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Hiking on Trail After 1,000 Miles of Road
This morning I woke up around 5:30am at the Pinhoti outdoor center. Morning came quickly, as we stayed up pretty late last night watching a movie. Then watched an episode of Alone after that. Town just makes me want to hang out and not sleep! It’s a blessing and a curse.
But I got up and began getting packed. Last night I didn’t do my writing either, but I managed to get that done once I was packed. I even got a short video edited too before we got picked up by Chuck Norris. Over the last 39 days I’ve definitely began to master the time that it takes for me to get all of my “work” done. I try to always have everything done the same day, but I know that I can get stuff done in a pinch if I have about 20-30 minutes. Especially if I’ve already done some component on the editing in advance to take some of the effort out of it.
Chuck Norris came and picked us up a little after 6am. Before we left we threw out old shoes into the shoe tree at the POC. Now I have 2 pairs of shoes up in that tree somewhere. Then Chuck drove us back down the road to where we got picked up yesterday. The section is right where the trail picks up off of the road after you cross over highway 280. We said goodbye to Chuck and then began heading off into the woods. Where we’re going to be all day long!
A trail marker that someone hit with a paint ball.
It was a cruisy start to the day with only very gradual climbs. We did pop out onto a road briefly, but then got back onto dirt track and eventually continued through the woods. The rest of the day we’ll be on trail the entire time. The only time you even see a road is when you have to cross over it to get to the trail on the other side. What a lovely change of pace. It felt so good walking through the pine forest. The ground was covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves and pine needles. And as the day continued on we started getting into some more climbing.
I recall the Pinhoti trail had alot of climbing. But a lot of it is fairly gradual or a bit shorter than the climbs you get on the AT. It just felt so good though to move my body in different ways. Working my calves and my quads out as we ascended a large hill. Some of the climbs were pretty steep. But if they were, they were over quickly. We spent the afternoon going uphill for a while. Then the trail would flatten out or go down. Then we would climb up another small hill. It was a nice routine and I really didn’t mind it. I’m glad to be getting some training in before the AT.
Doing a small climb this morning along the Pinhoti trail.
It’s funny how well I remember this trail so far. As the day began I found myself predicting how the trail would twist and turn. When it would shift into a switchback, or when it would lead us up to the top of a hill. I remember this trail so fondly from my time on it in 2023. After climbing to the top of one hill we arrived at some sort of tower and electrical building. Then had a steep paved path down the hill. That would bring you back down to the dirt track below, and then over to the pine trail once more.
A blue Pinhoti trail blaze.
All of these things were so memorable to me. I found myself realizing where I had camped last time too. I did very short days on the Pinhoti to start back in 2023. The first few days I only did around 13-15 miles. As I was recovering from some pretty bad IT band issues from my previous PCT thru hike at the end of 2022. I ended that hike in December of 2022 and was limping for the last few hundred miles. Once I got home it took until mid January before I could walk without a limp. So when I got onto the Pinhoti in February of 2023, I was nervous about re-injuring myself. So I started the trail nice and easy to allow myself to get comfortable first and avoid getting hurt again.
The water cache at Bull’s Gap.
We wound up hiking continuously this morning until about 11:30am. Then when we came to Bull’s Gap we decided to stop off for our lunch break. We had gone a little over 16 miles already for the day with 2500 feet of elevation gain. There was water cache there at the gap so we filled up. And I ate my 3 leftover pizza slices from last night. That was a fantastic lunch. I also did some stretching and drank a bunch of water. Then filled some more up for the next stretch. We wouldn’t be passing water again until we got to our camp site for the night, in another 16 or so miles.
Bull’s Gap Trailhead.
Leaving the gap we had a fairly big climb coming up. But I was pleasantly surprised how incredibly gradual it was. I was fueled up from lunch too, which helped me to feel even better. We cruised on up the climb and it leveled out after a while. Then we were walking along a pretty flat trail for the next couple of miles. With one hill thrown in there every now and again. It felt so good though to breathe heavier and actually have to work. The road walking was such a different game.
One of the great views that we got today after a climb.
Around 2:30pm we made it to another high point. This was right near where I had previously camped when I was coming through here. There was an overlook with a bench right by it, and just enough room for a tent. But this time around we’re going a bit further, so we only stopped off around this area for a break. When we came to a lookout surrounded by some rocks we decided to hang out there for a bit. We only had around 6 or so miles remaining for the day.
Punisher on top of an overlook point.
As we sat there we had exceptional views of the mountains in the distance. It was a bit overcast with some clouds blocking the sun from poking through. There was a light breeze in the air. And we sat there for a while just enjoying it all. It feels so good to be back! Days like today are what I live for. Spending the day in the woods, with beautiful views, working out your body with some nice climbs. Oh how I missed this.
Gorgeous views as we made our way up one of the final climbs of the day.
We stayed at the overlook for a while before continuing on. Then continued climbing on and off for the next mile or so. Within the next hour we popped out at another stunning overlook. The views today have been spectacular. There was a bit more climbing after that. But then the last few miles of the day were completely downhill.
At one point we passed a camp site with a handful of guys hanging out by a fire. As we walked by one guy called out “Peg Leg?” Apparently he just started watching my videos in the last week. He was really surprised to be seeing us out here. They offered us water, but we didn’t need any. The next creek was only a few miles away.
After talking to them we continued on the trail. And within the next half an hour we walked past a couple who was going the opposite direction. The guy looked at us and got so excited. He said “Aren’t you those ECT calendar year triple crown guys??” Apparently he had reached out to me earlier today but I hadn’t had great service over the course of the day. He’s local to the Heflin area, where we’ll be in about 2 more days. He offered to help us in any way he can, which is so incredibly nice. I’ll be reaching out in the next day or so once we have a better idea of our plan.
The sun beginning to set near our tent site.
That was a pretty random and exciting 30 minute period. Meeting multiple people who have been watching the videos so far this year. After that it was quite literally all downhill from there. We continue down a large hill making our way to the creek below. That was the next water source and we planned to set up camp nearby.
Once we got to the bottom of the hill we did have to navigate around 2 water crossings to avoid getting our feet wet. Then grabbed water and walked a bit further to a tent site. There was a perfectly flat spot with views of a pond down below. We got set up well before dark and I began boiling water to make a Mountain House meal. The beef lasagna one, which is one of my all time favorites. After I ate I did my stretching, ate some candy, and got a little bit of video work done too. Then called it a night!
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Comments 14
O finally in the woods – just beautiful! Just wondering if Long Shot met up with you? Glad you are totally enjoying yourself & reminiscing, too!
From the information you posted about the miles hiked and the days taken I’ve calculated you’ve hiked nearly 30 miles a day.
That seems superhuman to me!
Fantastic post- those overlook shots are stunning! So happy for you and your fans along the trail to give you the kudos you deserve!
ECDT hikers will soon follow the date of PCT hikers. They will not be able to enter Canada at least until 4 years have past.
Plus the IAT Quebec trail is a permit trail with a detailed reservation system in place which must be followed. Most ECDT hikers dont even know about the permits costs and if they do not pay this fee, they will have a bill of over 2000.00cad to pay immediately and be forced off the trail back to the border.
FYI.
Why would a hiker with appropriate documents (passport, required trail permits) not be allowed into Canada?
They can enter Canada thru port entries, just not hike straight in on the trail. It’s like entering any country, you need the proper passport and/or visa, identification, and in some cases a specific permit, you can’t just stroll on in.
Peg Leg
You are about to enter my favorite part of Pinhoti Trail near Cheaha State Park. Trail is amazing in early November each year with such leaf litter that it cushions your walking. So glad you are of Hwy 231, and on trail “in the woods”.
Fantastic post. Those views are spectacular ❤️ That camp site looks pretty darn perfect too ❤️
I’m sure you heard your (only because you recently worked/lived in the City) Philidelphia Eagles won the Superbowl – they played an amazing game. Sad for our Chiefs but they just didn’t show up last night ❤️
Fly Eagles Fly
Just face the facts. You’re becoming famous.!!! Excellent.!!! Great post. Great to see you back in the mountains.
Thank you.!!!
That is true Pegleg. You are becoming famous. I have been following your blogs for two years now and other bloggers are mentioning you more and more in their blogs.
I’m hoping you can get to Heflin late Tuesday or very early Wednesday. Big storms with flood advisory are forecast for Wednesday of this week. Stay dry and have fun.
Glad you’re back in the woods. Thanks for continuing your excellent chronicling.
Hi! I look forward to reading your blog as part of my normal routine. Hopefully you signed the board at POC-I still want to hike it this year if possible. I recommend you hike the approach trail out of Amicalola if possible since it was part of the original AT-lots of
history as you go up to Springer