Tag Archives: Cheaha Wilderness

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

God uses the ordinary

Gaining a new perspective from an overlook along the Pinhoti Trail.

Think you aren’t qualified enough to do something God has called you to? I don’t feel qualified either.

But guess what? The Bible is littered with tons of examples of God using everyday, ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things for His kingdom.

When I started Reboot, I didn’t have any sort of formal ministry training. I just had a love for backpacking and hiking and just being outdoors. And I think helping people connect to Christ for the first time or deepen their relationship with Christ is the most important thing I can do. So, I felt strongly that God was calling me to combine the two into what is now Reboot Wilderness. But it took a step of faith to overcome my fear and make this idea a reality.

As I’ve walked through this ministry for the past couple of years, I’m continuing to learn a lot. One of the biggest lessons is that if God is calling you to do something, He’s going to provide what you need exactly when you need it. It might not look like what you think it should, but He will lead you step-by-step. However, it requires taking that first scary step where it goes from an idea that you’ll do someday when you have more time, more training, etc. to reality.

In my experience, this is the point when Satan often uses his handy tricks of self-doubt and fear. I start thinking I’m not qualified or not good enough and then I really start to overthink everything. I don’t think I’m alone with that feeling, and sometimes it is enough to scare us away and prevent us from even trying something that God is calling us to do. But the Bible is very clear that these are the types of people God loves to use.

Recently, I’ve been hit with this theme a lot in my Bible reading, as I prepare to start a weekly men’s small group lunch gathering. I think we sometimes forget the power of God when we trust Him, surrender our agendas to Him and are obedient to what He is calling us to do – whether it is something simple or something really big.

Check out these examples:

Most of the disciples were fishermen with no special education, hardly the qualification one would look for on paper when selecting candidates for spreading the Good News about Christ to the world.

When Peter and John went before the ruling council after healing a lame man in Jesus’ name at the Temple entrance, they were filled with the Holy Spirit so much that it shocked the Jewish leaders.

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” – Acts 4:13

The prophet Amos was just a shepherd and a fig-tree grower when God called him to send a warning message to Israel and Judah.

“I am not one of your professional prophets. I certainly never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd, and I take care of fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel.’” – Amos 7:14-15

Moses…

David as a child…

The list goes on….

Don’t feel qualified? You are in very good company. Take the next step and surrender that fear to God and trust Him to be faithful to what He is calling you to do.

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. 

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

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.

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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.

Cheaha backpacking
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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Online registration for fall trips now available

IMG_3995Online registration is now up and running on the Frazer UMC website for our fall adventures. Space is limited, so register today to ensure your spot. You don’t want to miss this chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle and reconnect with God in the outdoors.

Check out the Upcoming Trips page for more details and about each adventure and a link to register for one on the Frazer UMC website.

Sept. 28-29: Men’s overnight backpacking/Bible study adventure to Cheaha Wilderness

Oct. 12: Men’s and women’s day hike to the Deadening Trail on Lake Martin

Nov. 1- 2: Men’s overnight backpacking/Bible study adventure to Cheaha Wilderness

Fall 2013 trip dates

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We are very excited to announce the dates for our Fall 2013 Reboot Wilderness Adventures.  Sign-up information will be available in the next few weeks. Check out the Upcoming Trips page for more details about each adventure.

Sept. 28-29: Men’s overnight backpacking/Bible study adventure to Cheaha Wilderness

Oct. 12: Men’s and women’s day hike to the Deadening Trail on Lake Martin

Nov. 1- 2: Men’s overnight backpacking/Bible study adventure to Cheaha Wilderness

Why combine Bible study with outdoor adventures?

Seeing the forest from a new perspective along the Pinhoti Trail.

Seeing the forest from a new perspective along the Pinhoti Trail.

Why outdoor adventures? It’s a question I get quite often about Reboot. Some people think it’s a novelty, but I believe it’s a very effective way to reach people and help them grow as Christians as well as have some fun.

Here are six reasons why I strongly believe spending time on a short adventure in God’s creation can be significant to your spiritual growth. We incorporate all of these concepts into each of our Reboot trips.

1. Change of place = change of perspective

The wilderness provides a chance for a mountaintop perspective. We often get so wrapped-up and focused on the routine of our day-to-day lives down in the valley that it’s easy to lose that big-picture perspective. Getting away from the busyness of our day-to-day lives for a short backpacking or camping trip or even just an afternoon of hiking can give us time to pause, reflect and focus on God’s voice and what He is calling us to do.

Also, the views from the top of a mountain or a spectacular sunset on the river are the type of very humbling reminders of our Creator that are easy to miss when we are stuck inside our homes or workplaces during our day-to-day lives.

 2. A break from technology

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel overwhelmed at the amount of connectivity at our fingertips. I love social media and how it allows us to connect with our friends, family and co-workers but sometimes it is just too much and can even add clutter to our days. Out in the woods, there is no Wi-Fi. It gives us a chance to unplug and recharge. Plus, it is a lot easier to focus on the word of God and hear His voice in the wilderness away from the constant noise and distractions.

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