Choccolocco Creek Watershed (Pinhoti)

It had been five years since I had hiked the Choccolocco Creek Watershed and the days ahead were looking beautiful. Coordinating with the City of Heflin, I set up a shuttle for drop off. My shuttle driver dropped me off at Pink E. Burns TH at quarter to eight in the morning and the adventure began. The Pinhoti Trail, along this section, passes five lakes that were constructed in the ’60s to reduce the effects of flooding within the watershed. The first lake I passed was Choccolocco Site #2. This one was my favorite. The trail follows along the entire western edge and makes for pleasant walking. I spent the night on the western shore of Coleman Lake, the second lake on my path. Coleman Lake Recreation Area (Campgrounds) on the eastern side is operated by the Forest Service. The new day brought me walking past Shoal Creek Church. It was built before 1890 and is one of six hewn log churches remaining in Alabama. Next, Sweetwater Lake did not disappoint. Sweetwater Lake has access for fishing and there were several people taking advantage of this. Nearing the end of the day I passed Highrock Lake on the eastern end. Creeks feed both legs of the lake and I hung my hammock for the night along the southern most feeder creek. The third day did not bring any lakes. It meandered along the contour lines of the spurs and draws, and I arrived at a campsite named Birds in the Pines in the early afternoon. This campsite is located on the high point of a spur among a grove of longleaf pines. The views were magnificent and you could hear the train whistles blow in the valley below. Morning came early. At 04:30, rain on my cheek woke me and the scramble was on. I was packed and moving down the trail with dawn still and hour off. I raced the rain to Heflin and lost. As I reached the final lake of my trek, Cahulga Watershed Lake, the rain began to fall in earnest. With only a mile and a half remaining, I tucked my head and trudged on. Heflin is a great trail town, as I walked through town a stranger picked me and drove me to my vehicle, eliminating the final ½ mile of wet walking. Good memories all.