Pinhoti- Burns to GA- quick report

[ednotmilkman]

I was looking to see where to post some info under "trail conditions" or "trail journal", but ..... this is quicker.

The temp was hotter than my July 4th hike, but the snacks were just as good on my 2 day, 3 night hike!

I had all the muscadines I wanted. I rarely went more than 2 miles without finding some on the ground and then could get more by shaking the vine to fill my pocket. There were even two spots, north of US278, that had lots of bunch grapes. They don't compare with the muscadines though for sweetness; I'd say they must be wine grapes. Then the 3rd snack is one of those mysteries of life that make it worth hiking I guess. I'm guessing they are may-haws or paw-paws, but have not looked it up yet. I never could even find any hanging off a tree or bush, they were just laying there on the trail- sweet smelling, with edible light green skin, 3 or 4 big seeds and a taste between a peach and a mild persimmon.
 
The mosquitoes didn't seem bad at the time, until I got home and cleaned up. I've been itching for 4 days now. On the trail, I only spray around my ears when I hear them; I never notice them biting my ankles or back.  Cuffs warned me about the mini-ticks, and I saw 2 of them crawling in my tent one night, but never saw one crawling on me. That could be due to the fact that I took out my contacts at night and can still see close-up without them.

One suggestion, to whomever is responsible for the trail across Terrapin Creek, we need either a trail down off the roadbed to the creek, or a bucket and rope to fill water from the new bridge. I was looking forward to a bath and refilling my water supply as I set up my tent right on the edge of the bike path there, but quickly saw it was going to be a tough bushwhack down the steep bank through greenbriar and other thick stuff. The only people I met on the trail were 5 guys out for an early Sat morning ride on the bike trail as I was eating breakfast and packing up.

Good news on the GA side of the line - someone is half-way finished with a shelter on the creek at the 172 mile mark (of the Pinhoti pocket guide). Bad news- there was no water anywhere along that creek now.

Edwin

[MoBill122]

Good news on the GA side of the line - someone is half-way finished with a shelter on the creek at the 172 mile mark (of the Pinhoti pocket guide). Bad news- there was no water anywhere along that creek now.


Was this down where there was a tent platform?  I think I remember seeing one on the first creek after you come off the mountain top.   I walked all the way out to the road, the spouse was waiting for me... so I don't remember now.

[ednotmilkman]

hi mobill,

The tent platform is just above the Hawkins Hollow (assuming that is Hawkins Creek??) that is in Alabama between Hurricane creek and Flagpole Mtn. This new shelter is along the first creek in Georgia. They have the walls up but no roof yet. The creek by the tent platform has flowing water while the other creekbed had no puddles at all that I saw.

For what its worth, I lost the trail going up the hill east of that creek and bushwhacked with no luck even with my map and gps. Had to come out on a fire break road and go south of where the trail was on the edge of some planted loblollies, all the way to the road. It was getting dark, I was trying to make it out without digging my headlamp out. Then when I did was sure the trail was "gone", I refused to waste energy going back down the hill to pick it up again after I stopped to get out my light.

The mystery fruit I ate is pawpaw, tastier than the somewhat related "mawmaw".  Mayhaw, according to wikipedia, is an earlier ripening fruit.

[MoBill122]

 No... I meant on the Georgia side.....  seems there was a bridge in that area too.    BUT then... Its been to long for me to remember. !  LOL

 Thinking about going southbound through the Pinhoti this Spring.