Hey all,

just wanted to mention a new Georgia Pinhoti File that I created in Google earth. I basically overlaid the labels from my National Geographic Topo maps on top of the google earth satellite images. The result is pretty cool... but you have to zoom in pretty far to see the labels.

Here's the link ot the google earth file:
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Board=EarthNature&Number=808438&Searchpage=1&Main=783409&Words=+Grizzlebee&topic=&Search=true#Post808438

Here's the link to my Georgia Pinhoti Maps again:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Johnsonc80

These maps will probably show up on the Georgia Pinhoti website one of these days. Although they are going to alter the Topo file and set up the maps differently. It'll be good to have them available in a place that is easier for peaple to find.

--Mr. Parkay

Have you hiked the GPT or setting up for it? After hiking the Alabama section I've got the worst itch to see the rest of the Pinhoti.

Have you hiked the GPT or setting up for it? After hiking the Alabama section I've got the worst itch to see the rest of the Pinhoti.

Hey Two speed,

Yeah, I hiked the APT and GPT all in one trip... from Jan. 20, 2007 to Feb 2. 2007. Thats how I got the info for the maps and Google earth stuff. Carried that GPS in my right hand for every hiking minute of every day!

Let me know if you decide to hike the GPT and have any questions.... seems like not many folks have thru-hiked the GPT, unless they are doing it as part of the Eastern Continental Trail.. which was only two people that I know of last year... Perhaps this will change if they can re-route it to avoid the road walks.

That is awesome!

As I plan to thruhike the Pinhoti (all of both GA and AL sections) immediately prior to a redux AT thruhike, getting to central Alabama this (2008) December, this is very handy.

What advice can you give me on how to get the best quality prints of these?

Thanks! Nice work!

Mr. Parkay when are coming back to Blairsville. I feel that it's time to have another party. Geek is working out details for a canoe trip near here this fall. We should get together.

I have a .kmz that has the water sources added too.

http://www.traildays.net/download.php?id=3

I have a .kmz that has the water sources added too.

http://www.traildays.net/download.php?id=3

nevermind, you've done all that too! :)

Mr. Parkay when are coming back to Blairsville. I feel that it's time to have another party. Geek is working out details for a canoe trip near here this fall. We should get together.


Hey Boudin... I agree, it's definitely time for another party of some kind... just tell me when!

Minnessota: Good luck on the Pinhoti Hike! There's not much advice I can give you on how to get good prints... although, I'm planning to release a new version of the maps within the next month or two, maybe earlier... so you might want to wait for those. The new maps will have the same data as the old ones... but they will be a much lighter color, so they won't require nearly as much ink when they are printed out. ...

I'm creating the new maps because I want to put the data on public domain USGS topo's rather than National Geographic Topo's... then, eventually I'd like to host them on a regular web site... rather than just a picasa web album. One step at a time I guess.

Nice Work Is All I Can Say!

Hey Boudin... I agree, it's definitely time for another party of some kind... just tell me when!

Minnessota: Good luck on the Pinhoti Hike! There's not much advice I can give you on how to get good prints... although, I'm planning to release a new version of the maps within the next month or two, maybe earlier... so you might want to wait for those. The new maps will have the same data as the old ones... but they will be a much lighter color, so they won't require nearly as much ink when they are printed out. ...

I'm creating the new maps because I want to put the data on public domain USGS topo's rather than National Geographic Topo's... then, eventually I'd like to host them on a regular web site... rather than just a picasa web album. One step at a time I guess.

If we were to print them out at home, that will save a LOT of money relative to the task, colored ink for printers running as much as it does. Sounds like might be better to let Office Max bring down a pallet of colored ink cartridges for a flat fee. :D

Thanks again for sharing these great maps with us. They're the first ones of the Pinhoti where I can actually SEE anything.

Now, if only we could get Weathercarrot's maps of the average annual snowfall along the AT back online...

Keep us updated, Mr. Parkay! Your maps are wonderful!

I CRINGED when I saw the other maps for the GPT.

Thank you for all your hard work. TILLY

The Alabama Pinhoti maps seem to start at Bull Gap. According to http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org/sitemap.html, that is 34.3 miles from the southern end of the Pinhoti in AL, which starts at Flagg Mtn. near Sylacauga. Does anyone know of maps that fill in the gap?

Tilly: Thanks for the nice comments! It was actually your email from a few days ago that made me consider re-creating the maps... I needed a break from my regular routine, and this map project has provided that.

Minnesota: I'm also interested in the 34.3 mile section before Bull Gap.... this section didn't exist when I created the maps... so unfortunately I don't have any information about it. However, since I live in Damascus, Virginia now it's a little bit too far for me to drive down to Alabama to collect the required GPS data.... eventually I'll get it taken care of though... somehow.... in the mean time, I might try contacting some people to see if anyone else has GPS data... or if I can get a rough idea of where the new section goes. Perhaps then I could create a ROUGH map of the new section...

Here's a link showing what the new pinhiti maps will look like: http://picasaweb.google.com/Johnsonc80/PinhotiMapsSample

there's nothing flashy about them... but they should do the trick. I'm looking forward to finally putting the data on public domain maps... free of any potential issues with National Geographic. It might take a while to complete them though... since I'm currently working on a different map project.... which I'll post about in a few days.

The Alabama Pinhoti maps seem to start at Bull Gap. According to http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org/sitemap.html, that is 34.3 miles from the southern end of the Pinhoti in AL, which starts at Flagg Mtn. near Sylacauga. Does anyone know of maps that fill in the gap?

It's new section 9: http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org/files/Section_9_Topo2.gif

We did this section this past winter. It was a nice little section, but completely waterless (not even a mud puddle we could find) for over 14 miles until Scott Lake, fyi.

http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org/jaystopos.html

I just realized you may be talking about the section(s) south of the links I posted...????:confused:

I just realized you may be talking about the section(s) south of the links I posted...????:confused:

...which are road walks....

The APT alliance website has a detailed route written out as far as the 34 mile roadwalk to Bulls Gap is concerned. Since the entire section is on roads, I bet you could get away with the Delorme maps and just pen in the route.

Mr. Parkay, you're very welcome. I am very excited about this section of the trail. Originally I was kind of scared of walking through Georgia with those maps. I hope to God that everything will work out next year and I'll be able to hike. This year has kind of been a financial and medical/dental disaster.

The APT alliance website has a detailed route written out as far as the 34 mile roadwalk to Bulls Gap is concerned. Since the entire section is on roads, I bet you could get away with the Delorme maps and just pen in the route.


Link to a DeLorme map of that section?

Mr Parkay !

I used your maps when I walked the Alabama Pinhoti during March>April 2008, and thought they were wonderful ! Although I walked NOBO, I had a few other names for the " Stairway to Heaven " section in Cheaha ! <G>
Already had the old Georgia Pinhoti map data on my Google Map as I planned on hiking that area this Fall, along with the BMT, I hope.
Really appreciate you freely provided maps of the trails to us all.

Link to a DeLorme map of that section?I think he means the paper Gazetteer:

http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?beginIndex=0&item=4899&section=10096

The DeLorme (paper) Gazetteers are phenomenal. For the moment, it's the best map I've been able to find for next week's JMT section in CA. I may possibly find something better when I get to Mammoth Lakes tomorrow evening. When it comes to mapping needs (and software!) I'm a big DeLorme fan.

The route recognized by the state and the forestry service is different than the one laid out by PTA.org.

The recognized route is fully blazed from Flagg Mtn to Bull Gap. I have the gps track for this.

Parkay, I will be re-walking the entire AL route this fall in order to accumulate all the data with the newest (publicly available) gps.

Water this fall and winter should not be an issue as we have had a great rainy summer finally! The only problems may arise from the distance between sources. (ie: Bull Gap to Scott Lake/cascades)

I think he means the paper Gazetteer:



Yeah, that's what I was talking about.

Hello Again,

since the 34 mile section is road walk... I should be able to create some maps from my computer pretty easily, based on road maps and satellite images... although I won't be able to field test it... and I won't know where water sources are etc... but it will be good to have something available for the time being. Anyhow, I'll try to get something out within the next week or two. I'll probably include the maps as a supplement to the others.

The route recognized by the state and the forestry service is different than the one laid out by PTA.org.

The recognized route is fully blazed from Flagg Mtn to Bull Gap. I have the gps track for this.

Parkay, I will be re-walking the entire AL route this fall in order to accumulate all the data with the newest (publicly available) gps.

Water this fall and winter should not be an issue as we have had a great rainy summer finally! The only problems may arise from the distance between sources. (ie: Bull Gap to Scott Lake/cascades)

Hey Cuffs, I just read where you say you already have a gps track for the new section. I could overlay that onto topo maps, no problem.

Also, I was wondering what kind of GPS data you are collecting? It will be interesting to see how it compares with the data I collected last year.

What resupply points along the Pinhoti in Georgia did you find most appropriate? Alabama is easy (Cheaha maildrop, Heflin buy, Cave Springs GA either), but info is sparser after that, other than hitting Rome, GA, and Dalton, GA.

On this site, found another place for resupply: http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:bxZA8jRNs-IJ:www.hikealabama.org/images/AL-NW_GA_Trails_Handbook.pdf+Pinhoti+resupply&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=28&gl=us
Said that the country store at the Hwy. 100 road crossing is good for resupply, and that hikers can either camp near store, or may be allowed to use the barn owned by the woman who lives directly across the street from the store.

Hello,

I have created a map for the Section 1, 2 & 3 road walk.... based on the text description. I'm pretty sure it's correct, but I can't be sure since I'm doing everything from my computer. So, definitely let me know if there are any noticeable mistakes..

Right now, it's just one huge map, which would be too big to print out, but I'll eventually split it up to make it printer friendly.

Oh yeah... the new map is with the old ones here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Johnsonc80/AlabamaPinhotiMaps

Hello,

I have created a map for the Section 1, 2 & 3 road walk.... based on the text description. I'm pretty sure it's correct, but I can't be sure since I'm doing everything from my computer. So, definitely let me know if there are any noticeable mistakes..

Right now, it's just one huge map, which would be too big to print out, but I'll eventually split it up to make it printer friendly.

This really helps. One less thing to worry about now before December! :)

[quote=minnesotasmith;676864]What resupply points along the Pinhoti in Georgia did you find most appropriate? Alabama is easy (Cheaha maildrop, Heflin buy, Cave Springs GA either), but info is sparser after that, other than hitting Rome, GA, and Dalton, GA.

Hey Minnesota,

I found resupply on the GPT to be pretty easy... since the three places where I resupplied were all on trail:

mile 8 ... Dollar general (Map 2)
mile 32 ... Gas Station Store (Map 7)
mile 94 ... kroger (Map 15)

The gas station store didn't have much of a selection... just standard gas station stuff.

Note... it might be a while until the next resupply point if you are continuing on the BMT after finishing the Pinhoti, although I can't remember exactly where.

[quote=minnesotasmith;676864]What resupply points along the Pinhoti in Georgia did you find most appropriate? Alabama is easy (Cheaha maildrop, Heflin buy, Cave Springs GA either), but info is sparser after that, other than hitting Rome, GA, and Dalton, GA.

Hey Minnesota,

I found resupply on the GPT to be pretty easy... since the three places where I resupplied were all on trail:

mile 8 ... Dollar general (Map 2)
mile 32 ... Gas Station Store (Map 7)
mile 94 ... kroger (Map 15)

The gas station store didn't have much of a selection... just standard gas station stuff.

Note... it might be a while until the next resupply point if you are continuing on the BMT after finishing the Pinhoti, although I can't remember exactly where.

As soon as we hit the end of the Pinhoti, we're making a beeline for Amicalola, by road walking/hitching/cellphoning for a shuttle. I neither wish to hike other (BMT) trails as part of this particular journey, nor duplicate AT miles.

Thanks on the info re GPT resupply. That's very handy to know.

according to these maps, the roadwalk in Dalton/Chatsworth takes you all the way to the end of hwy 76, then right on 411.... the current trail markers here in dalton take you right at Murray Ave/Airport Rd in Dalton, left at tibbs bridge rd after crossing the dalton bypass, and through Spring place. Its all residential through there..... I've followed the markers on the telephone poles on my motorcycle all the way out to 411 and across to old federal rd where the trail picks back up @ peeples lake rd.

i would assume the hwy 76 walk would be more preferable if you're looking for places to get water and buy food/drinks.... but thats not where the trail is marked anymore.

also a question -- how do you handle the 25-30 mile road walks? if you're either in the middle of town or walking through a community, do u just plan to walk the whole day until you get back to trail, find a spot of woods somewhere and stealth, stay somewhere, or just arrange a shuttle and yellow-blaze it?

sorry for a double-post, but the following link is how the roadwalk trail markers currently take you through dalton and chatsworth...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Dug+Gap+Battle+Rd+%4034.738251,+-85.018158&daddr=Airport+Rd+%4034.757100,+-84.919620+to:Tibbs+Bridge+Rd+SE+%4034.759330,+-84.897909+to:Tibbs+Bridge+Rd+%4034.734218,+-84.849270+to:34.71904,-84.771194+to:Peeples+Lake+Rd+%4034.722078,+-84.715478&hl=en&geocode=1155381573476259853,34.738251,-85.018158%3B13292403970223568096,34.757100,-84.919620%3B7051850440032051883,34.759330,-84.897909%3B14097774525145012514,34.734218,-84.849270%3B3393165182020972699,34.722078,-84.715478&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4&sll=34.745421,-84.767761&sspn=0.062627,0.109863&ie=UTF8&ll=34.745562,-84.846382&spn=0.125255,0.219727&z=12

and i ask about the way you handled your roadwalking because i'm curious... i live and work in dalton, and drive at least a little bit of the roadwalk section EVERY DAY, and have NEVER seen a hiker walking through town... rarely ever do i even meet anybody around here thats even heard of the pinhoti... sometimes people recall seeing the signs on 76 but thats about all...

sorry for a double-post, but the following link is how the roadwalk trail markers currently take you through dalton and chatsworth...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Dug+Gap+Battle+Rd+%4034.738251,+-85.018158&daddr=Airport+Rd+%4034.757100,+-84.919620+to:Tibbs+Bridge+Rd+SE+%4034.759330,+-84.897909+to:Tibbs+Bridge+Rd+%4034.734218,+-84.849270+to:34.71904,-84.771194+to:Peeples+Lake+Rd+%4034.722078,+-84.715478&hl=en&geocode=1155381573476259853,34.738251,-85.018158%3B13292403970223568096,34.757100,-84.919620%3B7051850440032051883,34.759330,-84.897909%3B14097774525145012514,34.734218,-84.849270%3B3393165182020972699,34.722078,-84.715478&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4&sll=34.745421,-84.767761&sspn=0.062627,0.109863&ie=UTF8&ll=34.745562,-84.846382&spn=0.125255,0.219727&z=12

and i ask about the way you handled your roadwalking because i'm curious... i live and work in dalton, and drive at least a little bit of the roadwalk section EVERY DAY, and have NEVER seen a hiker walking through town... rarely ever do i even meet anybody around here thats even heard of the pinhoti... sometimes people recall seeing the signs on 76 but thats about all...

During an LD hike before. I haven't set foot on the Pinhoti yet. I'll try to get to woods, but if I have to stealth, I will. Stop after dark, and get going before daylight, prevents a lot of problems (along with not camping near a road, not making a fire, combat-like care with lights and noise, etc.) I'm not going to do a shuttle just hiking a span of trail between resupply/hostel stops. With any luck, we'll get invited to sleep in someone's garage/back porch/backyard, or the like; it's happened to me before when hiking...

sorry for a double-post, but the following link is how the roadwalk trail markers currently take you through dalton and chatsworth...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Dug+Gap+Battle+Rd+%4034.738251,+-85.018158&daddr=Airport+Rd+%4034.757100,+-84.919620+to:Tibbs+Bridge+Rd+SE+%4034.759330,+-84.897909+to:Tibbs+Bridge+Rd+%4034.734218,+-84.849270+to:34.71904,-84.771194+to:Peeples+Lake+Rd+%4034.722078,+-84.715478&hl=en&geocode=1155381573476259853,34.738251,-85.018158%3B13292403970223568096,34.757100,-84.919620%3B7051850440032051883,34.759330,-84.897909%3B14097774525145012514,34.734218,-84.849270%3B3393165182020972699,34.722078,-84.715478&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4&sll=34.745421,-84.767761&sspn=0.062627,0.109863&ie=UTF8&ll=34.745562,-84.846382&spn=0.125255,0.219727&z=12

and i ask about the way you handled your roadwalking because i'm curious... i live and work in dalton, and drive at least a little bit of the roadwalk section EVERY DAY, and have NEVER seen a hiker walking through town... rarely ever do i even meet anybody around here thats even heard of the pinhoti... sometimes people recall seeing the signs on 76 but thats about all...

Hey Paradox,

Thanks for the link. The route that you have would probably be a lot better than the route shown on my maps. I'm not associated with the Georgia Pinhoti Trail association in any way... so I wasn't aware that the route had changed. I'll need to update my maps when I create the new version... which should be pretty soon.

sorry for a double-post, but the following link is how the roadwalk trail markers currently take you through dalton and chatsworth...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=Dug+Gap+Battle+Rd+%4034.738251,+-85.018158&daddr=Airport+Rd+%4034.757100,+-84.919620+to:Tibbs+Bridge+Rd+SE+%4034.759330,+-84.897909+to:Tibbs+Bridge+Rd+%4034.734218,+-84.849270+to:34.71904,-84.771194+to:Peeples+Lake+Rd+%4034.722078,+-84.715478&hl=en&geocode=1155381573476259853,34.738251,-85.018158%3B13292403970223568096,34.757100,-84.919620%3B7051850440032051883,34.759330,-84.897909%3B14097774525145012514,34.734218,-84.849270%3B3393165182020972699,34.722078,-84.715478&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=4&sz=13&via=1,2,3,4&sll=34.745421,-84.767761&sspn=0.062627,0.109863&ie=UTF8&ll=34.745562,-84.846382&spn=0.125255,0.219727&z=12

and i ask about the way you handled your roadwalking because i'm curious... i live and work in dalton, and drive at least a little bit of the roadwalk section EVERY DAY, and have NEVER seen a hiker walking through town... rarely ever do i even meet anybody around here thats even heard of the pinhoti... sometimes people recall seeing the signs on 76 but thats about all...

In regards to how people handle roads walks... I honestly don't recommend walking the Dalton road walk unless you are a purist. I enjoy hiking, but walking 25 miles through a large town doesn't really interest me too much. Also, in this case, you would probably have to walk 25 miles or more, until you find a place to camp.... unless you get a hotel.


I walked about half of the road walk... then got a ride the rest of the way. I'm usually not a fan of skipping sections, but I made an exception in this case.

Thanks for the link. The route that you have would probably be a lot better than the route shown on my maps. I'm not associated with the Georgia Pinhoti Trail association in any way... so I wasn't aware that the route had changed. I'll need to update my maps when I create the new version... which should be pretty soon.

Thats cool, I just thought it might help clear the water for future hikers that are standing there scratching their head, looking at your map going straight on 76, and the trail sign pointing right on airport road... Additionally, there are alot of turns involved on this route, and the markers probably arent as clear as they could be anyway... I even got lost a couple times trying to follow them on my bike and had to turn around and look to see where i went wrong.

In regards to how people handle roads walks... I honestly don't recommend walking the Dalton road walk unless you are a purist. I enjoy hiking, but walking 25 miles through a large town doesn't really interest me too much. Also, in this case, you would probably have to walk 25 miles or more, until you find a place to camp.... unless you get a hotel.

road walking is not one of my favorite things in the world either... on a 2 day hike starting at snake creek gap, i DID road walk through dalton all the way to airport rd though, only because it was on the way home, and i didnt have anything else to do that day :rolleyes:

In regards to how people handle roads walks... I honestly don't recommend walking the Dalton road walk unless you are a purist. I enjoy hiking, but walking 25 miles through a large town doesn't really interest me too much. Also, in this case, you would probably have to walk 25 miles or more, until you find a place to camp.... unless you get a hotel.


I walked about half of the road walk... then got a ride the rest of the way. I'm usually not a fan of skipping sections, but I made an exception in this case.

A fair case can be made that a double-digit mile road walk IS a blue-blaze, that the white-blazed trail hasn't been built yet. Hardly the hiker's fault...

A fair case can be made that a double-digit mile road walk IS a blue-blaze, that the white-blazed trail hasn't been built yet. Hardly the hiker's fault...
I agree

These are maps for the 34.3 mile road walk from Flagg Mtn to Bulls Gap. This is the only section of the Pinhoti that I haven't hiked, so please let me know if I got something wrong.

They are located with all of the other pinhoti maps here (http://picasaweb.google.com/Johnsonc80/AlabamaPinhotiMaps)

Hope they are useful!

--Mr. Parkay

These are maps for the 34.3 mile road walk from Flagg Mtn to Bulls Gap. This is the only section of the Pinhoti that I haven't hiked, so please let me know if I got something wrong.

They are located with all of the other pinhoti maps here (http://picasaweb.google.com/Johnsonc80/AlabamaPinhotiMaps)

Hope they are useful!

--Mr. Parkay

This really helps my upcoming Pinhoti/AT hike, and rounds out my maps. With having in hand the ATC maps for the whole stretch, plus National Geographic maps for the Smokies, Whites, and southern Maine, I'm all set.:sun

Have you hiked the GPT or setting up for it? After hiking the Alabama section I've got the worst itch to see the rest of the Pinhoti.

Yeah I got a bad itch in AL too. try nail polish.:D