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December 15, 2007

PMT to Rocky Point Parking Lot

Some rain and drizzle but not enough to dampen anyone's spirits!

Beth Borom
Jo Myers
Harry
Melinda Johnson
Carl Carlson
Sam Burke
Marianne Behrens
Kay Campbell
Edie Miller
Jill Land

The weather was quite cool to start off, but we quickly warmed up once we started hiking. Problem was the rain; we encountered several "wet spots," but we kept on going, not that we could have done otherwise! Several hikers were initially interested in making the loop walk back to WJSP via White Candle or Beaver Pond trail, but we all decided it wasn't in our best
interest once it was evident that the bad weather had set in. We finished up our hike close to 2:00pm, after taking several rest stops, but no lunch break. Everyone had a great time; several first-time hikers would love to return for another hike soon. Much interest in the upcoming Spring 2008 Night Hike. I thought the trail looked good, water levels in creek are good, no serious wash out spots that I noticed. All canine hikers enjoyed the day. Jo brought wonderful cranberry muffins for us all to enjoy. -- Jill Land

November 17, 2007

Sawtooth Trail-Pine Mountain Trail Hike

We had about a dozen people and four K-9s to make the hike this morning. The
night before was down around freezing. By 10AM the sun was out and had
warmed the air to the upper 40's. We set out for the Park Office starting
from the Mollyhugger Hill parking lot. Carl Carlson led the hike in place of Gene
Wells today.

The leaves were "loud", both on the trail and the colors in the trees. The
cold front a couple of days ago blew lots of the leaves off the trees. The
wind was very light today and made a good day to hike. By our first break
everyone was shedding a layer of clothes. The leaf colors are not as
pronounced this year but still a beautiful sight that pictures cannot do
justice to. Lots of reds and yellows this year. With the drought, many
are brown and sticking to the trees.

The ferns and other small flowers are still peeking out around what little
water exists in the creeks and valleys.

No, that is not a deer! That is Marianne Behren's Great Dane. If we
tied some branches to his head he would have passed for a reindeer!

By afternoon the temperature was up in the 60's. Lots of people out on the
trails in FDR Park this afternoon. We met several on our five mile hike. We
took a break at the junction of the Sawtooth and Pine Mountain Trail south
of Fox Den Cove parking lot. No one had to leave at this point so we bypassed the
shuttle vehicle and all continued on the hike.

The last 2.5 miles along the east side of Pine Mountain was beautiful. We
caught glimpses of the colorful outstretches of the land below us as we
slowly worked our way up the mountain and along the ridge. Many small long
leaf pines were growing along the trail below the park office.

The cleared opening at the power lines gave all a chance to view the country below us.
The sun shining on all of those trees was something to behold.

As we ended our hike at the park office, Sam McDuffie, the new
Interpretative Ranger for FDR, was holding a turtle show at the outside
amphitheater next to the office. A couple of shuttles took all back to their
vehicles at the Mollyhugger Hill Parking lot. -- Sam Burke
T

PMTA Night Hike

September 28, 2007

Sunset at Odie Overlook.

Hiking the new East End Loop from the WJSP-TV Tower parking lot

This year Carl Carlson planned our annual night hike for late September due to the fact that by November a lot was going on and there was no full moon really close to a time we could have a hike. So it came down to September. We were kinda concerned when planning the hike that it would be cool enough but the temperature for last evening was supposed to be quite comfortable and it was.

Sam Burke, Jo Myers and Mark Hughes

I offered to lead the hike and we were to start at 7:30. Jo Myers and I picked up Carl about 6:45 beside the road along Ga 190 where Carl left his truck (he was to later exit the hike route near his truck where the trail came really close to the road, and take anyone from that point who needed to leave and go back to the parking lot.) At the WJSP-TV Tower Parking Lot we found several folks already waiting to join us on the hike. By 7:30 we had 48 of us ready to head out! After our pre-hike talk we headed out in a long line of hikers decorated with the various color light sticks, bracelets and necklaces. Matt & Mary Beth helped me give out light sticks.

Mary Beth, Matt, Callum

Peggy Roberts, Jo Myers, Sam Burke

We had a great mix of first time PMT hikers and those who had joined us before. Hikers included regulars Peggy Roberts (Newnan), Jim Hall, Jo Myers, Carl Carlson (and his two granddaughters Jannan & Haley), Gus, Molly, Mary Beth & Matt Callaway (LaGrange area), Bill Vang, Sam Burke, Sopee Webb, Harry Pruitt, Mark Hughes, Gary Hughes (who brought Virginia Dunbar), Gene & Christy Wells, Barbara Begg (LaGrange), John Kamisky, Herta Bailey (who brought Pedro Ramirez), Eddie Hall (who brought Karen Nance). Gus brought his mom, sister and nephew (Allison McCay & Callum, Suzanne Kiser.) We had lots of other folks like Jerry Williams (from Columbus) along with Donna Wheeler and Annette Bailey, Joyce Ross, Alton Garnto, Donna Hernandez, Jack & Linda Combs (West Point), Brad Culpepper, Alese Morgan (Opelika), Bobbie Burnette, Matt Rebidvee, Steve & Lisa Cale, Kay Adams & Dennis McCollum, Lewis Tucker and Michael Leggett.

Jim Hall (second from left, seated)

About 8 p.m. we got to ODIE OVERLOOK just as the last hint of the orange sunset was fading away in the west. It was at the overlook that we ate our picnic suppers and snacks, and rested about 30 minutes as it got really dark. The moon was not coming up till later but that was ok. Around 8:30 we headed on slowly winding our way along the White Candle Trail. Before long we could begin to see the moon low on the horizon, and still hidden by the trees. Several times I stopped to let hikers catch up and it was really neat to see this line of hikers with all the different colored and shapes of light sticks making their way up the trail. Folks talked and laughed and seemed to really enjoy the evening. The temperature was in the mid to high 60's and quite comfortable.

Karen Nance and Eddie Hall

We didn't come off the trail back at the tower parking lot till about 10:30, but that was ok. Everyone who spoke to me said they enjoyed the slow night hike pace. Everyone cooperated and made sure we had their name marked off the hike roster (so we knew we had 47 folks back off the trail.) Thanks to PMTA members Gene, Christy, Mark, Jo, Sam, Bill & Carl for helping make sure the hikers stayed on course and for pre- and post-hike help.

As an added note, I learned Saturday morning several folks did not make the hike due to being held up a the site of an bad accident at Veterans Parkway and Grey Rock Road as they were leaving Columbus. These folks had either called or came by the park office and Marcia could not get in touch with us in time for us to wait on them.

--Jim Hall

photos by Jim Hall and Eddie Hall

Longleaf Loop PMTA Group Led Hike

March 17, 2007

hike leader: Jill Land

The 10 a.m. hike started from the FDR State Park Office. We had a good hike; some hikers wanted to continue on when the rest of us stopped at the pool for break/lunch - I think there were 7 of them. The rest of us headed out from pool and arrived back at FDR Office between 1:45 and 2:20pm. We ended up having 19 hikers (including two children) and three dogs. Was great to have Bill Vang to bring up the rear as it was hard to "keep my arms around" the entire group. Enjoyed getting to know Debbie and grandson Robert, and also enjoyed meeting several new members and interested hikers. The weather, as you know, was perfect for hiking, and we too enjoyed the spring flowers and buds that were emerging when we were there. We encountered no problems and I believe everyone enjoyed the hike as much as I did.

Our hikers this day were R. Armstrong (Columbus), PMTA member Harry Pruitt (Smiths, Ala.), PMTA members Gus Callaway, Molly Darden and their children Matt & Mary Beth (Hogansville), Ken Smith (Atlanta), Lewis Tucker (Columbus), Debbie Hamric and Robert Strickland (Columbus), PMTA board member Bill Vang, Lynn & Susan Lightfoot (Pensacola), Alan Barrett (Pine Mountain), Soppe Webb (Ellerslie), Barlanne Behrens (LaGrange), PMTA member Peggy Roberts (Newnan), and Mary Wells (Macon),

- Jill Land

Saturday Feb 17^th was a clear and cold day starting out. Throughout the morning, the temperature became quite comfortable, especially for hiking.

Starting out from the Gardens Country Store Mark had 18 hikers join him for a hike along the Overlook Loop. I stopped by the parking lot about 9:30 to give Mark a roster to use and Jennifer & Judy Zeigler from Valdosta approached us asked about the hike. They had driven up just to hike the trail and then later for visit to Callaway Gardens .

Said they learned about our PMTA hike in their local newspaper from an article about our Trail. At Callaway they especially wanted to see the Day Butterfly Center . Harry Pruitt from Smith, Ala (a regular on PMTA hikes and workdays too) arrived early too. Arriving shortly afterwards was our tall friend from LaGrange Danny Rock, our lawyer friend from Atlanta Gary Hughes, our newest PMTA board member Bill Vang and one who is always on hikes, Carl Carlson. Thus the rest of the hikers were new to the PMT and not association members. We were glad they joined Mark for the hike. They came from all over and included Don Flynn (LaGrange), Arthur & Chantel Woods (Columbus), Bill & Christy Gamble (Stone Mountain), Virginia Dunbar ( Decatur ), John Coopers (Pine Mountain ) John & Dale Fuqua ( Crestview , FL ) and Donna Hernandez ( Columbus ).

By 1:30 the hike was over and Mark was joining Jonathan Hall, Carl, Bill Vang and I at Dowdell’s Knob to work on the trailhead. Mark reported all went pretty well on the hike except for the fact that one couple brought their dogs and were not quite used to hiking with their pets. This seemed to cause the lady some difficulty and so they cut the hike short at the Ga 190 crossing at the Overlook Parking Area. Great morning for a hike and he said the rest of the hikers enjoyed the route. -- Jim Hall