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48.8 ~ Scott Lake Click for Full Size |
PTA Site Map / www.pinhotitrailalliance.org
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector
Trail Stewardship
07 / 15 / 04 ~ A day in the life of...
Where did I put that hammer? Jeez, it's easier to just let the alarm clock
go on. OK, OK, I'm up! Lets see, I need to take a shower, load up the pack
for an overnighter, load the weedeater in the truck and drive to Porter's
Gap, which is only 13 miles away, by 9:00. No problem. Well, it is raining but
that's not a problem because I'm not a fair weather friend, I'm the real
deal. When I went through the drive thru at the Ashland McDonald's the nice
young lady gave me a big smile and told me to have a nice day...
Hmmm... smiles can mean many things grasshoppa...
Great. I made it to the trailhead by 8:30 and Rehab isn't here yet, so I climb in the back
of the truck under the camper to eat. I've only met Rehab once. The ATCA had set up a
base camp at Turnipseed last year and we were working on a section of trail north of
Cheaha. I was on my way to the pump for coffee water one morning when I met him. He
was doing the Pinhoti-Chinnabee-Skyway loop and had hurt his knee, so we gave him a
shuttle up to his car on our way out to the trail. Six months later he sends me an email and
says he wants to work on some trails. Today is his first day.
The trailhead is in pretty good shape. While I'm waiting I manage to fill up a garbage bag
with beer bottles and KFC boxes, lopper off some overhanging limbs around the
perimeter, open up the trail entrance a little bit and work up the trail about a hundred
yards. Well, its 9:30 and Rehab is a no-show. No problem, --it happens.
Today I'm working in Section 9, the new 18 mile southern extension of the Pinhoti below
Porter's Gap. None of the trail has been cut out yet but the USFS has laid the flag line
already, so I have a general idea of what's up. The trail is expected to be completed by
the end of the year. The new southern terminus of the PT will be the Bull Gap Trailhead,
which is 10.5 miles east of Sylacauga on AL 148. The trail will run north along the Horn
Mountain Ridge for about 12 miles. At the microwave tower it will drop off on the west
side of the ridge down into the valley, go around Scott Lake and then on up to the
Porter's Gap Trailhead on AL 77, 8.9 miles east of Talladega.
There is a 3 mile Forest Service road that goes to Scott Lake, where I plan to put 1 of
the 2 designated campsites for Section 9. There are 2 gates on the road and the first
one is about a half mile in, its locked. No problem, --it happens. So I load up a full pack, 16
pound weedeater and a gallon of gas and start walking. Along the way I see a mud puddle
surrounded by Deer, Turkey and Raccoon tracks, lots of Black Eyed Susans, Seven Bark
blooming and plenty of Pines. On this side of the ridge you won't have any trouble
remembering that the USFS is trying to resurrect the natural state of the southern
forests: Long Leaf Pine, Hickory Oak and grasses.
Ah, here is the lake. Well, not exactly. The first time I came here was last winter when I
bushwhacked down the flag line south from Porter's Gap. This time, coming down the road
and with the summer foliage and all, I walk right past it. No problem, --it happens.
So, I spend a lovely day weedeating and loppering, taking lots breaks in the cascades
below the dam and finally laying out my bivy sack at what has to be the best campsite on
the planet. There is a "V" between the two mountains that hold the lake and looking
through it, you can see the Horn Mountain Ridge just a couple of miles away. Life is good.
A maintainers life is pretty tough. I won't kid you and don't kid yourself. This is a major
commitment. Maybe if we had about 50 more volunteers it wouldn't be as hard, but the
simple truth is that we don't and there are a lot of miles to cover. This is my fourth year
on the trail with close to a thousand volunteer hours and my two teachers at the A T C A
(Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama) have 10 and 15 years on the Pinhoti under their hip
belts. All of the maintainers I know at the different clubs are totally committed, so we
just do whatever it takes to get the job done. It's either dirty, hot and sweaty or it's
windy, freezing cold, and wet and about as physically demanding as any job around, but you
won't find a job anywhere with better scenery!
Got what it takes??
Solo
PTA Site Map / Top of Page ^-^
The Pinhoti Trail
A Southeast Region Appalachian Trail Connector
Trail Stewardship
07 / 15 / 04 ~ A day in the life of...
Where did I put that hammer? Jeez, it's easier to just let the alarm clock
go on. OK, OK, I'm up! Lets see, I need to take a shower, load up the pack
for an overnighter, load the weedeater in the truck and drive to Porter's
Gap, which is only 13 miles away, by 9:00. No problem. Well, it is raining but
that's not a problem because I'm not a fair weather friend, I'm the real
deal. When I went through the drive thru at the Ashland McDonald's the nice
young lady gave me a big smile and told me to have a nice day...
Hmmm... smiles can mean many things grasshoppa...
Great. I made it to the trailhead by 8:30 and Rehab isn't here yet, so I climb in the back
of the truck under the camper to eat. I've only met Rehab once. The ATCA had set up a
base camp at Turnipseed last year and we were working on a section of trail north of
Cheaha. I was on my way to the pump for coffee water one morning when I met him. He
was doing the Pinhoti-Chinnabee-Skyway loop and had hurt his knee, so we gave him a
shuttle up to his car on our way out to the trail. Six months later he sends me an email and
says he wants to work on some trails. Today is his first day.
The trailhead is in pretty good shape. While I'm waiting I manage to fill up a garbage bag
with beer bottles and KFC boxes, lopper off some overhanging limbs around the
perimeter, open up the trail entrance a little bit and work up the trail about a hundred
yards. Well, its 9:30 and Rehab is a no-show. No problem, --it happens.
Today I'm working in Section 9, the new 18 mile southern extension of the Pinhoti below
Porter's Gap. None of the trail has been cut out yet but the USFS has laid the flag line
already, so I have a general idea of what's up. The trail is expected to be completed by
the end of the year. The new southern terminus of the PT will be the Bull Gap Trailhead,
which is 10.5 miles east of Sylacauga on AL 148. The trail will run north along the Horn
Mountain Ridge for about 12 miles. At the microwave tower it will drop off on the west
side of the ridge down into the valley, go around Scott Lake and then on up to the
Porter's Gap Trailhead on AL 77, 8.9 miles east of Talladega.
There is a 3 mile Forest Service road that goes to Scott Lake, where I plan to put 1 of
the 2 designated campsites for Section 9. There are 2 gates on the road and the first
one is about a half mile in, its locked. No problem, --it happens. So I load up a full pack, 16
pound weedeater and a gallon of gas and start walking. Along the way I see a mud puddle
surrounded by Deer, Turkey and Raccoon tracks, lots of Black Eyed Susans, Seven Bark
blooming and plenty of Pines. On this side of the ridge you won't have any trouble
remembering that the USFS is trying to resurrect the natural state of the southern
forests: Long Leaf Pine, Hickory Oak and grasses.
Ah, here is the lake. Well, not exactly. The first time I came here was last winter when I
bushwhacked down the flag line south from Porter's Gap. This time, coming down the road
and with the summer foliage and all, I walk right past it. No problem, --it happens.
So, I spend a lovely day weedeating and loppering, taking lots breaks in the cascades
below the dam and finally laying out my bivy sack at what has to be the best campsite on
the planet. There is a "V" between the two mountains that hold the lake and looking
through it, you can see the Horn Mountain Ridge just a couple of miles away. Life is good.
A maintainers life is pretty tough. I won't kid you and don't kid yourself. This is a major
commitment. Maybe if we had about 50 more volunteers it wouldn't be as hard, but the
simple truth is that we don't and there are a lot of miles to cover. This is my fourth year
on the trail with close to a thousand volunteer hours and my two teachers at the A T C A
(Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama) have 10 and 15 years on the Pinhoti under their hip
belts. All of the maintainers I know at the different clubs are totally committed, so we
just do whatever it takes to get the job done. It's either dirty, hot and sweaty or it's
windy, freezing cold, and wet and about as physically demanding as any job around, but you
won't find a job anywhere with better scenery!
Got what it takes??
Solo
PTA Site Map / Top of Page ^-^
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