Ala. officials want Pinhoti Trail, which comes through Floyd ... - Rome News-Tribune

[WhiteBlaze]

Ala. officials want Pinhoti Trail, which comes through Floyd ... Rome News-Tribune, GA - 36 minutes ago Though the Appalachian Trail ends in Georgia -- at Springer Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest -- that could change if a group from Alabama gets ...

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[chili36]

I don't see it happening. If they ever finish the Pinhoti, it will give more definition to the ECT, however.

[Sly]

I don't see it happening. If they ever finish the Pinhoti, it will give more definition to the ECT, however.

The ECT is a figment of someone's imagination. It doesn't really exist. Also, I don't believe that the AT was ever intended to reach as far south as GA never mind AL. MacKaye's original proposal was from Mt Washington to Mt Mitchell.

[ki0eh]

Well, then, it can be part of the GET, which has moved beyond figment-ary to having an actual organization - http://www.greateasterntrail.org

[chili36]

Lacking an official designation is a far cry from being a "figment of imagination". Long before the GET gained momentum, hikers have apparently been "halucinating" about the ECT linking Key West to Canada.

I have been backpacking for 25 years and just now learned I was only imagining such a combination of trails.

[minnesotasmith]

Ala. officials want Pinhoti Trail, which comes through Floyd ... Rome News-Tribune, GA - 36 minutes ago Though the Appalachian Trail ends in Georgia -- at Springer Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest -- that could change if a group from Alabama gets ...

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When they build trail shelters along the Pinhoti as frequently as they are along the AT in GA/NC/TN/VA.
Not holding my breath, though.

[Cuffs]

The "officials" are the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. I know of no trail groups/clubs supporting or promoting this.

[chili36]

When they build trail shelters along the Pinhoti as frequently as they are along the AT in GA/NC/TN/VA.
Not holding my breath, though.

The Pinhoti is dry as a powder house in the summer. Seems to me like they will need to conquer the water problem first. Also, the Pinhoti has several long road hikes.

[Cuffs]

The Pinhoti only has 2 road walks and they are in GA. The water "problem" is just the nature of the trail. If you plan wisely, you can get around it. Besides, the only "problem" is on a 12 mile stretch...

[chili36]

The Pinhoti only has 2 road walks and they are in GA. The water "problem" is just the nature of the trail. If you plan wisely, you can get around it. Besides, the only "problem" is on a 12 mile stretch...
__________________


I must be misinformed, but I was taking my information from the Pinhoti website which I was using to plan a thruhike. Quite clearly, based upon your information, cuffs, the website which reflects the following....is wrong.

Pinhoti Southern Terminus
Flagg Mountain
Start Northbound Hike

Section 1 - 13.1 miles
0.0 - Flagg Mountain Trailhead
13.1 - AL 21 / CR 41 Trailhead
Description - Road Walk

Section 2 - 9.8 miles
13.1 - AL 21 / CR 41 Trailhead
22.9 - FS 603A Trailhead
Description - Road Walk

Section 3 - 11.4 miles
22.9 - FS 603A Trailhead
34.3 - Bull Gap Trailhead
Description - Road Walk

Section 4 - 18.0 miles
34.3 - Bull Gap Trailhead
52.3 - Porter's Gap Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 5 - 15.5 miles
52.3 - Porter's Gap Trailhead
67.8 - Adams Gap Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 6 - 11.3 miles
67.8 - Adams Gap Trailhead
79.1 - Cheaha Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 7 - 17.6 miles
79.1 - Cheaha Trailhead
96.7 - US 431 Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 8 - 9.5 miles
96.7 - US 431 Trailhead
106.2 - S. FS 500 Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 9 - 13.6 miles
106.2 - S. FS 500 Trailhead
119.8 - Pine Glen Campground
Description - Woods Trail

Section 10 - 16.3 miles
119.8 - Pine Glen Campground
136.1 - Burns Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 11 - 8.8 miles
136.1 - Burns Trailhead
144.9 - N. FS 500 Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 12 - 16.2 miles
144.9 - N. FS 500 Trailhead
161.1 - High Point Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 13 - 12.8 miles
161.1 - High Point Trailhead
173.9 - Jackson Chapel Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 14-17 – 29.4 miles
173.9 - Jackson Chapel Trailhead
203.3 – Simms Mtn Trailhead
Description - Road Walk

Section 18 – 4.0 miles
203.3 – Simms Mtn Trailhead
207.3 – GA 100 Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 19 – 8.2 miles
207.3 - GA 100 Trailhead
215.5 - High Point Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 20 – 9.1 miles
215.5 - High Point Trailhead
224.6 - Mack White Gap T'head
Description - Woods Trail

Section 21 – 11.2 miles
224.6 - Mack White Gap T'head
235.8 - W Armuchee Rd T'head
Description - Woods Trail

Section 22 – 5.8 miles
235.8 - W Armuchee Rd T'head
241.6 - E Armuchee Rd T'head
Description - Woods Trail

Section 23 – 9.5 miles
241.6 - E Armuchee Rd T'head
251.1 - Pocket Road Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 24 – 6.2 miles
251.1 - Pocket Road Trailhead
257.3 - Snake Creek Gap T'head
Description - Woods Trail

Section 25 – 15.8 miles
257.3 - Snake Creek Gap T'head
273.1 - Dug Gap Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 26-27 – 15.0 miles
273.1 - Dug Gap Trailhead
288.1 – US 411/76 Trailhead
Description - Road Walk

Section 28 – 12.8 miles
288.1 – US 411/76 Trailhead
300.9 - Cohutta Overlook Thead
Description – Road / Woods

Section 29 – 9.6 miles
300.9 - Cohutta Overlook Thead
310.5 - FS 90 Trailhead
Description - Woods Trail

Section 30 – 11.0 miles
310.5 - FS 90 Trailhead
321.5 - Buddy Cove Gap T'head
Description - Woods Trail

Section 31 – 3.1 miles
321.5 - Buddy Cove Gap T'head
324.6 - Benton MacKaye Trail
Description - Woods Trail

Pinhoti Northern Terminus
Benton MacKaye Trail
Finish Northbound Hike

[Cuffs]

The current southern terminus is not Flagg, that is the anticipated southern end. Currently, it is Bull Gap. The PTA where you are getting your info from is not building or maintaining the proposed new section from Bull Gap to Flagg Mtn.

[chili36]

Then basically, it sounds to me to be like the Cumberland Trail. Big plans, not much reality.

I was under the impression that it was designated in order to provide a trail from the AT down through Conecuh and on to the Florida Trail (which is how the ECT was always thought of). But if they aren't maintaining or building it, then it pretty much will term at or near Talledega with no plans to cut out the road hikes.

Unfortunately, despite the good work of the CTC the Cumberland Trail may never get completed either. It has been promoted as an Alternative to the AT to take some of the pressure off. Ultimately, it would connect SW VA with Chattanooga. I think the longest section completed (without the road hikes) is about 15 miles.

[Cuffs]

send me a PM and I'll chat with you there...

[Sly]

As you pointed out it has no "official designation" but a series of trails with road walk connectors. No official body, no dedicated website, and only a few have hiked it.

I think it was Nimblewill Nomad who dubbed it ECT but he was the 2nd to hike it with John Brinda being the 1st in '97.

Lacking an official designation is a far cry from being a "figment of imagination". Long before the GET gained momentum, hikers have apparently been "halucinating" about the ECT linking Key West to Canada.

I have been backpacking for 25 years and just now learned I was only imagining such a combination of trails.

[Cuffs]

http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/68...ews890114.html

[Grandma]

Through the GA section, are there good places to camp? I was thinking of doing an over-nighter from Simms Mtn to Sloppy Floyd. Looks like it is a rails-to-trails through private property till you get to Taylor's Ridge.

[ki0eh]

As you pointed out it has no "official designation" but a series of trails with road walk connectors. No official body, no dedicated website, and only a few have hiked it.

I think it was Nimblewill Nomad who dubbed it ECT but he was the 2nd to hike it with John Brinda being the 1st in '97.

Here's Nimblewill Nomad's ECT web page: http://www.nimblewillnomad.com/easte...rail_guide.htm

[Mrs Baggins]

The ECT is a figment of someone's imagination. It doesn't really exist. Also, I don't believe that the AT was ever intended to reach as far south as GA never mind AL. MacKaye's original proposal was from Mt Washington to Mt Mitchell.

Gosh, you better let Nimblewill Nomad in on that one - in 1998 he hiked a trail that doesn't exist! And wrote a long book about it all! It'll be quite a shock to him to be told it wasn't really there.

[minnesotasmith]

Ala. officials want Pinhoti Trail, which comes through Floyd ... Rome News-Tribune, GA - 36 minutes ago Though the Appalachian Trail ends in Georgia -- at Springer Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest -- that could change if a group from Alabama gets ...

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I thruhiked the entire Appalachian Trail in 2006, going from Georgia to Maine through 14 states, all 2174.6 miles over 9 months. I intend to do it again in 2009, this time adding the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama and N. Georgia to it.

There are multiple reasons IMO why very few (currently about one in a thousand) of the roughly 1800 people who attempt an Appalachian Trail thruhike each year (only about 400 finish) currently or forseeably would tack on the Pinhotil Trail as well:

1) The AL section may be completed, but the GA section is not. There are 20+ miles of roadwalks remaining to be removed in the longer Georgia section to make it a finished hiking trail.

2) There are about 7 trail shelters in the Alabama section, a little under half the frequency per mile that the AT has in general (and that thruhikers would expect), but there are NONE in the longer Georgia section, with no plans by the Georgia Club to add them anytime soon. The latter is based upon recent e-mail exchanges I have had with several board members of the GA Club.

3) There are no hostels (reasonably-priced places of business where hikers can shower, wash clothes, have a food/gear package sent, make a phone call, and sleep a night indoors in particularly foul weather) along the Pinhoti. Note that nearly all thruhikers have to be careful with money, such that the going hostel rate in the U.S. south is $20 or less a night, so the occasional motel in Pinhoti Trail towns is little use to most of them. An occasional full-service truckstop with showers and laundry facilities would partially do, but there are few to none of those of which I am aware near the Pinhoti, either.

4) Local towns near the Pinhoti are not otherwise geared up for thruhikers, either, with locals not being accustomed to giving hikers rides between towns and the trail, few to no buffet restaurants (hikers have to eat a LOT with all the calories they burn hiking), no hiking equipment stores ("outfitters"), etc.

5) Multiple parts of the Pinhoti are frequently used by all-terrain vehicles, while horses and bicycles are explicitly allowed on much of it. These are notorious for damaging hiking trails and the ambience hikers go to them to find. The AT is a foot-travel-only trail in the interest of preventing trail damage, mess, and noise. Those users would have to be kept out as part of making the Pinhoti an AT extension, and ATV users in particular normally require substantial law enforcement attention to respond to no-trespassing rules.

6) The Pinhoti is so far south and low-altitude, it is too hot and insect-plagued as a practical matter to hike on during the majority of the year. Thruhikers commonly carry a variety of equipment to deal with biting insects, but more casual hikers hardly ever do, so there will probably never be very many day/weekend hikers (the bulk of current AT users) on the Pinhoti most of the year.

7) The Pinhoti in GA does not actually currently connect to the AT. It instead ends on the Benton MacKaye Trail, which then intersects the AT a number of miles north of the AT's actual beginning. The Pinhoti in GA needs to be rerouted directly to either Springer Mtn. or Amicalola State Park (the two places AT northbound thruhikers mainly start) to avoid thuhikers starting on the Pinhoti having to backtrack, hitch rides, pay a shuttler, or skip part of the AT. This current routing significantly discourages AT thruhikers from incorporating a Pinhoti hike into thruhiking the current AT.

#7, like #1 & 2, is a problem affecting hiker acceptance of the Pinhoti that the AL Pinhoti Club is powerless to fix, the apparently less-able GA club being well behind the AL Club in developing their section of the Pinhoti Trail to anything near AT standards.

Then, there's getting past the overt opposition of the anti-expansion/anti-change "We've always done it this way" Appalachian Trail Conservancy (main organization overseeing the AT), which for some reason does NOT want the AT expanded. This is despite the vision that Benton MacKaye (the "father" of the AT) had of the AT explicitly extending into Alabama to where the Applachian Mountains end there.

For these reasons, I don't expect many other hikers to add the Pinhoti Trail to an Appalachian Trail thruhike (as I am planning) during the next decade or two at least."