Trail Report 8/7/11

[wyleone]

We hiked from Clairmont gap to the Cave creek connector (then through cave creek trail to the parking area.

Before we got on the trail we pulled our vehicles onto the skyway just east of the gap. When one of the drivers got out, within three feet of his door was a nice fresh pile of bear scat. hehehe. One of our scouts got out of the truck and he had a tick on him in less than 5 minutes. And so it went...

We gave our scouts the option of hiking up the skyway or entering at the gap and come what may. They were gung ho and we went up the trail at Clairmont gap. I pre hiked the first half mile and cleared some brush with my machete'. Then the whole group headed out. It is totally hike-able, very few thorns. One note. Spray up with Deet, don't use repellent wipes. The chiggers are nasty in this area. I used Ben's wipes, and had no chiggers except where they went though my socks, (liners too). They found where I stopped with the wipes and tore me up, just at the ankle line.  They got a few scouts that used the lemon eucalyptus stuff. Apparently it only works on mozzies.

The ridgeline to Burgess point was beautiful and somewhat uneventful. after Burgess point there were a few fresh blow downs in the trail that took only a minute more to bypass.

There were a bunch of dry spring crossings. The first water we found to use was at Double springs, just before the camp. We all refilled there using a water filter. The same creek bed was dry almost all the way to the camp site and just emerged right before it.
The second spring crossing was dry. We found no more till after Adams gap.

Part of the sign at the CST was missing, we hiked down the CST for about an eighth of a mile before I caught it on the GPSr.
So we had to backtrack.

The wrong turn and a few scouts not being prepared  we ran late and camped on the trail at the sign board north of Adams gap. Luckily over half the group had Hammocks and not tents. there was plenty of hanging room. I had been toally soaked 10 minutes from Clairmont gap so I had to wash the hammocks when I got home. None of us had bug nets but all treated with permithrin, I had little trouble with any bugs.
 

[wyleone]

After that  there were 4-5 streams that had had running water in them between adams gap and the stairway. We topped up from one of them. After reaching heaven, we found no water on the ridge, (Other than the two gallons left by Squidbilly, for us. There was wet sand at the Turnipseed trail junction in the stream bed, not enough to dig out water though. We used a lot of water by then and when we got to the cave creek connector (red blaze) we crossed over and completed our trip on CC trail. Cave creek had lots of water in it. almost enough to sit in. (We didn't) But we completely filled up at CC and finished up or trek within an hour. 20.68 trail miles. I guess the detour down CST pushed us over the 20 mile mark.

A few notes: The map says that the Pinhoti distance from Clairmont Gap and Adams gap was 5.8 miles? I used a high end GPSr that had little trouble tracking me in the dense canopy and it called it 7.4 miles by the trail. I also noted that the maps do not show half the switchbacks that there are on this stretch.  Since I had planned by the map....We never made it to the camp we wanted to stay at.

The sign at the CST junction was a bit misleading. The sign is either missing part or is just facing the wrong direction. Since you are on a switchback, it appears you are headed in the right direction for the road. You are not, Plus the CST has white blazes painted over blue blazes. So they look like faded blue blazes. Moral of the story, the road is uphill from the sign, not down.

On the first 2 miles from Clairmont gap, there is poison ivy on the trail, but either we all were immune or it wasn't at a stage to cause a reaction. None of our ten had a reaction.

The trail from Adams gap to CC connector was far more traveled and easier to travel somewhat than the section south of Adams gap. But don't let that deter you. You can do it, and it is worth the few issues.

I can't wait for the return trip this fall when the tree colors are turning. I will have to get working on my lightweight UQ.

[stevebo]

  Thanks for the report!   The info about water availability was especially helpful-----------Ive got a trip planned next month, and will keep that info in mind----------thanks!   

[Mountain Dog]

Good report.  I'm surprised you found water between Adams and the top but not at the trails crossings.  The two creeks on the east side of the mountains (on Nubbib and CC) do not parallel the water availability on the west side (Pinhoti) but I've found the creeks north of Adams to run drier than the water source at the trails crossing.  I think the scat you saw was from Big Foot.  Big Foot would make a better story around the camp fire than a bear.  As my daddy always told me, "Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story."

[wyleone]

I was paying close attention to the weather prior to our trip and saw that a few T-storms lingered along the trail two days before we arrived, that may be why the Northern streams were running. That section of ridge may have gotten more rain. All the stream beds that were dry did appear to have has water flowing in them recently.

I was actually a bit surprised to see some bear scat, but that would be where i would expect to notice it. I probably would not have noticed had it been on the trail in that area. A bear standing still near those outcrops would have gone unnoticed too. There is just too many places to either blend in or hide. Plus 6 teenagers making a rukus as we went, we din't see much of any wildlife. Just a few hawks gathering up the field mice we scared up.

[squidbilly]

Nice trail report Wyleone. When you say the sign at the CST junction was misleading, do you mean the spot where the Pinhoti intersects the Skyway Loop Trail near Adams Gap?  Some of us were talking about reblazing the Skyway Loop Trail--apparently it needs new blazes badly. Sorry we have not done it yet. 
So, you didn't get to see McDill Point. Now you have a good excuse for that return trip later this fall.
Did the water help?  Two gallons is not a lot of water considering the size of your group, but I was hoping it would get y'all across the ridge to Cave Creek.

[wyleone]

Yes the water was just what we needed, it kept us from heading to Turnipseed for a fill up. We were having some issues with one of the scouts by then so we may not have come back had he got worse. The water did indeed made it possible to get to cave creek.

No we did not get to see McDill. I was really disappointed but didn't show that to the scouts. Yes we are in the process of making plans for Mid October.

I meant the junction for the Pinhoti and the Cinnebie Silent trail south of Adams gap. It is only a few hundred yards south of Adams gap. But it was on a switch back so By GPSr it looked like I was headed to the road when I was actually headed away by the trail.

That backpacking trip goes down as one of the best scouting trips I have been on. We will be back. That trip was more satisfying than our trip to the AT in North Carolina in June.

[Firedog]

Squidbilly, we have to get back on that reblazing jag again. As soon as it cools off a bit. The USFS said painting would be better. I can make us a jig for a pattern & white is the color for all side trails off the Pinhoti.

[wyleone]

Do you use reflective White Blazes? or just plain white? I noticed that the two "white" blazes had blue under them. Maybe someone else blazed too far with Blue at one time then went back with white? I could see the blue and it kept me going with reinforcement of the confusion at the sign and Delorme's questionable trail lines. (Their roads are very accurate but trails.....not even close)

I can't promise I can do this but please post up when you put this on the calendar, I will see if I can help. I would like to give back to what such a great trail has given me.

[Mountain Dog]

The Chinnabe Silent does not intersect the Pinhoti south of Adams Gap.  That was the Skyways Loop Trail.  Glad you did not have to go to Turnipseed and back for water.  It would hae been easier to go to Nubbin and Back because of the elevation change.  At least that is my opinion.  However, Turnipseed is by far the more reliable water.

[squidbilly]

Squidbilly, we have to get back on that reblazing jag again. As soon as it cools off a bit. The USFS said painting would be better. I can make us a jig for a pattern & white is the color for all side trails off the Pinhoti.

For sure-we really need to do this.
I cut a 2"x 5" blaze template out of a plastic car tag to spray paint over.  
Sounds like we need some better signage at the intersections too. Since the FS wants us to paint the blazes, maybe you can use the white reflective stuff you have for intersection signs/arrows.

[Firedog]

Wyleone, I have some metal reflective sign stock that is 2" wide and can be cut to length. I approached the USFS last winter about installing new metal  blazes with long galvanized nails so the attachment to the tree would be loose. I never got clearance. I was told it would have to be sent up the ladder for an approval. I did get clearance to spray the blazes though. I still plan to try again as soon as it gets a little cooler. It is our intentions to re blaze the skyway loop and CST. There has been some interest in night hiking and these sections would be great for that. Reflective blazes would be a plus if spaced line of sight to the next blaze for night hiking. Also could help in preventing a rescue situation. Sorry we hijacked your thread.

[buck]

Carl - count me in whenever you get ready to reblaze the trails.

[wyleone]

No prob on the hyjack. Whoever is looking for a trail report will get a lot of good info.

The blazes would have to be really close for night hiking. Far closer than they are now, we actually had an issue backtracking because the blazes were quite far apart. I used the backtrack function to get back on trail in the end. 

I must have been mixed up the Skyway loop trail must be what I was confused about.

I have seen the reflective sign material used in the Conecuh NF. It worked well as you can see forever in the long leaf pine forests. The only drawback is they are plastic, and every so often they have to do maintenance burns in the NF and it melts all the signage.

[squidbilly]

Thumb tacks & white reflective tape. Barely noticeable it in the daylight, but lights up nicely under the headlamp beam.

[dogwood]

Carl, if it's where i can, i'd love to help with the reblazing!  I definately agree that cooler weather would be better...

[blisterbob]

I would be glad to furnish any shuttle needs for people and material.

[Firedog]

We'll get this together and plan a weekend to do this maybe as an overnighter so we can make a determination on the metal reflector strips. blisterbob, it would be comforting to park at your place. Knowing our vehicles would be safe and get a shuttle.
I will check my calendar and throw out some proposals for dates and post them on a new thread under events or something. I will also call the USFS and touch base with them again to get their input.

Suggestions if you got'em...always welcome.