2016 Section Hike of Pinhoti

[AO2134]

Hey all. I was wondering if anyone wants to join me in section hiking the Pinhoti next year. I know very little about the trail, but very soon I am going to run out other hikes in GA. I just started reading about this trail.

I am a weekend warrior. I go out Sat morning and come back Sunday night. I can hike anywhere between 15-20 miles comfortably. More depending on conditions.

If someone is interested in section hiking the Pinhoti next year, which would allow us to self-shuttle and go point to point instead of out-and-back, that would be amazing.

I have hiked the Foothills Trail and Bartram Trail. I hope to finish the Benton MacKaye Trail this year and have finished the AT through the smokies.

For those who have completed the trail, how would you describe it? Any helpful guides? Maps? etc?

[Drybones]

Would you be hiking in GA or AL?

[AO2134]

I hope to start on Flagg Mt in AL and go NOBO. I hope to weekend hike the entire trail next year.

[JBEN]

Since you've done the AT through the Smokey Mts, the Pinhoti (AL Section) will make you think of the AT. Granted the Pinhoti doesn't have the elevation of the Smokey Mts, however, the feel of the trail is very AT like with great shelters and varied terrain. Your best bet to get even more of a feel for the beautiful Alabama Pinhoti would be to go to
-http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org/
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkyWq32cMFA (follow the video complilation)
-https://jbensblog.wordpress.com/ (my blog - Pinhoti reports in "Jtrail & INGO hikes)(you may need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see a full list of reports)
-http://purebound.com/trails/pinhoti/

These links should give you a good jumping off point in re to Trail characteristics. I'm sure there are more.

Good Luck with your prep.

JBEN

[Wildfang]

Hey I'd love to do that with you. Message me and let's chat.

There's a guidebook online, but no maps. So once the trail is out of state lands it's very unmarked (especially in GA. It's a lot better maintained and marked in AL). Me and my friend learned this the hard way...

[AO2134]

Since you've done the AT through the Smokey Mts, the Pinhoti (AL Section) will make you think of the AT. Granted the Pinhoti doesn't have the elevation of the Smokey Mts, however, the feel of the trail is very AT like with great shelters and varied terrain. Your best bet to get even more of a feel for the beautiful Alabama Pinhoti would be to go to
-http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org/
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkyWq32cMFA (follow the video complilation)
-https://jbensblog.wordpress.com/ (my blog - Pinhoti reports in "Jtrail & INGO hikes)(you may need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to see a full list of reports)
-http://purebound.com/trails/pinhoti/

These links should give you a good jumping off point in re to Trail characteristics. I'm sure there are more.

Good Luck with your prep.

JBEN

JBEN, thanks for the information. It has been tremendously helpful.

Hey I'd love to do that with you. Message me and let's chat.

There's a guidebook online, but no maps. So once the trail is out of state lands it's very unmarked (especially in GA. It's a lot better maintained and marked in AL). Me and my friend learned this the hard way...

Wildfang, Absolutely. I may or may not get into the Pinhoti this year. I will send you a message soon about what I was thinking and we will see if that also works for you.

[JBEN]

Hey I'd love to do that with you. Message me and let's chat.

There's a guidebook online, but no maps. So once the trail is out of state lands it's very unmarked (especially in GA. It's a lot better maintained and marked in AL). Me and my friend learned this the hard way...

Wildfang, there are some maps with waypoints. Go to http://www.pinhotitrailalliance.org/trail-maps..html
I actually printed and laminated Mr.Parkay's about 4 yrs ago. There is also a new (2014) US forestry map available with the Pinhoti. The Pinhoti Trail Alliance link is an outstanding source for trip planning and securing a map.

JBEN

[Matt65]

I use this website some as well: http://lifeat2mph.com/pinhoti/

[Grampsb]

I think it was 2013 or 2014 that a couple hike the trail and then continued on hiking the AT. I can't rememder their trail names but I think they documented their experience on Trailjournals .

[Matt65]

I think it was 2013 or 2014 that a couple hike the trail and then continued on hiking the AT. I can't rememder their trail names but I think they documented their experience on Trailjournals .

This may be a differnt couple, but the McKinneys came to mind.

Hikers Mark and Madalyn McKinney are hiking to complete their Pinhoti and Appalachian Trail Journey.*
https://m.facebook.com/pages/ATConqu...66167216892819

https://youtu.be/7QvPWrbCl1g

I think it was 2013 or 2014 that a couple hike the trail and then continued on hiking the AT. I can't rememder their trail names but I think they documented their experience on Trailjournals .

https://m.facebook.com/pages/ATConqu...66167216892819

https://youtu.be/7QvPWrbCl1g

[AO2134]

This may be a differnt couple, but the McKinneys came to mind.

Hikers Mark and Madalyn McKinney are hiking to complete their Pinhoti and Appalachian Trail Journey.*
https://m.facebook.com/pages/ATConqu...66167216892819

https://youtu.be/7QvPWrbCl1g


https://m.facebook.com/pages/ATConqu...66167216892819

https://youtu.be/7QvPWrbCl1g

The McKinneys are quite possible the coolest couple ever. I loved watching their videos.

Everyone thank you for the suggestions. I am currently compiling all the information I can from numerous different sources into one word document guide.

All this information has been tremendously helpful. Thank you for all the help and keep the information coming if you learn of anything else!

[HazBen]

Hi! I live on the Pinhoti! I won't be able to hike in 2016 I have other long term hiking plans but I may have some information for you. The Shoal Creek Forest Office recently published a new map of the Pinhoti Trail. We have a copy of the draft. It includes shelter and trail head parking. The difficulty with the Pinhoti is resupply but if you hike no more than 2 or 3 days at a time you can take with you the food/ fuel you need.

Their contact information is:

Shoal Creek District Office
45 Hwy 281
Heflin, Al 36264
phone: 256-463-2272

[Matt65]

The new Pinhoti GS map is much improved. I picked these up in person, but you can also order onine:

http://theforeststore.com/product/pi...tional-forest/

http://theforeststore.com/product/ta...nger-district/

[Uncle Joe]

I'm looking at the Pinhoti as my next hike as well. Might also be willing to join in.

[AO2134]

Matt65. Thanks again for the awesome information.

jpolk84. It will likely be early next year when I start to really tackle the Pinhoti.

Just a little about me as a hiker. I am a weekend hiker exclusively. I generally leave for the trail SAT morning and come home Sun evening. I can hike anywhere from 15-20 miles a day pretty comfortably. I do plan to start at Flagg Mountain and go NOBO. I do plan to do the road walks (unfortunately). I'd like the do 30ish mile sections over the SAT-SUN weekend. 17-20 SAT. 10-13 miles on Sunday and finish fairly early for the 3 + hour drive home. I am willing to go slower if need be. As a weekend warrior, I have flexibility that if the weather doesn't cooperate I can cancel a trip and just do it the next weekend. Depending on people's available I can start hiking the Pinhoti as early as January of next year on weekends.

Ideally, the first weekend hike I was looking to do is Flagg Mountain to Bull Gap Trailhead. Basically the first 34 miles of the trail, a large chunk of it appears to be a road walk. The next section would be Bull Gap Trailhead to Adams Gap Trailhead for another 33ish miles.

[Uncle Joe]

I'm new to this and despite being an avid mountain biker and walking (pack-less) a good bit I'm finding hiking with a pack to be a bit more challenging. I've been section hiking the AT this Summer and the areas have been pretty challenging elevation wise. Maybe by the time I start the Pinhoti I'll be a 15mi hiker. I don't think my current ability would be 15mi, FWIW, but I'm doing more so we'll see.

[dhagan]

You're too fast for me...lol.

[mhamby]

I would be interested in hiking a bit with you on the Pinhoti in 2016. I work every other weekend but would love to get a few hikes in. Drop me a line if interested.

I've hiked the Cheaha section a couple of times.

[AO2134]

Mhamby, I will definitely let you and all others who expressed interest in the hike know on here and through PMs when I start planning on hiking the Pinhoti. I am excited about another 335 miles of unexplored trail near me, although the road walks don't look that fun. Luckily the AL Pinhoti Trail is about 140+ miles of nearly continuous trails all the way to the GA border after the first road walk portion. I am less excited about the GA Pinhoti.

[LA_MantaRay12]

AO2134. Per my PM I too am very interested in this 2016 section hiking the Pinhoti. As my PM stated I am a newbie to backpacking so I am not so sure I will be able to keep up with you. I will add value on the hike should anyone drop something as I will find it as I bring up the rear.