While hiking or backpacking on the PMT, if you come across a blown down tree or large limb that blocks the trail and you cannot move off the trail, please contact Carl Carlson at 706-628-5336.  

We appreciate and encourage your interest and involvement.

 

Trail maintenance 

                                                                                                    By Carl Carlson

Here is a brief break-down of things accomplished during May, June, July and August. Big thing was we had 2 Eagle Scout Projects completed for which we are grateful.

Most summers we don’t see many backpackers, but with some relief from the heat and with some rains I ended up giving 7 parties shuttles. Total man hours by volunteer workers were: May 200 hours, June 52, July 143 & August 228.

MAY 24:

On May 10th Eagle Scout candidate Corey Funk (Macon, Ga. Troop 170) brought 15 helpers for an all day assault on 11 of our backcountry campsites to clean fire-rings and generally clean up the camps. Many excess fire-rings were dismantled. Even splitting up in 3 or 4 groups with me available to show them several shortcuts to the campsites, it took one long day to cover the camps. Whiskey Still Campsite had already been cleaned recently. Earlier in the month BSA Troop 2 of Columbus needed a project on a hike so they offered to clean up Sparks Creek Campsite which really needed it. Sparks Creek had logs in the creek and messy fire-rings. Jim and Sam took a break at Sparks Creek on August 28 and said it looked great. Thanks to both troops for their work.

Our regular May workday involved some needed improvements to the Camp Concharty Girl Scout access trail west of Dowdell Knob. We did some pruning, blow-down chain saw work, and fixing up some rock steps which really makes the trail better. Thanks to the many volunteers during this period that contributed to a safer trail system. Special thanks to several folks like Jo Myers and Bill Vang for the PMT Mile 1 weed-eating clearing, to Jim & Jonathan Hall for the bulletin board work, and Harry Pruitt- Jack Combs and Jim Hall, helping me with blow-downs.

JUNE 21:

Our June workday got rained out when were planning to rake and bag pine straw for the rock garden at Rocky Point Parking Lot. We did manage to do some trail leveling on the White Candle Trail. Elsewhere in this newsletter are photos of the new parking lot signs alerting hikers and sightseers of our 5 named parking lots along Ga. 190 and the trailhead at Dowdell Knob. In mid June, Jim & Jonathan Hall, Sam Burke and me dug most of the post holes* and installed the new parking lot signs. Jim & Sam first installed the new Dowdell Knob signs. * Thanks to Don and Joe from FDR for digging some of the post holes with a tractor auger.

July 26:

Our July workday was held jointly with Columbus Boy Scout Troop 300. Eagle Scout Candidate Kyle Guderian did the planning for cleaning up all the fallen timbers etc. in the large CCC hatchery pond on the PMT. His troop also prefabricated 2 wooden benches and four blue-bird birdhouses. On three other days volunteers working with Kyle chain-sawed and moved/cleared debris by hand out of the pond. On August 2nd the benches were installed along with birdhouses. The beautiful rock spillway is now clean. Even though there is no water in the pond now, it is great to see a clean pond bottom. Take a hike into the area and check it out.

August 23rd:

Fourteen volunteers met up with me at the WJSP-TV Tower Parking Lot on yet another rainy day. We hiked down the Beaver Pond Trail a ways to level out a low wet spot first of all. Then we went over to the White Candle Trail and cleared four blow-downs. Finally we ended up at Rocky Point Parking Lot and raked/hoed clear the weeds clear from the rock garden area to make way for new straw we still didn’t get down. Thanks to Bill Vang and Jim Hall for replacing the sign post “mowed down” by a D.O.T. mower tractor at Fox Den Cove.

Then in late August we saw on the news and weather channels of a hurricane in the Gulf that would bring rain and wind to our area. Well it did. Read on below.

Hurricane aftermath wind and rains create a lot of blow-downs and debris along the trails.
- From Jim Hall

Lots of small limbs and leaves were seen plastering Ga. 190 and Dowdell Knob Road on August 23rd along with what was left of several trees that had fallen across the roads and had been cut back. By August 25 the winds and rains had died down and it was time to check out the trails for damage. Blow-downs were there but just where? So with this in mind we organized a trail survey and began to hike and or cut the blow downs. Thanks to folks from the Harris County Herald for the front page appeal for help on the trail. We emailed a bunch of PMTA folks and by Saturday September 6th, about 10 days later, some 34.7 miles of trail had been surveyed and nearly 100 reported volunteer hours spent doing so. By Sunday the 7th all miles of the trails had been surveyed. Thursday the 11th we were down to just needing to cut just 6 more blow downs total. Total hours spent on this storm cleanup now totals well over 100 in two weeks. Spending time out on the trail have been Carl (four days that I know of) and Jim Halling (twice) , Sam Burke (three times) & Brenda Burke, Bill Vang (four times) , Jo Myers, Jim Hall (four times), Bill Storey, Danny Rock, John Purcell, Richard Ramey, John Kaminsky, Sherry Pierce, Craig Faulk (not a PMTA member) and Dean Jackson (not a PMTA member.)

As many can agree with, carrying a chain saw a mile or so or further is no fun. Then there is fuel mix, oil, water and snacks and other gear to carry. Several of the above folks cleared some smaller blow-downs with a hand saw. Carl and I figure we had an average of one blow down per mile of trail. Sam Burke and I came up on three big ones in just .3 of a mile on the Sawtooth Trail. One of which (photo right) is a huge double oak over the trail. It is still there and “for another day and several chain saws.”

 

Here is a brief break-down of things accomplished during the past few months.

     October  13th workday:  We had 15 volunteers including BSA Troop 509 from Lawrenceville , Ga.   We worked from the Dowdell Knob Trailhead area doing leveling on the PMT ¼ east and then ½ west.

     November 10th workday:  Volunteers met at the FDR office parking lot for a special roadside trash pick up. We had 35 volunteers cleaning 7 miles of Ga. 190 in just over two hours.  Over 100 large trash bags were filled with everything from car parts (from wrecks) to a bowling ball and a dead snake!  Thanks especially to the group from Brookstone School who helped out. As soon as we finished the trash pickup, we all met back at the parking lot for PIZZA.  Seems when Jim serves pizza we are bound to get a bunch of folks help out.

     December 1 workday: Didn’t have but 8 volunteers meet up with me at the WJSP-TV Tower Parking Lot that morning. We did get a lot of work done building stone steps on the PMT where there is that steep section near Bumblebee Ridge Campsite.  We also did some minor trail work on the way in.  While we worked on the trail, Jim blew off the leaves (which were quite piled up) at Fox Den Cove PL , some at Mollyhugger Hill PL and then all around the Dowdell Knob Trailhead down to the statue area.

     January  12th workday:  Our first workday of 2008 was split up in three different areas in the vicinity of the FDR Park Office.  Five volunteers came to level a portion of the PMT behind the park office past Mile 4.  We also blocked some unwanted short cuts near the big switchback.  Then at the Mountain Creek Trail Crossing near the Lake Delano Road we installed some 4x4 steps across the trail to reduce erosion (editors note: this same area on the Mountain Creek Trail was burned on February 28.)  We also installed a new wooden sign and post at the first CCC Hatchery Pond on the Mountain Creek Trail from the “No Name” Parking Lot.

     

 

January 19th special workday: This workday was for an Eagle Scout Project from Scout Marty Gunnarsson (Midland troop 169.)  The scouts and I were greeted with a blowing snowfall amounting to about an inch during the morning.  Adjacent to the large CCC Hatchery  Pond on the PMT is another small pond not seen.  Marty led the group to build a short loop trail to highlight this hidden pond to allow hikers the option to hike the short loop to view it.  Two wooden informational signs were installed (with engraved plastic signs showing who built the trail.)  He also installed with help, two low foot bridges which were wedged between the stone spillway walls on the hatchery pond described and the pond near Dead Pine Campsite.  If you are hiking on the PMT at the Hines Gap Road crossing you will also find two of those new low 8ft. bridges where we sometimes confront a wide muddy situation.  Thanks to Marty and scout friends and leaders of BSA Troop 169. 

         thumbnails onthumbnails off

 

 

 

 

 

 

 http://www.troop169.net/MartyEagleProject

 

 

     February 2 workday:  We had 6 volunteers working on the PMT behind Fox Den Cove Parking Lot.  That long downhill route to the bottom has always presented us with an erosion problem.  We installed 35 log steps from top to bottom.  Hopefully by year’s end we will find sand deposits between the logs to replace the holes and depressions.  We can’t eliminate gravity and erosion but maybe we can make it work for us as we have done in other sections of the trail.

     March 1 workday:  We had a large group willing to get their hands dirty.  Twenty volunteers showed up, with plenty of youngsters in the group.  We devoted most of the time to Whiskey Still Campsite.  We did some leveling on the PMT while on the way to the camp up from Hines Gap Road .  At the camp we cleaned out the fire ring, raked the access to the water source leading away from the camp.  It was also badly in need of leveling which we did.  The while blazes of the water access trail and access trail from the PMT were re-painted. 

     Volunteer hours for the three months during workdays:   January 131, February 49, and March just over 100.   

 

November 10, 2007

Hwy 190 trash pickup

THANKS for a great workday!

 

Larry Durham

Jack Combs
 
Many thanks to all of you who came out and helped with our D. Neal Wickham/Ga. 190 roadside trash pickup/workday, especially Mary & Sally Bradley and the students from Brookstone, Danny Rock, Mark-Tamara-Becky & Daniel Hughes, Carl Carlson, Jim, Helen & Jonathan Hall, Jo Myers, Jim Halling, Gary Hughes,  Joe & Claudette Wade, Larry & Dena Durham, Jill Land, Harry Pruitt, Curtis & Lynne Lynch, Sophie Webb, and Jack Combs. Everyone worked from around 9 am till after 11:30 and got from the Country Store up to Dowdell Knob Road!  What a task.  Carl estimated some 100+ bags.  34 folks working 2.5 hours (85 "man" hours) and cleaning 7.7 miles of roadside!

 

We couldn't have done it without the Brookstone volunteers, thanks, y'all!

 

 

Joe Wade got the 1st prize "unusual trash award" for finding a BOWLING BALL!

 

Second place went to Becky Hughes for the stuffed alligator and car parts.  Third place goes to Jill Land for a live snake! Yikes. 

Becky & Tamara Hughes, Jim Halling, Helen Hall, Jo Myers, Sopie Webb

 

 

All went well and safe despite the fact I never heard anyone see a GSP unit or Harris County Sheriffs car drive through (like they promised they'd do.)  Thanks too goes to the Hamilton DOT unit for loan of warning signs and FDR and Danny Rock for additional trash bags.  Carl, Danny and Jill hauled all the bags down to the dumpster.
   

 

  
Everyone seemed to have enjoyed today.  It was cool and clear, but still an enjoyable day weather wise.

We all enjoyed pizza and fresh fruit afterwards at the ampitheatre.

 

    
So thanks again for helping out and making D. Neal Wickham highway cleaner.  It is my understanding Neal was in the park today and talked to Mark before hiking over on the Mile 20-23 area. Hopefully he saw what I did...a cleaner roadside than we've seen in a while.  Just hope it stays that way a while.
 
Jim

 

2007 Workdays

Trail maintenance September 2006- January 2007 

                                                By Carl Carlson 

The final four months of 2006 on the PMT saw the completion of one major project and the beginning of another.  If you can devote 3-4 hours during a Saturday Trail Maintenance Day, keep in touch here for future scheduled times. Our big workday is April 14 at 9 a.m. at the large FDR group camp.  That’s an annual clean-up of the camp by the PMTA to help out the staff of FDR State Park .  We always need all the help we can find for that one.  Let us know if you can come.  Pizza is served afterwards. Click here for more information.

Six shuttles of visiting hiker/campers were made during the fall months in addition to those shuttles needed for our own scheduled hike days.  Our four work days (Sept. – Dec.) were all utilized to complete the final touches of the White Candle Trail.  We had a good crowd for the opening of that trail (the East End Loop) on Dec. 9. 

We averaged 11-12 volunteers per workday over those fall work days.  That allowed us to finish the new East End Loop.

In addition to regular workdays, Jim & Jonathan Hall and with help from Gene Wells one trip, spent many hours during four trips blazing the new trail and then the entire Beaver Pond Trail.  The White Candle and Beaver Pond trails are blazed with white paint. Thanks to all who worked on the trail during 2006. A job well done.

If you wonder why the white blazes seem to “glimmer” when the sun hits them, it is because after Jim paints the blazes then Jonathan comes behind him and “puffs” some microscopic reflective glass beads into the damp paint.  They have done this on about 20 miles of trails and so we have about 20+ miles to go to re-blaze the rest of the trails. 

We may find a few improvements we can make on the new trail later.  Our monthly work days will take care of that.  Meanwhile, hikers can enjoy a new 3.4 mile loop that passes through some beautiful country.

 

January 2007 workday- Click here to read about all about the changes at Dowdell’s Knob. One of the best changes for the visiting public is that there will be more parking spaces.  On our January workday we had Sam Burke, Jim Hall, the four Hadaways, myself, Jo Myers, Gary Hughes and Sherry Pierce joining in.  Our task that day was to clear up all the stuff Jim & Jonathan had cut the week before at the new trailhead area.  That was a very full dump-truck load. Then we actually cleared the new 390’ access trail from the new trailhead parking lot down to the PMT (which is 130’ west of where you now enter the PMT off the Dowdell’s Knob Parking Lot.)  By then it was time for lunch.  After lunch we trimmed a few trees around the new statue area.  Those limbs and some more already down was another dump-truck load.  Thanks to Gene from the park maintenance area for bringing over the truck and emptying it for us twice.

In the membership report you will see listed some new members whom I noticed already have been helping on workdays.  The Hadaways who I noted came to the January workday, Gus & Mollie and their children Matthew and Mary Beth (above photo) helped a lot on the White Candle Trail last year, and we welcome back Sherry Pierce who joined us on our January workday too.  Sherry is a backpacker too, and she has joined Jim and the rest on several of the fall backpacking trips on the PMT.  

 

 

January 6, 2007

From: Jim Hall & Carl Carlson- Pine Mountain Trail Association

 
An update on the Dowdell's Knob trailhead and access trail.
 
 The trailhead is just off of the new parking area.
 
Last week, Jonathan Hall and I did the chainsaw work clearing for the new trailhead structure, and on Thursday I met Jack Weeks (Landscape Architect from the Georgia DNR) up at Dowdell's Knob.  Jack and I went over a set of plans he has drawn up for the new trailhead.  The copy I got is what he calls a "approval copy", but from my standpoint it sure looked good.  With a few details to work on, the plan is for Jack to get the footing done soon  PMTA members Gene Wells & Mike Newton from Wells Steel are making the brackets to hold the columns/uprights which Jack's crew will need to pour the footing with.  Mike and Gene are also going to make the other metal clips and plates needed. 
 
As soon as the the plans get final approval and the footings are poured, we can begin building the structure. Jack has been great to work with and the whole trailhead structure is going to be great. 
 
Today as you may know was a regular workday.  About 9:45am, the clouds broke and the sun came out just as Jo Myers and I arrived, and it was most pleasant working conditions the next few hours. 

 

Carl's had us volunteers cleaning up all the stuff Jonathan & I cut last weekend plus all the vines and some more limbs I cut today and putting it all on the park dump -truck.  We also cut a bunch of limbs that Jack asked us about doing down near the center picnic area where the statue is going.  Those limbs made up another dump truck load. 
 
We had a great crew today.  Jo Myers, myself, Carl, Sam Burke, Gary Hughes, Sherry Pierce,  and a new family to the PMTA the Hadaways (Tommy, Alice and their girls Rachel & Sadie who all did a lot of work and had fun too).
 
It was nice to have a picnic table to sit at when we stopped for a lunch break. After lunch we worked a little bit more and quit about 1:30.  We had all the limbs and such up, and had CLEARED the whole 390' of new access trail!
 
Will keep you posted on the building aspect of the trailhead shelter.
 
Jim

2006 Workdays

November 11, 2006
We had a great workday on the PMT...well actually on the new White Candle Trail and a couple other places.
                                            
Thanks to Gus & Molly and the children for helping out, along with Jo Myers, Gary Hughes, Bill Vang, Sam Burke along with Carl Carlson & I. 

We first went to the east end of the Beaver Pond trail and put a sign there (and Carl went ahead and cut a blowdown with help)  then on to the new White Candle Trail and placed a sign at the start of it.  Of course we put black bags over them till the trail is officially opened.
 
Then it was on to "ODIE OVERLOOK" and clearing the view and placing the sign there.  Turned out that is as all agreed.....probably today the most pretty overlook on the whole trail system.  The colors of the trees in the woods below were just as Jo Myers described: "A Fantasy in Leaves."  We hated to leave the overlook as the view was just beyond what we expected to see.  Most all of us there today said the leaves this year were the most colorful we have seen. 

After ODIE OVERLOOK we traveled on to the west end of the White Candle Trail and put up two posts and signs there.  Some folks left us there which was fine, as by then it was closing out 2:30 or so. 

Several of us went on to Dowdell's Knob to check out the progress there.. Could not believe the folks there.  Cars everywhere....till the rain hit.  That cleared some out.  Carl and I then drove on down to the Boottop Trail and replaced that broken wooden sign just east of the road. 
 
The rain stopped had stopped and sky tried to clear up some as we put in the new posts and signs at Buzzard's Roost Parking Area and the Overlook Parking Area, then a sign on the north side of the road near the park entrance for the Chestnut Oak Trail.  This sign was placed as there have been quite a few comments from hikers not seeing the start of that trail. 
 
By then it was closing out 4:30 and suddenly a strong gust of wind came roaring across the mountain. As I drove west back along 190 from the Overlook Crossing (I went back to take a photo) the whole road was covered in leaves of all colors....and my van made a wake of leaves behind me.

--Jim Hall

 

Trail maintenance June- September 2006                                                                      By Carl Carlson

 

Since our last report most of the work on the trail has been confined to the construction of the new White Candle Trail.  The White Candle Trail will intersect with the Beaver Pond Trail on either end to form a new loop we will call the East End Loop. 

Our thanks to those volunteer members of the PMTA along with several Scout Troops and OTP youth for help on the workdays so far this year. About two more workdays plus the installation of signs should bring us to completion of the new trail and trail loop which will be very popular with hikers.  Hikers on the new East End Loop (and White Candle Trail) can park at either Rocky Point Parking Lot or the WJSP-TV Tower Parking Lot. 

 I hope that I am giving credit to all those of the PMTA  who have volunteered time on the new trail during workdays.  Many have joined me on other days to “stay ahead” of the work crews by raking and doing rock work. This seemed to allow the crews to cover ground faster with the harder work of leveling on the side of the Pine Mountain Ridge

 Here is a list of volunteers  for which we are indebted.  If you have helped on the new trail and I failed to include your name please accept my apology and let me know.

     Mike & Debra Ivie, John Kamisky, Tom Curl, Allen Summerlin, Jerry Brown, Clay & Christie Hildebrand,   Mark & Jean Swann, Malon Wickham, Hallie Turner, Ronnie-Daniel & Matthew Heard, Gary Hughes, Scott Kimbro,  Jason Hunt , Cody Carlson, Jim & Jonathan Hall, Mark Hughes, Harry Pruitt, Richard Daniel, Bill Vang, Jo Myers,  Jim Andressa, Sam Burke, Peanut & Joshua Devore, Karen-Matthew-George & Stephen Zeliff, Jill & Ella Rose Land,  Amy-Matthew & Michael Hannah, Peggy Roberts, Rembert & David Houser

Without workers like these and the Scout and OTP camp group youth we would never have reached our goal of competing the new trail during this calendar year. 

      The OTP is the Outdoor Training Program for youth which operates out of a camp just off Ga. 190.  The OTP 11 man team cut 1700’ of new trail for us in three days back in late April. In June Boy Scout Troops  600, 601, 605, & 610 from the Montgomery , Alabama area cut 1100 of trail.  In July Troop 897 of Newnan raked the final ¾ mile of trail that we are working on now.

     Apart from the White Candle Trail construction, we need to mention a few other efforts on the PMT this year.  In February Boy Scout Troop 107 from Columbus corrected a water problem on the Wolfden by diverting a spring off the PMT.  In April 48 Volunteers made our annual FDR Large Group Camp a success again.  In June Boy Scout Troop 115 from Rex , Georgia did a clean up job at the GA Highway 354 hairpin turn trail crossing and at Buzzard’s Roost.

          So from January to September we have a bunch of volunteer hour time of trail work to report.  January to September (this does not include many hours that I know folks forgot to report to me)   January 122, February 66, March 87, April 345, May 129, June 299, July 188, August 300  and September will be over 350.

 

August 26

 

 

 

April 1

March 18

 

Thanks to the four hardy volunteers who joined Carl (and Odie) to continue the work of cutting the new White Candle Loop Trail. 

Having reached some fairly level ground, the crew was able to dress several hundred yards of the trail. 

Work continued smoothly, but don't despair... if you want to help out there is still much to be done before the trail is ready for hikers. -jb

 

January 28

Jerry Brown, Richard Daniels, Gary Hughes, Carl Carlson, Jim Hall, Jonathan Hall

Six PMTA members (and Odie) pitched in on a beautiful January day to build several hundred feet of the White Candle Trail. Roots and rocks made the work difficult, but walking over the completed section made the effort worthwhile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 14

January 14, 2006 was the inaugural workday on the White Candle connecting trail. 

A great group of PMTA members and volunteers completed several hundred yards of trail on this brisk January morning.

 

 

 

September 8 Workday

Trail leveling on the Beaver Pond Trail and some clean up at the Sparks Creek Campsite.

      

 

 

 

 

August 13 Workday

The crew separated into two teams and worked on the trail on both sides of 190 from Rocky Point parking lot.

                            

 

Trail maintenance June-August 2005 By Carl Carlson

We had a lot of rather wet weather the last three months. Thankfully there was not as much damage as we have seen in the past.

Recently hurricane Katrina’s path could have easily turned further our way and done damage to Columbus and Pine Mountain as Opal did in October 1995. Be reminded that last September we had two hurricanes impact the PMT and it took a couple hundred man hours to clean up after those "minor" hurricanes. Actually hurricane season is just now really upon us.

Here is a summary of work accomplished on the PMT during the hot days of June, July and August. Volunteer maintenance hours for June were 123, July 215 and August 103.

Due to the rain this has been one of the heaviest foliage-growth summers in recent years. At least we missed the biggest winds, so far. The saturated ground has been enough to uproot many trees with the wind we have had, so cutting of blow-downs has been a common and even ongoing thing the last three months. Pruners need to check their sections on the trail due to the rapid foliage growth.

On our June 18 workday we had 29 volunteers re-graveling wet areas on the PMT from the WJSP-TV tower end back to Bumble Bee Ridge.

Our very hot July 23 workday even had 52 total volunteers out working. At the WJSP-TV parking lot we divided the group into two crews with Jerry Brown and Gary Hughes leading a group of 15 4-H’ers from Tattnall County clearing limbs from the Beaver Pond Trail to Mile 18 and Rocky Point Parking Lot. I led 37 volunteers (31 of whom were Columbus High School magnet program volunteers obtaining community service time.) We put down gravel in several wet areas on the way toward Bumble Bee Ridge Campsite (where we cleaned up and cleaned out the fire-rings) and then moved on to work in gravel and rock along another area east of the camp. The sign at Slippery Rock Falls was also placed back in the ground.

For the August workday we again split our volunteers into two groups after meeting at Rocky Point Parking Lot. Jim Hall took one group down to Sparks Creek Campsite. Along the way they removed several large limbs. The water crossing at Sparks Creeks just past Mile 17 had to be reworked some (adding more stepping stones.) Just past the water crossing a "new" spring is flowing down hill crossing the path of the trail. Several large flat stones were placed along there to allow a drier path. Sparks Creek Campsite was then cleaned (mainly the fire-rings had been "trashed".) Another trip is needed into Sparks Creek with a chain saw. "Bad Campers" have cut down several small green trees and they along with their stumps need cutting up. In March we went to Sparks Creek on a workday and cut down a huge dead pine and made several nice log seats. Several of those are now half-burned and need cutting up and rolling away.

My group went east toward Sassafras Hill Campsite, where we cleaned it. The footbridge just before you get to the camp was moved to allow easier crossing of the spring. We also had to do some minor trail re-routing in relation to the moved bridge, and blocked a trail going up hill from where the bridge had been.

Jo Myers has worked overtime this year with her "weed-eating" with a gas powered brush-cutter on the first mile of the PMT. The section she has contains the area of the 1998 forest fire. Jo says thanks to Joe Wade and Peggy Roberts especially for helping with the "weed-eating." Jo does much of her work during the week and comes to help out on most regular PMTA workdays too. Recently the PMTA board agreed to purchase two new Stihl brush-cutters for the trail association (one for Jo to use as long as she maintains her section and one for use by others on the trail with Jo or other places.) Thanks to PMTA member Seth Johnson and his Dad Gary who owns the ACE Hardware on St. Mary’s Road in Columbus for working with Jim Hall and the PMTA on purchasing the new STIHL equipment and accessories.

Jim and I have written about our new trail section on the eastern end. Weeks ago I hiked the trail section with a DNR Ecologist and then a Landscape Architect. Then on Tuesday September 7 I hiked the section with one DNR biology representative and am set to hike with one more. Hopefully his stamp of approval will get us a final approval from the DNR so we can start building that trail section.

Many thanks to those of you who hike the trails and "toss-off" limbs along the way, and report to us about blow-downs you cannot cut up. Thanks too for all of you who work with me on workdays and on the trail other than workdays

July 23 Workday

The 4H group, along with Jerry Brown and Gary Hughes from the PMTA, checked
and cleared the Beaver Pond Trail. It was the 4H group's first time on the
trail and they participated with enthusiasm.


 

 

 

 

June 18 Workday

It was a beautiful morning as Pine Mountain Trail Association members Carl
Carlson, Jo Myers, and Jerry Brown led a large group of volunteers to work
between mile 20 and 22. Many Columbus High School students were on hand as
we added fill to low areas and added erosion protection to several other
areas. The group also added several stepping stones to help hikers cross the
spring that forms just South of Big Rock Falls.

     

   


Trail maintenance Late 2004 –April  2005

By Carl Carlson  

        Things got back to normal after the August and September chain-sawing of blow downs.

     In October we had 30 volunteers who built a couple dozen water bars on the hillside below Mile 3 on the PMT.  We also cleaned the fire-rings at Dead Pine Campsite.  

    In November we had 45 volunteers working on leveling three areas of the PMT.  The first area we picked up trash at mile .4 on Hwy 190 above the first overlook.  The second area was near Mile 1 at the leaning hickory tree. The third area we leveled was near Mile 1.3 on over to Mile 2.

    In December we only had nine volunteers. They leveled the western section of the Sawtooth Trail.  We filled in a root ball of a blowdown on the trail and built a blocking stone wall at the creek where the stepping stones were also improved.

    Every once in a while we come upon evidence on the trail that some people are not satisfied with our blaze system for identifying the trail.  Two examples follow where they have initiated their own system for whatever reason:

     (1)  Our December hike used the Pool Trail as part of the hike and we noticed large red painted "N"s on a quarter mile of that trail's trees.   Later investigation found the red paint leaving the trail only to stop in the woods after a short distance.   On the other end, the red paint left the trail and stopped in the back yard of a private residence!  All red paint has since been covered over with gray or brown paint.

     (2)  Another incident was discovered and reported by Mike Ivie during one of his hikes on the Wolfden Loop.  Pink ribbons coming from one of the horse trails at Mile 19.3 followed the PMT for a mile and a half to the Wolf Den and then stopped.  The ribbons have been removed except for those remaining on the horse trail. 

     Obviously, these unauthorized markings take away from the natural beauty of the forest, but the main worry is that novice hikers will follow these markings to some area that will cause them to be lost away from the trail.   We've had similar problems like this before and we can expect them in the future.  Please report unauthorized markings, campsites, etc. to us or the FDR staff so we can correct them.

     Back on new years eve, Jim and Jonathan Hall joined me for a final walk-through and marking of the about 2.5 miles of new trail to be built when approved. After we did our check hike, we requested the FDR managers and DNR Region Manager Ronnie Eakins get with us for a walk-through for approval.

     On our February 26 work day we started from Dowdell Knob.  One blowdown between the Knob and the private trail leading to Camp Concharty Girl Scout Camp below was repaired.  Nine volunteers then spent about four hours improving the Girl Scout Trail, which we do every couple of years as needed.  Pruning, some minor blowdowns, rock work and general leveling were the order of the day. Afterwards, three of us spent an additional hour with blowdowns on the sawtooth trail and near Rocky Point on the PMT. 

     On March 12, our work day began at Rocky Point Parking Lot with 25 volunteers (BSA Troop 876 along with several Columbus High Magnet students.)   Our goal was to go down to Sparks Creek Campsite and fell a tree, clean up the camp then back out. After the hike from the Rocky Point Parking Lot to Sparks Creek Campsite we watched (from a safe distance) as Jim Hall felled a dead monster pine to within 3 feet of his target (lucky shot.) This tall pine had dead limbs high up that posed a dangerous threat to campers.  Why was the tree dead?  It had been hacked on about three years ago and died about a year later.  We used several sections of the trunk for seats around the established fire-rings.  These rings were cleaned out of ashes (and trash) and more chain-sawing was necessary for general clean up of the camp.  We spent three hours on that project and had a great time as we took a lunch break at the camp. 

     Just as we were leaving, a family of six (the Dunnell’s from Douglasville) arrived late to help. So we got them to follow us out to Rocky Point then join us with five others and drive over to the WJSP-TV Tower Parking Lot to head out for another couple hours work.  We hiked in toward Big Rock Falls where another large hollow oak had fallen right in the trail.  This tree was a chestnut oak, and Jim provided souvenir slices of the tree to some of the volunteers and even made some “Mickey Mouses” for the kids. 

     April 9 was our annual Large Group Camp Cleanup day for the FDR State Park .  The day started out kind of scary because we only had 15 volunteers by 9:30 .  By 10 a.m. there were 42 volunteers hard at work cleaning the 40 cabins and grounds.  We just about finished when we stopped for lunch at 12:30 .  The PMTA provided pizza, fruit, cinnamon sticks, drinks and water to all.  Our thanks to all those who helped this year including the 12 from the FDR Wilderness Camp nearby.  We also had several Columbus High students (and one mom) helping.  Thanks to all who helped us make this the biggest workday of the year.

     Later that day I joined Jo Myers in planting several new ground cover plants at Rocky Point Parking Lot.  She brought the plants.  We still need to weed the plant garden at Rocky Point and put down a lot of new pine straw.  Our May 21 workday will begin from Rocky Point Parking Lot.  By the time your read this, that work day will have come and gone.  Hope many of you joined us for the fun then.

 

April 9, 2005

April workday-Large Group Camp Cleanup 2005

"We came-we cleaned-we ate pizza- 40+ had fun"

 

My family (Jim ,Helen and Jonathan Hall )arrived at the Large Group Camp just after 8:30 and found Mark and Daniel Hughes, Carl Carlson, Mike Ivie, Jo Myers and several others already getting the supplies in piles ready to head out.  By 9:15 a.m. we only had 15 folks that had showed up and we were worried. Mark, Daniel and Carl headed out with those who had showed up by 9:15 (including our newest PMTA board member and resident photographer Jerry Brown and Barbara Begg. Then by 9:45 there had been three groups show up along with Gary Hughes.  The group from the FDR Wilderness Camp did a great job as usual.  Brian Johnston, David Newberry, Taylor & Rosane Tempesta and Alycia Whyte from Columbus High did a great job too.  Cshawn Myeys brought 8 hard working folks from Atlanta that Mark Hughes worked with. 
 

By 10:30 I was feeling a little better hearing that the areas were getting cleaned up quite quickly with 40+ volunteers on hand.  My next task was making sure we had enough pizza to feed all those volunteers.

A little after noon, we all stopped work when the pizza from Foxes' Pizza Den arrived.  We had pizza, lots of fruit, can drinks and water and even some great cookies that Barbara Begg made!
While folks were finishing lunch, we thanked all those who came and gave t-shirts or hats to all those about 18 and under.  The guys from the wilderness camp were most appreciative of this and several told me that "you call us any time you need help". 
 
With over 40 volunteers we gave FDR State Park over 120 man hours of labor time cleaning that day. We also had fun talking with each other and enjoyed a great lunch time together.  Thanks again to all who helped that day. If you missed the workday, try to make it next year.  We always have it on the first Saturday in April.
 
Jim Hall
 

PMTA board member Mark Hughes sorting through the supplies for the crews

 PMTA member Jo Myers sweeping the pollen PMTA member Mike Ivie sweeping more pollen

PMTA member Gary Hughes on limb detail PMTA VP Gene Wells on limb detail

Christy Wells helping with "trash detail" Carl Carlson picking up limbs CHS student Brian Johnston picking up limbs

PMTA member Helen Hall-mopping in the dining hall

Jim Hall empties mop bucket in the dining hall

Cshawn Myeys and family came down from Atlanta to help

PMTA board member Daniel Hughes taking a rest from a long mornings work PMTA member  Jonathan Hall hunting for more supplies

 

March 12, 2005

A large group of folks worked on the Sparks Creek campsite
and then moved to Mile 22 to clear a large blow down. An exciting aspect of
the workday was the felling of a very large dead pine at Sparks creek. The
sectioned trunk made great seats at the fire rings.

 


 

 

February 26, 2005

Nine volunteers spent a beautiful February morning working on the trail.
Heading out from Dowdell Knob the work team hiked the PMT down to the Girl
Scout trail and then cleared and leveled this steep trail. Great company and
good teamwork made for a good day's work.

 

January 8, 2005

Mist and heavy fog did not discourage folks from turning out for our January
work day. A group from LaGrange College, along with students from Columbus
High School and members of the PMTA were on hand to tackle the trail work.
We began with a short, downhill hike from Mollyhugger Hill Parking Lot to
Whiskey Still Campsite. The team cleaned up the campsite and completed much
needed clearing and leveling of the long water trail. Bringing out tools and
trash made the uphill return only a little more challenging than the inbound
trip.


text and photos by Jerry Brown

 

 

 

December 4, 2004

 

November 6, 2004

A beautiful fall day and a huge turnout of volunteers made for a fantastic
workday. Over 40 folks came out to help level the trail on both sides of the
overlook crossing. Cub Scouts, Columbus High School students, and volunteers
from Georgia and Alabama joined in the work. With so much help, we were able
to finish by noon and several folks enjoyed a hike to finish off their visit
to the trail.

 

 

October 9, 2004

Over 30 volunteers were on hand to install water bars on the trail and clean
up fire rings at Dead Pine Campsite. Among the helpers were BSA Troop 69
from Alpharetta, and several folks from Columbus High School as well as
members of the PMTA.

 

 

 

September 18, 2004

Following the winds of hurricane Ivan, our monthly hike became a work day as
the hikers and chainsaw crews cleared the trail from the FDR Park Office to
Mollyhugger Hill parking lot via the Sawtooth Trail. Fallen limbs and blow
downs turned this normally moderate to difficult 5 miles into a four hour
adventure. The weather was beautiful and the work well coordinated.
Although most hikers felt that the last hill was a little longer than usual,
all left with the sense of accomplishment that accompanies a job well done.

 

 

 

September 11, 2004

            

      

There was a large contingent of youth helping Carl between the park office and mile 3. The folks in the red shirts are BSA Troop 106 from Harris County. In addition to those pictured, there were several folks clearing limbs and marking blowdowns on several sections of the trail. Those walking today were Jo Myers, Barbara Begg, Keith Dammann, Gary Hughes, Gayle Flexer, Mark and Tamara Hughes, Jim Hall, and Jerry Brown.

    

 

Trail maintenance June-August 2004 By Carl Carlson

 

We had a lot of blow-downs from the Hurricane/Tropical Storm winds of the week of September 6 and again from Hurricane Ivan September 17. If you cut up a blow-down or hike the trails checking them out for blow-downs let me know how much time it took and most importantly check with me before heading out to check a trail section. When you report a blow-down that you cannot cut up, please be as specific as possible about the location. From the time you come up on a blow-down, start timing how long it takes to get to the next Mile marker. Report the blow-down something like "Found blow-down on PMT as we hiked east from Dowdell Knob. It was ten minutes before we reached Mile 16, just before we got to Brown Dog Bluff".

As for workdays, on July 10 a dozen volunteers met at Rocky Point Parking.  Joining me were Chris Largent, Brandon Sorrell, Richard Daniels, Jake Young, Brock Alexander, Jo Myers, Thomas Hudson, Whitney Keller, Jerry Brown, Gary Hughes, and Mary Iddins.   We weeded our native plant garden at the parking lot and planted 3 St. Johns Wort plants.  Recently we added some dwarf blueberries, hoping that all these new plants would do better in direct sunlight than others had at the lower end of the garden.        From there we drove towards the Dowdell Knob access road and parked on Hwy. 190.  A shortcut to the PMT between miles 16 & 17 allowed us to work on the steep descent of the trail from the crest down towards Sparks Creek Campsite.  Leveling and water bar work always helps out the footing and drainage. 

Thanks to all volunteers over the years that have improved a section of trail like this.  It all adds up to a safe and sound experience for the hiking public. 

On our  August 7 workday we had 15 volunteers.  Working with me were Brandon Sorrell, Jo Myers, Jane Reddy, Christina Fritzinger, Jake Young, Whitney Keller,  Richard Daniels, Liz Matheny, Thomas Hudson, Gary Hughes, Mary Iddins, Jerry Brown, Brock Alexander, & Ryan Doggett. While Jo was weed-eating the fire zone section of mile 1 on the PMT, the rest of us drove from the FDR Park Office to work inside the hairpin turn of SR 354, at about mile 4.6 on the PMT.  Here the State Park had recently contracted to improve a woods road leading to their water system.  Where this road crosses the PMT we were left with a steep crossing that was subject to high erosion.  Rock steps were built and many wheelbarrows of rocks were hauled to shore up both sides of the road adjacent to the trail.  A section of the trail was then leveled, trash pick-up at the 354 crossing was completed and one blow-down was cut near Mile 5.  Thanks to all for the hard work on a needed project!

 

 

 

August 7, 2004 

     

A beautiful August day. Thirteen volunteers joined Carl Carlson at the FDR Park Office where they all moved to the sight of a recently improved service road between mile 4 and 5. The road had been improved with the use of heavy equipment; and the crew set to work to add several hundred pounds of rocks for steps and erosion protection to bring the Trail crossing up to the level of the road. The crew then worked to level a section of trail and to clear some water bars, finishing up with some housekeeping and litter removal where the Trail crosses GA 354 South of the Stone Bridge.   -Jerry Brown

          

Trail maintenance March- June 2004 By Carl Carlson

Since our last report, we have replaced 10 plants at Rocky Point Parking Lot and added some more to the native plant garden including six vaccinum darwoodii (dwarf blueberry) and four vaccinum elliotii (Elliot's vaccinum).  Watch for the giant red bloom of the hibiscus later this summer. It's impressive!

The dam on the back side of the Wolfden Loop was replaced in the early spring. The flood rains of late May 2003 tilted the old dam. This project was not a FDR State Park project. It was done by the Warm Springs Foundation. FDR State Park manager Ronnie Eakins was not told of the rebuilding. Ronnie contacted the Warm Springs DNR manager to seek permission for us to go in on the foundation access road to the dam. We had 14 volunteers helping with the project. We repaired the Pine Mountain Trail in the area of the dam where a bulldozer moved around on our trail and left it quite muddy. Rocks and gravel were carried in to level and dry the trail.

D. Neal Wickham, founder of the PMTA, is designing a new trail section on the east end of FDR State Park. The trail will begin near the east end of the Beaver Pond Trail and run south from there, cross Georgia 190 then turn west. From there is will connect back up with the west end of Beaver Pond Trail just as it turns west just south of Georgia 190. We still need to get FDR State Park/DNR approval before actual construction (clearing, leveling, marking and placement of signs). The exact location of the trail section will be announced as soon as approval is granted. Even though we do announce the new section in advance, please be aware the section will not be open for hikers until completed. Please work with us and remain off this section while under construction.

On April 3, our annual Camp Clean-up for FDR State Park brought out 45 volunteers at the large Group Camp.  Those who have been there know the effort expended in cleaning about 40 cabins and picking up the grounds.  Then, on April 24,  43 volunteers helped at the burned area by Broken Tree Campsite to restore and prevent further erosion to the trail and camp after the forest fire.  Thanks to all for both projects, which were really needed.  By the way, the several water run-off barriers built above the trail really did the trick.  That 4-inch rain that we had later did not affect the trail or campsite.

We ended March with 133 work hours, but I think we broke a record in April, at least in recent memory, with 420 work hours!  This was due mainly to two big group maintenance projects. 

Our May totals of 90 hours were much more moderate. We needed the rest. Five volunteers showed up for the monthly work day on May 15 at the TV Tower.  We improved muddy areas with gravel from the creek bed, blocked unwanted trails and hauled rocks as far as Big Rock Falls. 

In June, we continued the work on the Wolfden Loop west from Big Rock Falls as we did in May.

  Six shuttles also were performed in April and May.

The pruning season is in full swing so if you're late on the spring pruning, your section really needs it by now.  Thanks for the service.  Let's aim for a spring, summer and fall pruning. 

     Thanks to all of you who found blow-downs and reported these to Jim and me and thanks to those who helped remove blow-downs. If you cut up a blow-down let me know how much time it took. We report those volunteer hours to FDR State Park. When you report a blow-down that you cannot cut up, please be as specific as possible about the location. Blow-downs at isolated places such as near Mile 9 can be reached by hiking in from the road on a short cut if I know the exact location. 

 

July 10 Workday

The workday began with some planting and upkeep of the planting area at
Rocky Point Parking Lot. 

                       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carl then moved the group down about a mile where
we hiked in and worked on trail leveling and erosion prevention.

 

 

 

June 12 Workday

It was a HOT day on the trail today. We worked between mile 22 and Cascade
Falls. With the help of many we were able to level several places and get
some gravel down in several damp areas. The crew also improved a couple of
stream crossings as well.  

Jerry Brown


 

 

From: Jim Hall

Photos by: Jerry Brown

 

 

On Monday April 5, we had a forest fire in and around Broken Tree Campsite. On April 9, Jonathan and I went to the area and opened up the trail through the fire breaks and put more trail blazes in the area of the fire. Carl and I then planned a special workday for April 24.   The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer ran an article about the fire and a request for volunteers in the Local section on Friday, April 23  Initially we figured it would take about 100 man hours to half-way get the area looking acceptable. 

                              

 

 

 

When I got to the area of the fire break along the Large Group Camp Road at 8:40 a.m.  some volunteers were already there.  Carl Carlson was putting out signs at the turn-off at Kings Gap Road .  Parked and ready to work were Jo Myers, Ronnie Heard and sons Matthew & Christopher. Within minutes, volunteers Frank (?), Danny Rock, Russ Buffard, Mark Hughes, Gary Hughes, Steve Earles, Jerry Brown, Debbie Hamric, Barbara Begg, Mullen  (?), Mike Ivie and Kriss Anne Carlston with son Sean arrived.  We were especially glad to have a group from the OTP program with leaders Chris Ramstan, Steve Dutton and Church Melton with their guys Anthony, Robert, Joc, Duch, Chris, Steven, Karen, Nate, Josh, Jeremy and Andrew.  From LaGrange, a group from Twin Cedars led by Faye Brown and Nick Dunn with guys Daraloreious & Quintaueren.  Aaron & Grant McChesney and Forrest Moore came from Pine Mountain , and joining us later were Michael and Mary Wade.   Trint Wicklund,  FDR State Park  Assistant Manager, came by and brought us some additional hand tools to work with.

                                                 

 

We split the large group into teams to take on four different areas.  The plan was to level the fire break plow mounds and hide the path, and to cut up any pushed down trees with a chain saw (Some of these can be used  to build water bars.) , build up the trail edges with rocks and logs, and clean up the campsite and fire ring area.  By the time we broke from lunch most of what we wanted to do was done.  

            

 

It was an enjoyable time to just relax and sit down after a hard morning's work. Thanks to Jo Myers and Barbara Begg for their special homemade treats for dessert. 

 

After lunch, we made a sweep of the whole firebreak area one more time and did a little more work. Then it was time to take all the tools out to the road.  Everybody worked really hard and had great attitudes. Cleaning up after a fire is not the most enjoyable work we do on the trail.

 

    

The OTC group worked especially hard and were almost running up the mountain moving logs in place. The group from Twin Cedars in LaGrange and all the other volunteers did whatever they were asked, and when done they eagerly asked what else could be done. 

 

Thanks too to my son Jonathan for working with first-timers Aaron, Grant and Forrest all day. They concentrated on cleaning up the main campsite area.  The “tall guys” (Mark Hughes, Danny Rock and Mike Ivie) along with Gary Hughes seemed to never stop all morning.  Looking at Gary at lunch, you knew the man had been working (he and Carl probably will have to “retire” the shirts they wore today.)  Everyone had black soot from the fire on them somewhere.

 

     

Thanks again to Jerry Brown for the photos he took and his work today too.  I didn’t mention all the volunteers and what they did, but you were all very much appreciated.  You all worked quickly to get done what actually we thought would take several workdays to complete. So again  in about four hours the fire area looked much better than those of us from the PMTA ever thought could be possible.  Carl and I made one last trip around the fire break after everyone else left and decided we have done all we can for now. 

 

 

Now it's up to nature.  Our work today was done  by 43 hardworking volunteers working about 166 man-hours.  

 

What is the future of Broken Tree Campsite?  For now the existing site is closed for use till we see how the plants and trees do through this time next year.  How the area looks after the trees get their leaves (or not) next spring will help us determine if we can have the camp in the same place or will we need to relocate the campsite or do away with it.  The fire damage could have been worse if wind had blown the fire further up the mountain. The Georgia Forestry unit's bulldozers did a great job in cutting a firebreak quickly. 

           Many have asked about the cause of the fire and questioned some visible damage to trees in the campsite. Unofficially I was told that fire started when paper napkins were placed on a campfire as some six teens were packing up after spending the night at the campsite. Some of the boys tried to contain the fire before calling the Harris County 911 center.  A propane cylinder for a lantern did explode causing a fireball, according to the campers.  One of the campers was overcome by smoke and was taken by an EMS unit to a hospital. Three of the campers told me that they found a bu