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Pinhoti Section 7
I hiked from south to north, starting at Adams Gap; GPS coordinates N33 24.242, W085 52.464.)on 12 Nov. 2003. I am reporting in one-hour increments. I stopped hourly (after hiking for a full hour) for a break and to make journal entries. Adjust your plans based on your hiking experiences. This was a very dry time on the trail. Most wet weather streams were dry. Hour 1. The trail was clear because of foot traffic. However, trees lay across the path everywhere. I bet there were a hundred. The trail’s footing was good in that there were not many rocks. The elevation gain was moderate. The combination of blazes, not an awful lot, and the beaten path made following the path easy. However, I had difficulty following the path last time because foliage restricted my view of the path. Given the choice of more blazes or fewer fallen trees, I’d choose blazes. I rate this section as moderate primarily because of the undergrowth and fallen trees. Hour 2. This was the most strenuous part of the trail, possible for the entire Pinhoti. I hit a steep climb over, around, and through rocks at about the 25-minute mark. I hiked, climbed, and cursed these rocks for the next 25 minutes as I went higher and higher. The best thing about these rocks was that someone had actually painted a lot of blazes so you could at least be assured you were heading in the right direction. Given the choice, I’ll go south next time. I do not know if there was any relation to the treachery of the climb and being totally soaked with sweat, 6 buzzards kept circling very low over me until I was safely on top. I rate this section as very hard. Hour 3. This section took me from the rock climb to the Chinnabee/Pinhoti crossing. There was little elevation change and the trail was generally easy to follow because of the foot traffic and the base was not overly rocky. However, the trail was sometimes difficult to follow where it crossed popular campsites. In these areas, the ground was beaten down and many possible paths seemed to exit the area. Blazes would have helped. However, the further I travel North the fewer blazes I see, at least where I think I really need one. Someone has tied small pieces of red ribbon at key places. These helped a lot. The spring/creek about 100 feet south of the Pinhoti/Chinnabee crossing was not flowing. There were pools of water that appeared to be stagnating. I planned to get water her but changed my mind. I rate this section as moderate to easy. Hour 4. This part of the trail needs some blazes. For example, there is no clear indication you are on the correct path as you leave the crossing clearance. (I met some southbound hikers and they had the same complaint). There are actually two paths exiting the clearing at the same point as you head north. You have to choose one; there are no signs to help you. I guessed correctly and went left. Blazes are pretty good around some rock or bolder slides. Otherwise, you go long periods just hoping you have made correct choices. The footpath is very rocky. Elevation changes were not significant enough to cause problems. I think the trail offered some beautiful views off the mountain. However, weather rolled in and I could not see very far. I rate this section as moderate because of the rocky base and diminishing blazes. Hour 5. This section had a very rocky base, significant elevation gain, and few blazes. The path was weird. Some sections were very wide and clear, like they were popular with tourist day hikers. However, before and after these clear sections, the path was narrow and seemed not to be used much. Near the end of this hour, I came to the last rock formation, almost like a point looking down on lower ground, and the ground all around the top of the formation was beaten down from use. I had not seen a Pinhoti sign for a long time, and this made me wonder if I were on the correct trail. I did not readily see a Pinhoti sign at the top of the rock formation but I did see a good path to the right, east, side of the formation. I took this path and it took me steeply down to an old road. This road should not have been there. I was thoroughly lost and frustrated. I figured I had been on the wrong path for over a mile. I went back up the steep hill and started back south on the trail. I saw a Pinhoti sign, meaning I was near where I needed to be. I returned to the outcropping and found the correct trail dropping off the west side. Once seen, the marker was clear. However, the first path I took was the most obvious choice at first. As it turned out, the Pinhoti twice crossed the road to which I had hiked. I rate this section as moderate to hard because of the elevation gain, the rocky base, and the absence of blazes. Hour 5.5. I exited onto hwy. 281 at 30 minutes into this leg. The trail was well beaten, had a fairly rock free base, and was either level or down hill. I rate this section as easy. I quit at this point. However, I have hiked to the Blue Mountain shelter before and I would rate the hike as being easy. The trail is down hill, the path is easy to read, and there is a good stream near the shelter.
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