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Alabama

Sipsey Wilderness Loop (22.3 miles)
9 Oct 2018

Sipsey Wilderness Loop (22.3 miles)

by Chad Chandler | posted in: Alabama, Backpacking, Hiking, Loops, Trails | 0

Despite growing up in Alabama, I’ve never really explored northwest Alabama. I’ve driven through the area to get to Memphis, but that’s about it. I was pleasantly surprised by the diverse flora and fauna in the Sipsey Wilderness. Hiking Sipsey … Continued

alabama, sipsey river
Walls Of Jericho
30 Dec 2016

Walls Of Jericho

by Chad Chandler | posted in: Alabama, Hiking, Trails, Videos | 0

Walls Of Jericho is a steeply walled river valley near Scottsboro, Alabama. I learned about it years ago, but I’m rarely in that area. I took the long way from Birmingham, Alabama back to Greenville, South Carolina after Christmas 2016 … Continued

backpacking, birmingham, camping, chattanooga, day, family, hard, moderate, strenuous, trip
Little River Canyon
29 Dec 2016

Little River Canyon

by Chad Chandler | posted in: Alabama, Attractions, Hiking, Trails, Waterfalls | 0

Little River Canyon is a national park near Fort Payne in northeast Alabama. It is a truly impressive preserve that features a river valley flanked by stone cliff faces. There isn’t an extensive trail system in the area; it’s more … Continued

day trip, Driving, easy, tour, tourist
Noccalula Falls
28 Dec 2016

Noccalula Falls

by Chad Chandler | posted in: Alabama, Attractions, Hiking, Trails, Waterfalls | 0

Noccalula Falls is one of those attractions that I’ve heard about for years but never found an excuse to visit. I used to have family in Gadsden and have spent many Christmas Eves there, yet somehow we never dropped by. … Continued

day, easy, family, trip
Mt. Cheaha
27 Dec 2016

Mt. Cheaha

by Chad Chandler | posted in: Alabama, Attractions, Hiking, Trails | 0

Mt. Cheaha is the highest point in the state of Alabama. According to the rangers at the park, visitors are either presented with a bright blue sky and a perfect view or an impenetrable wall of fog on any given … Continued

adventure, camping, easy, family, fun, hiking
Moss Rock Preserve
26 Dec 2016

Moss Rock Preserve

by Chad Chandler | posted in: Alabama, Hiking, Trails | 0

Moss Rock Preserve is a fun little community trail system in Hoover, Alabama—a suburb of Birmingham. The entire system is not very large. You could trail-run it all in one morning. It appears to be a project created and maintained … Continued

easy, family, fast, fun, local, running, trails
Gracie’s Gap at Red Mountain Park
25 Dec 2016

Gracie’s Gap at Red Mountain Park

by Chad Chandler | posted in: Alabama, Hiking, Trails, Videos | 0

Red Mountain Park is a learning through adventure area in Birmingham, Alabama. Birmingham is called the Magic City because it sprang up seemingly overnight after the Civil War. There is a valley surrounded by mountains that contain limestone, iron ore, … Continued

day trip, easy, family, fun, kids, learning, park
Falling Rock Falls
2 May 2016

Falling Rock Falls

by Chad Chandler | posted in: Alabama, Hiking, Trails, Waterfalls | 0

Falling Rock Falls is tucked away in a nature preserve owned by some natural resources companies. It’s pretty obscure, even for locals. It’s near Montevallo, Alabama, which is about 25 minutes south of Birmingham. You park on the side of … Continued

afternoon, day trip, fun

I'm Chad Chandler, the C.C. in C.C. Hikes. Learn more about me and how to use this website.

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  • Gear—Ultralight first-aid kit June 6, 2019
  • TRT—Gear list March 7, 2019
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#hiking #hikingdog #colorado #coloradodogs #coloradolife
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Weminuche Wilderness, Day 3 (6 Miles)—I thought it would be warmer in the valley than high on the mountain, but the cold air seemed to cling to the humid ground. I had to rigorously shake the frost off my tent before I could pack up and hike the handful of miles I had left. 
The going was easy, so I didn't take a lot of pictures on the way out. Instead, I fantasized about the seat warmer in my car. I did run into that moose again. It's possible it was the same beast over all 3 days.
This was a fantastic trip that will probably be my last chance to backpack until next summer. It's not only the cold that keeps me away; I hate having to lay like a mummy in a tent for 12 hours until the sun comes back out. That's a long time to do nothing. I'd rather get out and adventure and then spend my nights somewhere with a thermostat.
#hiking #backpacking #colorado #coloradolife #weminuchewilderness #cdt #continentaldividetrail
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Weminuche Wilderness, Day 2 (14 Miles)—I decided I'd rather walk the backbone of the mountains than spend another day in the valleys, so I made my way back to the Continental Divide Trail and started heading uphill again. I had passed some dustings of snow from earlier in the week, but I was surprised to cross another pass and encounter a blanket of white. This was my new normal and I hated it. 
Postholing is not just frustrating and slow—it's dangerous. You have no idea what you're stepping on (or not stepping on) and the trail is just a suggestion. You take whatever ground seems safer at the moment and just hope you weren't supposed to turn right or left again before you head toward a cliff. 
After talking to a CDT through-hiker, I decided to short-circuit my loop by taking a side trail past a gorgeous lake and back down the mountain. I ended up in the valley I walked up the previous day and found a great campsite to watch the sunset. Over the next couple of hours, I saw moose, elk, and deer.
#hiking #backpacking #colorado #coloradolife #weminuchewilderness #sanjuans #cdt #continentaldividetrail
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