Gearing up for Pinhoti.

[AdamSean]

I have never been on the Pinhoti Trail before, but am planning for late spring.  I am taking anywhere from 5 to 6 days.  Can anyone offer me a good trail or two to take.  I plan on taking many pictures and just trying to get away form it all.  Let me know the good trails and where I can get some topo maps.

[Cuffs]

I have never been on the Pinhoti Trail before, but am planning for late spring.  I am taking anywhere from 5 to 6 days.  Can anyone offer me a good trail or two to take.  I plan on taking many pictures and just trying to get away form it all.  Let me know the good trails and where I can get some topo maps.

Im slightly confused as to your hiking intentions...  are you wanting to hike the Pinhoti for 5-6 days?  Or just feeder trails to or near the Pinhoti?  You could cover alot of ground on the PT in that amount of time.  It is a fabulous and very scenic trail no matter what section you go.  I suggest any area north of I20 for water source reasons...

[AdamSean]

Yeah I am wanting to travel as far as I can in those 5 or 6 days.

[ednotmilkman]

you can order the Alabama Pinhoti trail section maps  and the 2008 updated non-topo map of the whole Talladega & Shoal Creek districts N.F. from

http://theforestplace.usi.../merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT

 I'm pretty sure you can get them also at several retail outfitters and at Cheaha State Park camp store.

Section 1, the northern AL end, has not been updated with the last 12.8 miles that cross into Georgia.

I printed out the maps available online from Mr. Parkay

http://parkaymaps.110mb.com/

which are not as fine a scale, but they do show the updates. You could get by without using any of the 6 except the section 4 map, IMO, if you were comfortable with your compass and Mr. Parkay's maps . You need the section 4 map because of all the great, and potentially confusing, side trails in Cheaha Wilderness and in the state park.

[Cuffs]

The FS maps of the PT are over 10 years old.  I would hesitate to suggest their use as the trail has had relo's and additions since originally published.  Mr. Parkay's maps are the best that is currently available.

FWIW, NatGeo and the FS are in talks of mapping and publishing a water/tear proof map like those that cover our National Parks!  No word when talks will be done and mapping will begin... its all still being negotiated...

[dogwood]

You can currently purchase a tear/water proof map from the Park Store at the top of the mountain.  It costs $21, and shows the trail(not to scale, or topo) from Bull Gap to Hwy 278.  It's a good purchase, but i'd love to see section maps made that way!

[goodbouy]

Hello..I have been looking into the P.T. also. I could do 5-6 days...want company? and about when? That may give me enough time to gather stuff and plan...jusy checking. I'm from Mobile.

[Magic City Matt]

You could get by without using any of the 6 except the section 4 map, IMO, if you were comfortable with your compass and Mr. Parkay's maps . You need the section 4 map because of all the great, and potentially confusing, side trails in Cheaha Wilderness and in the state park.

Map 4 is pretty great just because it does have all the side trails. There are a bunch in that region and not a lot of coverage of them elsewhere.

[ednotmilkman]

the  2008 map edition of the Talladega & Shoal Creek N.F. Districts IS made from the semi-glossy , full color, tear and water resistant paper.  It's great for showing all the access roads to the trailheads and it shows which type all the FS roads are in the legend. It shows the major side trails, but the scale at 1/2" per mile is not detailed enough to navigate with.

Let us know when either of you, Adam or goodbuoy, get ready to hike, a few of us might try to join you for a night or two if we can and you want a bit of company.

[ednotmilkman]

p.s.

Not sure if my map is the same as the $21 one dogwood mentioned. I think mine cost only $9,  but don't remember for sure.  the number on the back is R8-RG-238

Edwin