PTA Site Map / www.pinhotitrailalliance.org
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector
The Ramen Chronicles ~ 1
1 / 21 / 05 ~ Zen and the Art of Long Distance Hiking
Long distance hikes are great. Your mind and body will go to special places
they will never get to on a weekend hike. But beware, it can become habit
forming and there are a lot of long trails out there!
Trails like the Pinhoti are a good place to start. It's short enough that you don't forget
your name or where you live, but long enough so that the quietness has time to soak into
your bones. You may not realize how noisy your mind is until you do a long distance hike.
It's this quite that is habit forming and once you go down that road there is no turning
back!
There are other things that may happen to you on a long hike, some of them are good and
some are bad. Sounds a lot like your normal life huh? Well, it is like that. There are
always pluses and minuses.
For me the big plus is hearing the quiet and most times I do hear it, but sometimes I
don't.
For me the big minus is hiking not living up to my expectations and sometimes it doesn't,
but most times it does.
I spent 4 months on the Appalachian Trail in 2002. About 2000 to 3000 people start out
with intentions of finishing the whole trail every year and I think the majority are new to
long distance hiking. Only about 300 finish every year. Why is that? I spent a lot of time
thinking about that and there are a lot of reasons. I think I managed to narrow it down to
4 groups.
Group 1 ran out of money. (me!)
Group 2 got homesick.
Group 3 was suited to long distance hiking, but not this long!
Group 4 thought it was going to be different somehow from what it turned out to be;
expectations exceeding reality.
I think group 4 was what I saw the most and could be applied to a lot of people weather
it's on the AT, the Pinhoti or any other trail. Here are some thoughts I've had on the
subject as they relate to the Pinhoti.
Sections 5, 11, 12 and 13 are truly rugged, isolated wilderness areas. Seeing other hikers
is rare and signs of humanity in general is fairly rare also. The isolation is going to be very
hard and some may be disappointed because this is not like an episode from a AT Trail
Journal.
My opinion of trail journals is that some of them are mainly “after the fact how to
manuals” polished and ready for a discriminating consumer society. I've found very few
that will tell you how it really is.
The minute by minute reality of hiking is that it's like going to the YMCA every day and
climbing on a stair stepper and staying there for 10 hours. The only difference is that the
scenery is a lot better in the woods! Boring? can be, monotonous? can be, repetitive? can
be. It is also a pretty accurate reflection of true reality. Zen says recognize it for what
it is, without attaching an emotion to it, and move on.
You need to understand the extreme physical nature of hiking (reality) and place it above
all of your other expectations (non reality) before you head out the door with your pack
because you will be dealing with this for most of your waking hours.
Your ability to recognize, understand and deal with this in a patient manner will determine
not only your physical success but maybe more important, your mental success.
So there you go. The good, bad and the ugly. Now you’re ready for a nice long hike. Slow
down a little and listen to the quiet. It’s great.
Solo
1 / 5 / 05 ~ "The Wheel of Time"
or: Zen and the Art of Long Distance Hiking part 2
"It ought not to be this way, Bomar," said Cotton to the grey-bearded Dwarf on the seat
beside him, and then the buccan turned around again to look far back over the grassland
toward the distant border-forest. "No sir, it just ought not to be this way. When you say
goodbye to your best friend, you just ought to disappear with a flash and a bang and maybe
a puff of smoke, and get the goodbye over with all at once. Instead, we said goodbye
almost three hours ago, and here I can still see the silver glint of his armor in the Sun,
and maybe he can still see the gold in mine. It just makes the parting last longer."
Cotton once more faced the mountains, but he could not remain that way for long, and
again he turned to look back over the plains toward the river. "Oh," he said in a small,
dismayed voice, for the argent glint was gone, and Cotton felt as if he had somehow
betrayed Perry by not seeing the glimmer disappear. Glumly he faced forward along the
direction of march.
Stretching out before him was the long Dwarf column, feet tramping and wheels rolling
toward the mountains ahead. Except for the Army, and an occasional distant scout, Cotton
could detect nothing else moving across the prairie, not even the wind. With little to
distract him, the Warrow rode along in silence, feeling all alone amid an army of
strangers, paying scant heed to anything except his own wretchedness.
"Put your sorrow behind you, Friend Cotton," advised Bomar after a while, flicking the
reins lightly to edge Brownie and Downy a bit closer to the ranks ahead. "Though you have
parted from a boon comrade, do not dwell upon the woe of separation; think instead upon
the cheer of reunion, for you will have a tale to tell that he knows not and will hear from
him an adventure new to you."
"But Bomar" protested Cotton, "if it's tales and adventures we're living, well then I'd
rather be in the same story with my master than in a different one."
Bomar tugged on his grey beard and scowled. "Friend Cotton, you are not in a different
venture from your 'Mister Perry.' Aye, you are now separated from him, yet the tale is
the same- separate or together, we are all of us living in the same story: it is a tale that
was started before the beginning, before the world was made; and it will go on after the
end, when even the stars are unmade again. And in any tale such as this there are those
whose accounts seem always to touch, and those who weave in and out of the tales of
others, and many more whose narratives touch but once or never. Even twins, or brothers,
or kindred, or just good companions will have times of separateness. We must savor the
times we are together; and store up the times we are apart. Let not the sadness of
separation dull these jewels, but instead look with joy toward your reunion so that they
will brightly sparkle."
"Why, you've hit the nail right square, Bomar!" exclaimed Cotton in surprise, seeing the
separation in a different light. "We ARE still in the same story together. And I've got to
start living my part of it, looking at things through happy eyes, not sad ones, so that when
we get together again, well, I'll have some of them bright jewels to show him."
Had it been an overcast day, perhaps Cotton's somber mood would have clung longer, but
the Sun was shining in a high blue sky, and the Warrow's spirits rose with every turn of
the waggon wheel, until they were as bright as the day. "Bomar," added the Warrow after
a long while, "I do hope that Mister Perry has someone as wise as you to set him right
about being apart from a friend." A smile flickered over Bomar's face, but he said nought;
and the waggon rolled on.
Author: Dennis L. McKiernan
1986
5 / 17 / 02 ~ From My 3rd AT Thru Hike Attempt
Springer Mountain, GA to Harpers Ferry, WV
Not aware of buildings passing by until the sign; Gatlinburg. I am reminded of my hunger,
which reminds me of a moonlit night not long ago of yipping and howling in celebration of
the meal before me, which reminds me again of my hunger. 150 lbs, 4% body fat. Struggle,
release... struggle, release. The wind blowing through my leaves, the water flowing over
my rocky shoulders, the rain soaking my soil, the sun warming my fur. I am absorbed into
the environment part and parcel.
All is one.
6 / 7 / 02
My back to a rock, squatting high on a freezing, windy ridge a mile past Overmountain
Shelter eating cereal from a zip-loc bag at first light. The fog is curling over me and going
down into the valley below. I scan from left to right and back again. Suddenly something
big and dark crosses the trail 50' to the left in the fog. Not big enough to be a bear and
I'm not worried about a boar taking my food away. A small smile crosses my lips. King of
the jungle again today. Tomorrow...
Solo
09 / 13 / 04 ~ Simple Man
Mama told me when I was young: 'Come sit beside me, my only son, and listen closely to
what I say and if you do this it will help you some sunny day.'
'Oh, take your time, don't live too fast. Troubles will come and they will pass. Go find a
woman and you'll find love and don't forget, son, there is someone up above.'
'And be a simple kind of man, oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple
kind of man. Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can.'
'Forget your lust for the rich man's gold, all that you need is in your soul. And you can do
this if you try. All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied.'
'And be a simple kind of man, oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple
kind of man. Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can.'
'Boy, don't you worry, you'll find yourself. Follow your heart and nothing else. And you can
do this, oh baby, if you try. All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied.'
'And be a simple kind of man, oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple
kind of man. Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can.'
Lynard Skynard
08 / 23 / 04 ~ Trail Names
It's good to have a trail name isn't it? Usually the naming is spontaneous, but over time
the name will define who you are and hikers you meet can always sense this at a glance and
know it's a true name.
Naming yourself rarely works because the names are ego driven. True names are usually
spiritual and come from something sensed by someone outside yourself. Sometimes living
up to the name is hard and you may find yourself astray, but as the years go by you will
always come back to it.
Can you imagine the trials I've had over the last 25 years with a name like Solo? I didn't
ask for that name, but I've known all along that it was a true name. I like the way it
insinuates; be in the world but not of the world.
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to discover the depth of your name and
always be true to yourself.
Solo
08 / 19 / 04 ~ Tom and Normans Thru Hike
Every now and then I do an e-search for the Pinhoti to see if there is anything new going
on. I'm not sure how long Tom and Norman's Nov. 03 northbound trail journal has been
online, so some of you may have seen it already. If you haven't, then I think you will
thoroughly enjoy reading it.
They mention meeting us (ATCA) in Section 6 while we were cutting out blowdowns and I
remember them well. Great guys.
http://www.run42k.com/pth.htm
I liked it because it was honest. Sometimes the hiking, gear, trail, weather, sucks,
sometimes it doesn’t.
Yesterday I was up at the Hurricane Creek Bridge, which has a bridge log supplied by the
ATA. Sure enough, Tom and Norman signed it when they passed through last year.
On my Pinhoti Links page there are 2 other journals that I've found. One is by Waterfall,
who is a member of the Louisiana Hiking Club. It was the LHC that Tom and Norman
mention running across on the southern end of the trail. The ATCA (me, Miss Kenny, Tom
and Doug) and the LHC hiked together for 2 days from the USFS 500 Trailhead down to
Section 7, where we set up a base camp to do 4 days of trail maintenance in Section 6
while the LHC went on to Porter's Gap to finish up their thru hike. It was while we were
set up in Section 6 that we met Tom and Norman.
Any way, to make a long story even longer... Waterfall was not on that trip. I read her
journal several years ago and remember she was in a club in Mississippi or Louisiana so I
asked the LHC if they had ever heard of her. They all knew her and said she was a long
standing member and that she was very outgoing. They also told me something that I
never would have guessed in a million years. (If you read her journal you'll see exactly
what I mean.) She actually went on to complete a solo southbound hike on the AT, met a
hiker whom she married, came back and they each published a book on hiking!!
Any way, to make a long story even longer... I just thought it was kinda cool finding Tom
and Norman spore in 2 different places on 2 consecutive days and how time, people and
places can all come together to make a tapestry.
Solo
08 / 21 / 04 ~ Trail Trivia
Nothing especially important. Just something I came across a few weeks ago and forgot
to mention.
CR 8 / Salem Church Road is the last vehicle access point on the Pinhoti before it crosses
over into Georgia. Remember how it was paved for about 1/2 mile and then dirt for about
1 1/2 miles? Well now it's paved all the way through. It was done this past spring.
This road has been dirt it's entire life, which may have been 50, 100, 200 or more years,
and now it's not. I feel like I have lost something. Even though I'm not entirely sure that
paving it is a good thing and my life is certainly not convenience based, it is good to know
that I have year round access to this trail crossing. Also, if you have ever lived on a dirt
road you know that the folks living here are thrilled.
There is a strong romantic attachment to old dirt roads, old barns and cute little cows
but the reality of living on a dirt road, is, dirt. Everything you have ever owned, do own,
will ever own, is covered with, dirt.
Also, you have the 3 headed monster; ecotourism, ecotourism and ecotourism. I grew up in
north Georgia when everything above Atlanta was 2 lane tar and gravel roads and dirt
roads. 50 years later, it's a really large version of Disneyland. I can honestly say that I
am beyond pleased that there are enough jobs now for local people to put food on the
table and give their kids a bath every night with running water. When I was growing up not
everyone was able to do this, me included.
Romanticism vs reality...
My consolation is that even in N. Ga., once you get far enough in the woods where it
becomes too difficult to haul a case of beer, usually 1 mile, there is just you and the
woods. Hopefully, probably, that will never change.
Solo
PTA Site Map / Top of Page ^-^
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector
The Ramen Chronicles ~ 1
1 / 21 / 05 ~ Zen and the Art of Long Distance Hiking
Long distance hikes are great. Your mind and body will go to special places
they will never get to on a weekend hike. But beware, it can become habit
forming and there are a lot of long trails out there!
Trails like the Pinhoti are a good place to start. It's short enough that you don't forget
your name or where you live, but long enough so that the quietness has time to soak into
your bones. You may not realize how noisy your mind is until you do a long distance hike.
It's this quite that is habit forming and once you go down that road there is no turning
back!
There are other things that may happen to you on a long hike, some of them are good and
some are bad. Sounds a lot like your normal life huh? Well, it is like that. There are
always pluses and minuses.
For me the big plus is hearing the quiet and most times I do hear it, but sometimes I
don't.
For me the big minus is hiking not living up to my expectations and sometimes it doesn't,
but most times it does.
I spent 4 months on the Appalachian Trail in 2002. About 2000 to 3000 people start out
with intentions of finishing the whole trail every year and I think the majority are new to
long distance hiking. Only about 300 finish every year. Why is that? I spent a lot of time
thinking about that and there are a lot of reasons. I think I managed to narrow it down to
4 groups.
Group 1 ran out of money. (me!)
Group 2 got homesick.
Group 3 was suited to long distance hiking, but not this long!
Group 4 thought it was going to be different somehow from what it turned out to be;
expectations exceeding reality.
I think group 4 was what I saw the most and could be applied to a lot of people weather
it's on the AT, the Pinhoti or any other trail. Here are some thoughts I've had on the
subject as they relate to the Pinhoti.
Sections 5, 11, 12 and 13 are truly rugged, isolated wilderness areas. Seeing other hikers
is rare and signs of humanity in general is fairly rare also. The isolation is going to be very
hard and some may be disappointed because this is not like an episode from a AT Trail
Journal.
My opinion of trail journals is that some of them are mainly “after the fact how to
manuals” polished and ready for a discriminating consumer society. I've found very few
that will tell you how it really is.
The minute by minute reality of hiking is that it's like going to the YMCA every day and
climbing on a stair stepper and staying there for 10 hours. The only difference is that the
scenery is a lot better in the woods! Boring? can be, monotonous? can be, repetitive? can
be. It is also a pretty accurate reflection of true reality. Zen says recognize it for what
it is, without attaching an emotion to it, and move on.
You need to understand the extreme physical nature of hiking (reality) and place it above
all of your other expectations (non reality) before you head out the door with your pack
because you will be dealing with this for most of your waking hours.
Your ability to recognize, understand and deal with this in a patient manner will determine
not only your physical success but maybe more important, your mental success.
So there you go. The good, bad and the ugly. Now you’re ready for a nice long hike. Slow
down a little and listen to the quiet. It’s great.
Solo
1 / 5 / 05 ~ "The Wheel of Time"
or: Zen and the Art of Long Distance Hiking part 2
"It ought not to be this way, Bomar," said Cotton to the grey-bearded Dwarf on the seat
beside him, and then the buccan turned around again to look far back over the grassland
toward the distant border-forest. "No sir, it just ought not to be this way. When you say
goodbye to your best friend, you just ought to disappear with a flash and a bang and maybe
a puff of smoke, and get the goodbye over with all at once. Instead, we said goodbye
almost three hours ago, and here I can still see the silver glint of his armor in the Sun,
and maybe he can still see the gold in mine. It just makes the parting last longer."
Cotton once more faced the mountains, but he could not remain that way for long, and
again he turned to look back over the plains toward the river. "Oh," he said in a small,
dismayed voice, for the argent glint was gone, and Cotton felt as if he had somehow
betrayed Perry by not seeing the glimmer disappear. Glumly he faced forward along the
direction of march.
Stretching out before him was the long Dwarf column, feet tramping and wheels rolling
toward the mountains ahead. Except for the Army, and an occasional distant scout, Cotton
could detect nothing else moving across the prairie, not even the wind. With little to
distract him, the Warrow rode along in silence, feeling all alone amid an army of
strangers, paying scant heed to anything except his own wretchedness.
"Put your sorrow behind you, Friend Cotton," advised Bomar after a while, flicking the
reins lightly to edge Brownie and Downy a bit closer to the ranks ahead. "Though you have
parted from a boon comrade, do not dwell upon the woe of separation; think instead upon
the cheer of reunion, for you will have a tale to tell that he knows not and will hear from
him an adventure new to you."
"But Bomar" protested Cotton, "if it's tales and adventures we're living, well then I'd
rather be in the same story with my master than in a different one."
Bomar tugged on his grey beard and scowled. "Friend Cotton, you are not in a different
venture from your 'Mister Perry.' Aye, you are now separated from him, yet the tale is
the same- separate or together, we are all of us living in the same story: it is a tale that
was started before the beginning, before the world was made; and it will go on after the
end, when even the stars are unmade again. And in any tale such as this there are those
whose accounts seem always to touch, and those who weave in and out of the tales of
others, and many more whose narratives touch but once or never. Even twins, or brothers,
or kindred, or just good companions will have times of separateness. We must savor the
times we are together; and store up the times we are apart. Let not the sadness of
separation dull these jewels, but instead look with joy toward your reunion so that they
will brightly sparkle."
"Why, you've hit the nail right square, Bomar!" exclaimed Cotton in surprise, seeing the
separation in a different light. "We ARE still in the same story together. And I've got to
start living my part of it, looking at things through happy eyes, not sad ones, so that when
we get together again, well, I'll have some of them bright jewels to show him."
Had it been an overcast day, perhaps Cotton's somber mood would have clung longer, but
the Sun was shining in a high blue sky, and the Warrow's spirits rose with every turn of
the waggon wheel, until they were as bright as the day. "Bomar," added the Warrow after
a long while, "I do hope that Mister Perry has someone as wise as you to set him right
about being apart from a friend." A smile flickered over Bomar's face, but he said nought;
and the waggon rolled on.
Author: Dennis L. McKiernan
1986
5 / 17 / 02 ~ From My 3rd AT Thru Hike Attempt
Springer Mountain, GA to Harpers Ferry, WV
Not aware of buildings passing by until the sign; Gatlinburg. I am reminded of my hunger,
which reminds me of a moonlit night not long ago of yipping and howling in celebration of
the meal before me, which reminds me again of my hunger. 150 lbs, 4% body fat. Struggle,
release... struggle, release. The wind blowing through my leaves, the water flowing over
my rocky shoulders, the rain soaking my soil, the sun warming my fur. I am absorbed into
the environment part and parcel.
All is one.
6 / 7 / 02
My back to a rock, squatting high on a freezing, windy ridge a mile past Overmountain
Shelter eating cereal from a zip-loc bag at first light. The fog is curling over me and going
down into the valley below. I scan from left to right and back again. Suddenly something
big and dark crosses the trail 50' to the left in the fog. Not big enough to be a bear and
I'm not worried about a boar taking my food away. A small smile crosses my lips. King of
the jungle again today. Tomorrow...
Solo
09 / 13 / 04 ~ Simple Man
Mama told me when I was young: 'Come sit beside me, my only son, and listen closely to
what I say and if you do this it will help you some sunny day.'
'Oh, take your time, don't live too fast. Troubles will come and they will pass. Go find a
woman and you'll find love and don't forget, son, there is someone up above.'
'And be a simple kind of man, oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple
kind of man. Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can.'
'Forget your lust for the rich man's gold, all that you need is in your soul. And you can do
this if you try. All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied.'
'And be a simple kind of man, oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple
kind of man. Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can.'
'Boy, don't you worry, you'll find yourself. Follow your heart and nothing else. And you can
do this, oh baby, if you try. All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied.'
'And be a simple kind of man, oh, be something you love and understand. Baby, be a simple
kind of man. Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can.'
Lynard Skynard
08 / 23 / 04 ~ Trail Names
It's good to have a trail name isn't it? Usually the naming is spontaneous, but over time
the name will define who you are and hikers you meet can always sense this at a glance and
know it's a true name.
Naming yourself rarely works because the names are ego driven. True names are usually
spiritual and come from something sensed by someone outside yourself. Sometimes living
up to the name is hard and you may find yourself astray, but as the years go by you will
always come back to it.
Can you imagine the trials I've had over the last 25 years with a name like Solo? I didn't
ask for that name, but I've known all along that it was a true name. I like the way it
insinuates; be in the world but not of the world.
Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to discover the depth of your name and
always be true to yourself.
Solo
08 / 19 / 04 ~ Tom and Normans Thru Hike
Every now and then I do an e-search for the Pinhoti to see if there is anything new going
on. I'm not sure how long Tom and Norman's Nov. 03 northbound trail journal has been
online, so some of you may have seen it already. If you haven't, then I think you will
thoroughly enjoy reading it.
They mention meeting us (ATCA) in Section 6 while we were cutting out blowdowns and I
remember them well. Great guys.
http://www.run42k.com/pth.htm
I liked it because it was honest. Sometimes the hiking, gear, trail, weather, sucks,
sometimes it doesn’t.
Yesterday I was up at the Hurricane Creek Bridge, which has a bridge log supplied by the
ATA. Sure enough, Tom and Norman signed it when they passed through last year.
On my Pinhoti Links page there are 2 other journals that I've found. One is by Waterfall,
who is a member of the Louisiana Hiking Club. It was the LHC that Tom and Norman
mention running across on the southern end of the trail. The ATCA (me, Miss Kenny, Tom
and Doug) and the LHC hiked together for 2 days from the USFS 500 Trailhead down to
Section 7, where we set up a base camp to do 4 days of trail maintenance in Section 6
while the LHC went on to Porter's Gap to finish up their thru hike. It was while we were
set up in Section 6 that we met Tom and Norman.
Any way, to make a long story even longer... Waterfall was not on that trip. I read her
journal several years ago and remember she was in a club in Mississippi or Louisiana so I
asked the LHC if they had ever heard of her. They all knew her and said she was a long
standing member and that she was very outgoing. They also told me something that I
never would have guessed in a million years. (If you read her journal you'll see exactly
what I mean.) She actually went on to complete a solo southbound hike on the AT, met a
hiker whom she married, came back and they each published a book on hiking!!
Any way, to make a long story even longer... I just thought it was kinda cool finding Tom
and Norman spore in 2 different places on 2 consecutive days and how time, people and
places can all come together to make a tapestry.
Solo
08 / 21 / 04 ~ Trail Trivia
Nothing especially important. Just something I came across a few weeks ago and forgot
to mention.
CR 8 / Salem Church Road is the last vehicle access point on the Pinhoti before it crosses
over into Georgia. Remember how it was paved for about 1/2 mile and then dirt for about
1 1/2 miles? Well now it's paved all the way through. It was done this past spring.
This road has been dirt it's entire life, which may have been 50, 100, 200 or more years,
and now it's not. I feel like I have lost something. Even though I'm not entirely sure that
paving it is a good thing and my life is certainly not convenience based, it is good to know
that I have year round access to this trail crossing. Also, if you have ever lived on a dirt
road you know that the folks living here are thrilled.
There is a strong romantic attachment to old dirt roads, old barns and cute little cows
but the reality of living on a dirt road, is, dirt. Everything you have ever owned, do own,
will ever own, is covered with, dirt.
Also, you have the 3 headed monster; ecotourism, ecotourism and ecotourism. I grew up in
north Georgia when everything above Atlanta was 2 lane tar and gravel roads and dirt
roads. 50 years later, it's a really large version of Disneyland. I can honestly say that I
am beyond pleased that there are enough jobs now for local people to put food on the
table and give their kids a bath every night with running water. When I was growing up not
everyone was able to do this, me included.
Romanticism vs reality...
My consolation is that even in N. Ga., once you get far enough in the woods where it
becomes too difficult to haul a case of beer, usually 1 mile, there is just you and the
woods. Hopefully, probably, that will never change.
Solo
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