Start of the Appalachen: The Pinhoti Trail (ECT Day 70)

“You have to manage without pocket handkerchiefs and many other things, Bilbo -Baggins before we reach the trips. They were born in the gentle hills and small rivers of the Auenland. But the home is now behind you. The world is in front of us. “

– Gandalf (in Hobbit: an unexpected trip)

• Hiked today: 23.4 miles

  • Pinhoti Trail (0 – 23.4)

• Total hiking: 1,534.9 miles
• Totally paddled: 99.5 miles

Weather: 38-75 ° F, sunny and clear with occasional breeze … wonderful.

Height: 545 – 1,261 foot

Flagg Mountain to the Pinhoti Outdoor Center

Today I started the Pinhoti Trail! This is a big moment. I used to mention how the Alabama Road Section was something that I saw as a “obstacle”, and at a time I wrote that I was “nervous in this section than any other”, so it feels good to be beyond this point and for the next 3,000 miles mostly have a excursion. Woohoo!

I will also say that my fears of Alabama were mostly unjustified. For those who think about making the ect, the streets are very feasible and can be fun if they have a flexible setting. Apart from that, the support crew changed things very much with me and it would have looked completely different without them. I am so happy to have Super Strider Sheryl and the Master Trailsman in my team!

A few days ago I posted a photo on Instagram of my Pink -Sparatkeit -Store/Florida -Vibes shirts and asked if I should change it up to date or to anything else. 81% of the people who answered stated that they kept it. Therefore, people spoke. I will see how long I can endure the stains and the general grimity, haha.

Start the Pinhoti Trail

Papa and I started pretty quickly this morning. There was frost on the windshield and the thermometer of the truck was between 32 and 38 ° F when we drove back to the flagg mountain. This campsite was the most distant, so it took about 45 minutes. Much had to do with the fact that it was slow windy streets.

I was discontinued shortly after 8:00 a.m. And Papa went back to move the camp again. They planned to continue a little on the trail in the Cheasha State Park. So I had recharged my pack again. This felt right, the idea that he was fine in my head for the roadside, but not so much on the way. I had the feeling that I wanted everything back. I immediately noticed the weight when I hiked from the parking lot to the Flagg Mountain Tower.

I took my short stretch session and then took my first steps on the pinhoti trail!

I loved it from the start. Like yesterday's path, this path is a wound to handle steep gorges. However, the path was so beautiful … well designed with sustainable notes and good profile. Of course, this only took a short way for the steeply up and down, but hey, it was wonderful while it was time!

It was beautiful this morning and the sunshine contributed to increasing everything. I mean, I hugged a tree directly at one point. Then you know it's a good day! This is not the first time that I am forced from this urge on the way. At the CDT in Colorado, the aspens spoke to me after a long walking walk and filled my soul. Here the natural world has rejuvenated my mind.

“If you know that you love the earth, it changes it, activates it to defend, protect and celebrate. But if you feel that the earth loves it in return, this feeling transforms the relationship from a one -way street into a holy bond. “

– Robin Wall Kimmerer in lichen sweet grass: indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants

My favorite section of the morning was a Ridge walk. The view to the left showed that the hill turned down to the lowlands and to the right was essentially a cliff to Weogufka Creek. On the right it seemed what I would call as swallowing. That led me to the question … What makes a gorge a gorge? And what does it differentiate between a canyon, a valley or gorge? Or, my father's favorite, an Arroyo?

I had a few miles from the street through the tiny city of Weogufka, but it was short and soon I drove back into the forest.

New trail, new hat! Maybe some of them noticed that I separated with the straw cowboy /fishing hat that I found in the Everglades. Now I support Thru-R! I already mentioned this community in a recent post, so I will only make a short plug and say that I should check your website. There are a lot of decent things that you offer, such as a podcast, video chats from Hiker Happy Hour and Q & A sessions that are specific for different long-distance paths!

I ate in one of the “bowls” next to a pretty stream for lunch. When I put my sleeping pillow on earth in the accordion style, I watched how a tick was quickly spread over my shoe. Is it bad that I got used to her so that I just broke it away and sat in the same place anyway? My thought was that they are probably everywhere, so I constantly check them for them.

There was a big climb after the capital letter and a section in which I put the trail a little on an accident. On the way to Terrapin Hill I met a hiker named Crow. We talked a bit and found that we both wanted to spend the night in the Pinhoti Outdoor Center (POC) this evening. When he stopped to get his trekking rods out, I continued to trudge up the hill.

The last kilometers were roadside. Some dogs came to me, including a large shaggy who came out a boy to argue. I was able to beat a DG reuse directly along the path, which was nice. And then I reached the motorway junction that led to the POC.

I had in contact with Nathan in the POC, but had interpreted his text stupidly. He had said something like “tonight for dinner”. And I took it when he went to dinner and could not pick up myself. When I reached the motorway crossing, I just started the road up to get there. It wasn't that far, maybe a mile or something. Minutes later he was in a car, stopped and offered me a trip. I was happy to accept.

Nevertheless, I hadn't taken up the fact that he had suggested that he were all going to dinner. When I got to the hostel and was hungry, I immediately put a frozen pizza in the oven, haha. While baking it, we had to talk and everything finally clicked for me. I sent half of the pizza, put on a clean “loner” shirt and joined Crow and Nathan to go to pizza and pint.

We met Kim, the other half of the POC, and had a great time together. I couldn't resist a dessert pizza that contained half apple slices and the other semi -peach panes. And I got a coffee that Nathan recommended. First class, top! Rated 4.5 out of 5 on the “undeveloped” app scale.

Such a wonderful time that hangs with these nice people. “Only Steve” was in the hostel. And I had the opportunity to chat with him about Trail and so. I also found that Crow has a YouTube channel while the crow moves. He wears some decent camera equipment and probably has a really great film material from the Pinhoti Trail!

A great evening all around.

Album of the day:

“Atlas: Enneagram (instrumental) ”(2020) by finally sleeping

Audiobook completed:

“Freedom is a constant struggle: Ferguson, Palestine and the basics of a movement”