Cheaha Mountain, Alabama 2407 feet

Climbed 3/30/2008

We drove to Cheaha State Park ("Mountain splendor at its best!") from a hotel in Atlanta. Since our bodies were still tuned to Pacific time, we got a late start and skipped breakfast. The weather was sketchy, cloudy with an occasional shower. After an hour or so, we turned off I-20 onto the two-lane Alabama state highways through Talledega Forest. As we gained elevation, the clouds became thicker and thicker. At about 2,000 feet, the fog was thick enough that we could see only one or two car-lengths in front of us. Thankfully, we reached the entrance to the park soon after that.

We arrived at the Cheaha Resort just after noon Eastern time, ready for lunch. Unfortunately, Alabama is on Central time and the restaurant didn't open for another half hour. A cold, gusty wind was blowing the fog through the trees. We put on our coats and rain jackets, then huddled in our car until 11:30.

We visited the summit after lunch, driving the wrong way up a one-way road. The restaurant had been full of boy scouts, but we were alone at the highpoint. Needless to say, there was not a view.

Another foggy summit

Evelyn dragged over a garbage can to serve as a base for our tripod, and Mike set up the camera. As we posed and listened to the "beep-beep" of the camera timer, a wind gust knocked over the camera.

Technical difficulties
Cheaha Mountain

Equipped now with a trail map of the area, we drove a few miles down the road until we were below the clouds. We parked at a trailhead and took a very pleasant walk through the woods to a set of waterfalls.

Strolling through the Alabama woods

As the afternoon waned, we returned to the foggy resort and checked in to our cabin. The snug stone cabin was about 200 feet below the summit, overlooking the lake if we could have seen it.

Our sturdy bluff-side cabin

The cabin was built in the 1930s but completely remodeled inside. We hunkered down inside and listened to the howling wind from the cozy comfort of our bed.

Cozy

The next morning, we awoke and headed for the the Florida state highpoint.