, mileages, water crossings, read the books(which were all written from a NOBO perspective), gear needed at different pts, avg MPD for sections, blah blah blah. 3 wks before starting I found out I had to delay everything by 5-6 wks from the original NOBO start date due to work. After thinking CDT NOBO for 2 yrs in about 6 wks I had to re-think and RE-PLAN everything CDT SOBO. That was fun. UGGGH!

[bad biscuit]

I did it! I used the information from PTA, reformatted/reorganized the information to fit my hike.

IF I did it correctly, the attachment should be valid for a clockwise loop starting and ending at Turnipseed.

Disclaimer: This information is not mine. I borrowed it from the source listed above and I did take out some of the information so it would fit on one page. I have not personally (yet) used this so I can not speak of the accuracy of the information.