Dugger - Jones Creek

[camel]

Great weekend in the woods!

Pinky's cabin - 21 scouts from Birmingham taking Pinhotti North over mountain to FS road.
There scheduled trip was Thompson Creek to big tree but rail closing caused re route- leaders (3 ) had done the weekend before and were impressed by the area.

Pinhotti in great shape- Jones creek trail risky( tie those laces tight here) in areas due to the heavy leaf cover over the rocky half mile before intersection with Pinhotti.

Drought carryover evident as reliable water sources lower than usual even with Thursdays rain.

Went up to see the Indian Dwelling Cave and was not happy to see a table- kitchen utensils - firewood ready and empty bottles down below- i know that there was some use before but this is an area that had some gps  postings and it that may have hurt an area- I know i am an AARP guy - but some area's are worth the reward of finding via perserverance and curiosity rather than a handheld device.

Reminder to  all it's hunting season - Pinkys had a dozen trucks with hunters eating lunch at noon on Sunday  - so wear Orange and be careful in the area's in wildlife managements area's.

[squidbilly]

Glad y'all had a great weekend.

Doesn't surprise me about the Indian Cave area. If you follow that branch up the hollow and on to the top of the ridge you'll find an ATV trail that runs almost all the way to the large camp on the Pinhoti.

The Dugger Wilderness is one area that could use some actual enforcement of the regs. I've reported some things in the past to the district office but never heard any follow-up on it.

[bear^2]

My wife and I walked in from a cemetary where a geocache was place off FS Road 500 just before you get to the pinhoti trail.  We generally use geocaches as waypoints/expected parking.  Not a lot of parking due to private land that borders the eastern side of the wilderness, but there are a few spots where this area is accessible.  We made our way parallel to Dugger Mountain until we hit the Dry Creek area and explored that area for a bit before we gave up near the base of Dugger.

There are several old road beds in this area that wind through the forest, and there are quite a few "little hills" that will wear you out if you choose to go as the crow flies.  I would recommend planning your route carefully if you would like to travel any distance in this area of the forest.  We were there in late summer, and the area was covered in poison ivy for miles and the bees seemed to have quite an affinity for this area as well.  Also saw a black racer and a copper head.

We will have to give the Pinhoti in that area a try.  We usually shy away from the trails to avoid the masses.

[vapor]

You shouldn't have to worry about masses of people on Pinhoti. I have covered 140 miles of sections on the Alabama side & came across the bulk of people in Cheaha/Talledega area but even then the number was small. Some days I encountered noone at all other than myself of those I was traveling with.

[squidbilly]

You shouldn't have to worry about masses of people on Pinhoti. I have covered 140 miles of sections on the Alabama side & came across the bulk of people in Cheaha/Talledega area but even then the number was small. Some days I encountered noone at all other than myself of those I was traveling with.

I agree, I hardly see more than 1 or 2 people when I hike the Pinhoti. Sometimes I see no other hikers either, Vapor. 
The other places along the Pinhoti I've run into others are: Coleman and Sweetwater Lakes and around Shoal Creek Church.