Tag Archives: Cheaha State Park

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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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.

As we plan for spring, a look back at an outstanding fall

Fall was a great season for Reboot and an outstanding cap to our first year as a ministry. We had the privilege of leading two overnight backpacking/Bible study trips to Cheaha and a day hike trip to the Deadening Trail at Lake Martin. With crisp autumn air and beautiful foliage, fall is the perfect season to explore and enjoy God’s creation, and our trips didn’t disappoint.

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Taking a rest during our September Cheaha backpacking trip.

Taking a rest during our September Cheaha backpacking trip.

Gorgeous sunny weather greeted our first overnighter Sept. 28-29. The Pinhoti Trail was a little busier than normal which really wasn’t too much of a surprise because of the wonderful weather. Our usual campsite along McDill Point was taken but we found a wonderful large campsite on top of a short hill opposite from the turnoff to McDill Point.  After setting up camp and enjoying a dinner of Conecuh sausage and rice, we had a great discussion focused on Luke 12:22-24 and how God is our provider and as long as we are seeking after Him, he will provide everything we need. We capped off the night listening to the end of the Alabama/Ole Miss football game on a small backpacking radio (This is Alabama were college football is king, after all). The next day we hiked the Pinhoti to the intersection with the Chinnabee Silent Trail and took Chinabee down the mountain and ended the hike at Cheaha Falls.

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An Unexpected Adventure: Reboot’s May 2013 Cheaha Wilderness trip (part 2)

This is the second of a two-part series about encountering many surprises during our May 2013 backpacking trip, including 7 inches of rain.. Read the first part here.

Part 2: 9 p.m. Friday – Saturday

Another storm rolls in.

Another storm rolls in.

It’s close to 9 p.m. when we emerge from the tent to assess the situation and our gear. The storm blew the rainfly about halfway off my tent leaving behind a huge puddle of water in the center and soaked gear. We reluctantly decide to pack our waterlogged gear, return to the car and rent a room at the nearby Cheaha State Park Lodge. Though I think Josh and I would have been probably been game to take our chances on the trail, God granted Jeff the wisdom to push for staying at the lodge.

The storm left the trail a muddy mess, and a heavy fog only enhanced the eerie atmosphere as we hiked the remaining 20 minutes to the car by headlamp.

We make it to our room at the lodge and cook our Conecuh sausage and rice dinner outside using our butane backpacking stoves (I’m not sure if we are technically allowed to do this at the lodge but it was 10 p.m. and the restaurant was long closed). Though we are not out in the wilderness, we continue our discussion well into morning hours about the meaning of adventure and how God is calling us to do much greater things than the 8-5 routine. Then we turn in for the night. At this point, it has rained only slightly since we rented the room.

At about 2 a.m., I wake up to what sounds like cannon fire outside of our room. Another vicious storm is upon Cheaha. This time, the lightning and thunder are striking simultaneously. The storm is right on top of us. A couple of times the power surges as lightning strikes. At this point, we all realize we made the right call about the lodge room. The rain continues to pour the rest of the night.

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