Tag Archives: Backpacking

Sign up now for Fall 2017 trips

It’s getting close to one of the best times of year in Alabama – Fall. The weather finally cools down enough so that we can comfortably enjoy the outdoors. With that in mind, we are pleased to announce three trips for this Fall. Variety is key here as we have a simple camping trip planned for families, a day hike planned for men and women and our traditional men’s overnight backpacking trip. Make plans to get out and enjoy great fellowship and fun in a gorgeous piece of God’s creation right here in Alabama.

Here are our planned trips. Complete info and sign up available on the Upcoming Trips page.

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Complete info and sign up available on the Upcoming Trips page.

Reboot Wilderness in their own words

Unplugging from the routine, enjoying scenery and finding community. These are just a few of the common words I’ve heard when we’ve asked the men and women to describe their short journey into God’s creation on a Reboot day hike or camping trip right here in the Alabama wilderness. Spending time unplugging from your day-to-day routine and joining with others to explore the outdoors is a great way for a fresh perspective.  But don’t just take it from us, here are a few words from some past Reboot participants:

Trevor Sipsey group photo

“Reboot Wilderness is such a great way to fellowship and experience God. The hiking trips are well planned out, the lessons are thought provoking, and it’s a great way to get to know other brothers in Christ.”

  • Trevor Anderson, backpacking and day hike participant from Connecticut

Frank Borden Creek crossing

“I have participated in several overnight backpacking trips and day hikes with Reboot. The trips allow a person to get away from the everyday stresses of life and ‘reboot’ with a greater focus on God and Jesus Christ.

“Reboot has helped me to see the presence of God in nature. I would urge anyone to join in. It’s fun, refreshing and spiritually motivating – all at the same time.”

  • Frank Caskey, backpacking and day hike participant from Montgomery, Alabama

Misty Smith Mountain group

“(My husband) Joe and I enjoyed the hike on Saturday! It was such a blessing to be with everyone that was there. We enjoy getting to know other fellow believers in Christ along with hiking through the beauty observed at Lake Martin. It is awesome to take time and enjoy the outside beauty created by our Lord.”

  • Misty Trusell, day hike participant from Wetumpka, Alabama

Noah Cheaha

 “My favorite thing about going on a Reboot trip is the feeling of being out of your routine. You’re with a group, but you’re out with no deadlines or schedules or phone calls. Focusing on God’s creation and the majesty of it, then spending a little time each day discussing it is very powerful and fun. It is surprising how refreshing and rejuvenating such a short trip can be.”

  • Noah Dean, backpacking and father-son camping participant from Montgomery, Alabama

Join us on a fall trip and experience the same thing. Renewal awaits!

Noah Cheaha group

Announcing Reboot spring 2017 backpacking trips

I’m not sure about you, but I’m itching to get outside to enjoying some fresh air, nice scenery, a campfire and great times exploring God’s creation right here in Alabama. With that in mind, we’ve got a couple of men’s overnight backpacking trips planned for the Spring. Come join us in exploring two pieces of God’s wonderful creation right here in our own Alabama backyard. As always, we love and welcome first-time backpackers. We can loan you most all of the gear you’ll need. Come join us for a great time of exercise, fresh air and fellowship. Sign up is required but free. All we ask is a small $25 fee to help cover expenses for each trip.

Click here for complete details about each backpacking trip. 

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Announcing Fall 2016 backpacking trips

Fall will be here very soon, and we are pleased to offer a couple of men’s backpacking trips for the cooler weather.

I hope you’ll join us in exploring a piece of God’s wonderful creation right here in our own Alabama backyard. As always, we love and welcome first-time backpackers. We can loan you most all of the gear you’ll need. Come join us for a great time of exercise, fresh air and fellowship. Sign up is required but free. All we ask is a small $25 fee to help cover expenses for each trip.

Click here for complete information on both trips. 

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Why go on a Reboot Wilderness Adventure?

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In a world of full of complexity and busyness, we all crave a little simplicity. What if we had the chance for a day to unplug from the technology, stress and distractions of our daily lives and connect with God and with others while exploring a wild and rugged piece of His Creation?

Reboot hiking and backpacking adventures are low-cost, fun and welcoming to first-timers. They allow us to catch our breath and refocus. We’ve got the basic gear you need including tents, backpacks, sleeping bags and sleeping pads for overnight trips. We only ask a small fee to cover costs.

Reboot is a chance to:

– Live simply and uncluttered for a couple of days. When you camp on the trail, you must carry all your possessions on your back.

– Meet new friends and have fun and fellowship with other men.

– Get great exercise and build your endurance. We usually hike 7-10 miles over two days.

– Earn the privilege of experiencing Alabama’s most breathtaking sights.

– Eat Conecuh Sausage and not feel guilty. You’ll burn the calories on the trail.

– Take a break from Twitter, Facebook and your constantly buzzing phone.

– Experience a real-life adventure while other men are sitting on the couch watching “Man vs. Wild” or playing video games.

– Most importantly, connect with our Creator by exploring His wild, rugged creation. We do this via stopping and sharing along the trail, an evening campfire discussion and a short time of solitude. All discussions are low-pressure. You can participate as much or as little as you’d like.

The group for the Fall 2014 Sipsey trip.

The group for the Fall 2014 Sipsey trip.

Planned Spring 2015 trips

Saturday, March 7: Day hike to Deadening Alpine Trail along the shores of Lake Martin. This 2.5 mile hike is open to men and women and designed as an introduction to the Reboot experience. The trail covers moderate terrain with lots of short up and down sections. We’ll leave Montgomery in the morning and return by mid-afternoon. Click here to reserve your spot. 

Friday, March 20- Saturday, March 21: Men’s overnight backpacking to Sipsey Wilderness. We’ll hike Trail 209 along the Sipsey River with the goal of exploring the famous and sometimes elusive Bee Branch Canyon and Big Tree. We’ll leave Montgomery Friday morning and return early Saturday evening. Click here to reserve your spot. 

Friday, May 1- Saturday, May 2: Men’s overnight backpacking to Sipsey Wilderness.  The destination will be the same as the March hike but we’ll take a completely different route. We’ll start at the Thompson Trailhead and hike Trail 206 along Thompson Creek until it meets up with the west side of Trail 209 along the Sipsey. We’ll take the side trail to explore Bee Branch Canyon and the famous Big Tree. We’ll leave Montgomery Friday morning and return early Saturday evening.  Click here to reserve your spot. 

Lost on the trail? Seek the map

The group for the Fall 2014 Sipsey trip.

The group for the Fall 2014 Sipsey trip.

It happened suddenly, silently and without warning. We missed a sign and veered onto the wrong trail.

We were early into our overnight backpacking and Bible study trip in northwest Alabama’s Sipsey Wilderness with some guys from my former Bible study group. This trip in late September was only my second time in the Sipsey and the first time at Thompson Trailhead. Our plan was to follow Trail 206 along Thompson Creek and continue east on Trail 209 along the Sipsey Fork and explore the Bee Branch area before turning around and heading home the next day. These are all official and well-worn paths.

That was the plan. But about 15 minutes into the hike we reach a campsite and an apparent crossing of the then bone-dry Thompson Creek. There are no blazes to mark the official Sipsey trails, only signs at pivotal intersections on official trails. To further complicate things there are many “unofficial” trails made by hikers over the years. These trails are unmaintained and not recognized by the U.S. Forest Service, but they are easy to confuse with official trails if you are not careful.

On this hike, we missed a turn across Thompson Creek very early and took us on a 4 or 5 mile detour on a faint “unofficial” path up an area called White Oak Hollow. We were never in any danger and it ended up being a fun side adventure, but it served as an important spiritual reminder to me.

We followed a creek bed for about 30-45 minutes through some beautiful canyons, but the narrowness of the path and amount of overgrowth gave me the sneaking suspicion that this was not the well-traversed Trail 206.  Still, we walked on, hopeful to find a sign we were on the right path.  As we ascended a ridge, I was encouraged to see bright orange tape marking the trail as it briefly joined a faint road and jogged right back into the woods.  Someone had been here before! Continue reading

Sign up now available for men’s overnight backpacking in Cheaha Wilderness Nov. 7–8

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This is a two-day, one-night adventure to the Cheaha Wilderness Friday, Nov. 7 – Saturday, Nov. 8 that combines hiking and camping along the trail with Bible study. We’ll unplug from technology, seek some adventure, hang out by the campfire and spend some time with God in His wilderness.

No previous backpacking experience is required. This is a perfect starter trip. Even better, we’ll loan you all the basic gear you’ll need, including backpacks, backpacking tents, compact sleeping bags and sleeping pads.

We’ll hike the 10-mile Odum Scout Trail route traveling along the Pinhoti from the Cheaha Trailhead  and stopping on Friday evening to camp at scenic McDill Point. On Saturday, we’ll continue along the Pinhoti to the Caney Head trail intersection and pick up the Odum Scout Trail to the High Falls Trailhead. The hike is a total of about 10 miles of hiking split over two days.The trail is easy enough that anyone in halfway decent shape should have no problem.

Reboot participants build a campfire near McDill Point in the Cheaha Wilderness.

Camping near McDill Point in the Cheaha Wilderness.

We will leave Montgomery around 11:30 a.m. on Friday morning and return late Saturday afternoon.

There is no cost for the hike; however we ask that you contribute $15 to a pool for gas money and group dinner expenses. We’ll have a pre-trip meeting the Sunday before the hike to go over all the details and get your loaner gear to you.

Space is limited to eight men.

Click here to fill out a quick sign-up form and reserve your spot.

Have questions? Contact Reboot leaders Mike Presley, Chris Bowden and Adam Causey at rebootwildernessadventures@gmail.com.

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More details coming soon…

November 2014 Cheaha announcement photo

A journey into the heart of the Sipsey Wilderness

East Bee Branch Canyon

East Bee Branch Canyon

Magical. If one word could describe the feeling of entering the lush forest, steep canyons and clear streams of the Sipsey Wilderness for the first time, that’s it. There is just a special feeling about the place.

In early May, Reboot had the privilege of leading a group of guys on a 14-mile overnight backpacking/Bible study trip through the heart of the Sipsey Wilderness. The area, located in Bankhead National Forest in Lawrence and Winston counties, is named for the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River. The Sipsey is Alabama’s only designated Wild and Scenic River and the wilderness area more than lived up to its reputation of a wonderland of waterfalls, clear blue waters, old-growth forest and towering limestone cliffs.

After a three hour drive from Montgomery, we arrived at our starting point: the Sipsey Picnic Area trailhead along Cranal Road. Our hike was a there-and-back trip to the East Bee Branch Canyon and the “Big Tree,” one of the wilderness’s most famous highlights.

Our group in front of the Big Tree.

Our group in front of the Big Tree.

Our path set out from the Sipsey Picnic Area trailhead along Trail 200/209 and crossed the clear and cold waters of Borden Creek to reach Trail 209 which follows the Sipsey Fork and would be our main trail for the hike. The slow flow of the Sipsey bluish waters was our constant companion once we crossed Borden Creek. Fall Creek Falls was an early highlight along with the sight of dozens of butterflies attracted to something left behind in a fire pit near the falls. The hiking was smooth with very little elevation change. The biggest challenge was navigating several tree blowdowns and hopping over the numerous streams that feed into the Sipsey.

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Going outside is good for your physical, mental and spiritual health

It is pretty obvious that spending some time in the outdoors is good for your body. But while preparing for our spring Reboot trips recently, I realized that the benefits of exploring nature extend far beyond your physical health.

Time in the outdoors improves your physical health
Backpacking on the Pinhoti Trail.

Backpacking on the Pinhoti Trail.

You get fresh air and great exercise while doing something fun like hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking or rock climbing.  For example, hiking is a great cardio workout. Add in a slightly rocky trail and a little elevation change, and you’ll really be burning the calories. Even more so if you are backpacking with 25 or so pounds of gear on your pack. It also gives your leg muscles a great workout. Plus, it just feels good to smell the fresh forest air, feel the sun on your skin and hear the leaves rustling through the trees. An extra bonus: exercising outdoors is much more scenic than a trip to the gym.

Time in the outdoors improves your mental health
Spring in Yosemite National Park, California

Spring in Yosemite National Park, California

We are addicted to screens. Hardly 10 minutes goes by without me checking my phone for e-mails, text messages, Facebook notifications. We expect and are expected to be reachable 24/7. Add on top of that the normal stresses of everyday life, and if we are not careful we find ourselves in a tidal wave of trying to keep up. It can get exhausting and drain your mental energy by the end of the day.

Sometimes we need a break. Spending time in the wilderness offers a chance to temporarily unplug from the tide of social media and technology. There are no computers in wilderness areas. Cell phone service is often spotty at best so forget about checking Twitter or Facebook from your smartphone.  Instead we can go at a more measured pace, relieving stress and anxiety.

This study published in 2013 suggests that spending more time in nature and away from our computer screens, smart phones and tablets can actually improve attention span, problem-solving ability and multitasking ability.

Continue reading