Interesting Pinhoti Trail Journal and Pictures

[buck]

I'm sure this one may have been mentioned here before, but just in case it has not: http://purebound.com/journal/pinhoti/

I really enjoyed the reading the journal and viewing the 100's - maybe 1,000 - of pictures.

Pictures of days 9 - 17 are here (no journal) http://purebound.com/trails/pinhoti/
 

[Firedog]

hey man thanks for sharing this journal. I haven't seen it before. I always like reading trail journals. My wife and I are wanting to maybe do an overnighter in April. Give me a shout sometime. We might could do a section of the Pinhoti. Carl W. 256.four five three.3775

[jaybird]

I got a big kick out of their experience at Talladega Creek:

"We haven’t seen any other hikers. We did see two folk living off a dead-end road at Talladega Creek. After filling up our water bottles, we headed back to the trail. A man with long golden hair flagged us down and seemingly insured us we could stay at his campsite for five dollars. His approach and physical appearance were enough to say “no thanks”."

They are no doubt referring to Trig -- the man who lives in the home beside Talladega Creek with his wife Alice.  They are a simple couple, who literally try to live off the land.  They run the "Red Wagon Retreat" beside the creek there, and own the land on both sides of the concrete bridge where the road (which does not dead-end) and trail crosses Talladega Creek just beyond the CSX tracks.  The campground that they were referring to is available to hikers for $5 per night and even has a hand-dug privy.

They are quite the eccentric couple, running an honest-to-goodness trading post based on the barter system.  The water in his home comes from Blue Creek, a feeder to Talldega Creek.  You'll see pails hanging all over the maple trees on the property where he makes his own syrup.  Before coming to the property, the area near the bridge was known as a weekend hangout for teens and had literally become a dump.  Trig and Alice cleaned it all up and guard it with their lives.  When a hiker comes down the road in front of their house (as the Pinhoti does), they know it!  They have many dogs, but they have always welcomed me when I walk to the front door.  I frequently park my truck in the lot across from their home and leave a small donation in the kiosk box.  To know that my vehicle will be watched like a hawk is priceless while I'm out hiking!  I've had endless conversations with Trig that have lasted longer than my hikes.  He is a brilliant man.  Get him tell you of his theories of the Rothschilds running the global economy in secret!  I'm not sure of the origin of his accent -- Nordish I believe he told me. 

Trig and Alice are one of the Pinhoti's great assets.  I understand where this couple's fears were coming from, but had they listened a little more and watched a little less Law & Order -- they might've gotten it.

[Joshua Szulecki]

Jay,

You know, it's funny that you bring up the Law & Order style fear mentality... I've been noticing over the years that a lot of people have an irrational fear of rural encounters, but are irrationally fearless in urban areas. Having spent a lot of time in all three major population zones (urban, suburban, and rural) in my life, I'm always surprised how cavalier urbanites and suburbanites are about their safety in even the most dangerous neighborhoods, and yet how hyper-vigilant they are in rural areas. I blame Deliverance, which is, incidentally, my favorite comedy.

I try to make it my mission to take urbies and burbies out into the sticks and force them to wave at passing cars and whatnot.

[Firedog]

That's funny Josh. I also have had a few conversations with Trig on occasion. He will watch your vehicle while hiking or boating for a $2 donation. I thought his wife was named Laverne, my mistake. The last time I was by there he was telling me about his new trading post. He loves to talk about his chickens and Alice knows every plant in the forrest. Even though they are a little eccentric they are a wealth of knowledge on local stuff. After you cross the concrete bridge there is road that goes back to the left. It looked odd to me at the cut in the rocks. I asked Trig about the road, he said it was an old RR bed that was taken up in 1928. If you are ever  by there stop and visit with Trig. It will be a nice visit and you will leave smarter.

[ednotmilkman]

In rural areas, I have faith still that "to make a friend, be a friend", or at least look them in the eye and smile if your accent or your language is foreign.

[Tim Rich]

Jay,

You know, it's funny that you bring up the Law & Order style fear mentality... I've been noticing over the years that a lot of people have an irrational fear of rural encounters, but are irrationally fearless in urban areas. Having spent a lot of time in all three major population zones (urban, suburban, and rural) in my life, I'm always surprised how cavalier urbanites and suburbanites are about their safety in even the most dangerous neighborhoods, and yet how hyper-vigilant they are in rural areas. I blame Deliverance, which is, incidentally, my favorite comedy.

I try to make it my mission to take urbies and burbies out into the sticks and force them to wave at passing cars and whatnot.

So true.  I think folks from the city believe they are protected by local police, and they feel all alone in the country.  Police officers do an incredible job, but because most urban/suburban dangerous situations play out quickly, they usually get there in time to string the police tape.  In most cases, if you find yourself in a tough spot, you are alone.  City or trail, it's up to the individual to be aware of potential trouble and take steps to avoid, defuse, flee, confront or eliminate it.