Pine Mountain Trail Association Contributions
Over the years we have had a number of Pine Mountain Trail Association members and friends of the PMT contribute to the PMTA, which is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization (IRS 509(a)(2) status). Donations are fully tax deductible under Section 170.
Contributions can be made via a link to our store or mailed to:
Pine Mountain Trail Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 5
Columbus, GA 31902
Upon receipt of your contribution, we will send you a letter of thanks. The thank you letter will contain a section noting our tax status, and the amount for your tax records. If you have any questions, would like to make a donation in honor of someone specific, or make a donation for a specific use, please contact PMTA President Malon Wickham through our website CONTACT US at the bottom of this page.
Our goals are to maintain and expand the trail system including the existing 43 miles of trail and 21 backcountry campsites, promote the outdoors and hiking,
and preserve the environment and wilderness.
How have we done?
VOLUNTEERING
If you would like to volunteer to maintain a section of trail, or just going on a hike and want to know what you can do to help, go to the bottom of any page here on this website and click on CONTACT US. Be sure to include your phone number so someone can call you. Your email will be sent to PMTA board members who
can help you help the trail.
Contributions can be made via a link to our store or mailed to:
Pine Mountain Trail Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 5
Columbus, GA 31902
Upon receipt of your contribution, we will send you a letter of thanks. The thank you letter will contain a section noting our tax status, and the amount for your tax records. If you have any questions, would like to make a donation in honor of someone specific, or make a donation for a specific use, please contact PMTA President Malon Wickham through our website CONTACT US at the bottom of this page.
Our goals are to maintain and expand the trail system including the existing 43 miles of trail and 21 backcountry campsites, promote the outdoors and hiking,
and preserve the environment and wilderness.
How have we done?
- Since 1975, 43+ miles of trail have been designed and built for maximum enjoyment with many varied points of interest and the PMTA has maintained fully all the trail miles throughout the years. The main Pine Mountain Trail is 23 miles long, and the 7 connecting loop trails add an additional 20+ miles. While we get great support from the Georgia State Park DNR and FDR Park managers, all funds for maintaining the trails come from the PMTA not taxpayer money. We do not seek out grants.
- In 1995 the PMTA was recognized by the Department of Natural Resources with an award for the Best Volunteer of the Year for the State of Georgia Outdoor Selection
- PMTA volunteers have provided all the work not only to maintain the trails and build new connectors for loops, but also the 21 backcountry campsites which are used annually 3,000+ registered backpackers. This amounts to nearly 3,000 + man-hours of volunteer time per year.
- The PMTA has provided and placed all the wooden direction and information signs at the trailheads and intersections (and maintains them). The trailhead information bulletin boards have been built by and are maintained by the PMTA.
- The PMTA has also been able to work with the Georgia DOT to build and pave for FDR State Park six trailhead parking areas... These parking areas are used by thousands of hikers each year. Each named parking area is featured on our current PMT map. In 2008, the PMTA worked with the Georgia DOT to
- provide informational and safety road signs at each parking area.
- The PMTA has maintained an informational website that has helped those interested in FDR State Park and the PMT to see about the trails and obtain contact information if they have further questions by email or phone. Through this website, we receive questions daily about our trail. Individuals and groups have sought out information and come to the PMT for all over the U.S. Hikers on portions of the trails are now estimated at over 60,000 per year. We also maintain a Facebook page dedicated to the Trail.
- The PMTA has worked with many Eagle Scout candidates who have done projects that enhance the PMT and FDR State Park. The scouts raise money for their projects and many have given their excess funds to the PMTA for projects or provided additional tools for trail maintenance.
- In 2007 we worked with the state to rebuilt the Dowdell's Knob area and built a large map display kiosk at the trailhead.
- In 2011 a Tornado hit the park and the PMT. The PMTA organized groups of volunteers from late April through October to reopen and clean up over 24,500' (8 places along the trails) of tornado damaged trails the tornado wiped out. Over 155 different volunteers worked some 13 Saturdays. This work to clean up after the tornado took money to purchase chainsaws and other equipment maintaining along with water and drinks for the volunteers.
- In 2016, after the death of PMT founder D. Neal Wickham, the PMTA built a new trailhead kiosk/map display entrance way at Mile 23/WJSP TV Tower Trailhead parking area named "NEAL'S REST"
- In 2020 we helped the park office with remodeling and painted and supplied all the décor/photos and new display maps for the "Pine Mountain Trail" corner of the office, and a large free standing map kiosk on the front porch.
- In 2020, the PMTA purchased and maintains a $3,000.00 "mule" electric powered omni-wheel rescue cart that has proved itself getting hurt hikers out of the woods quickly and safely.
- In 2018 began the purchase of a piece of “landlocked:” private land down off Lake Delanor Road. The PMTA purchased and resold it to the state In 2022 the PMTA began the construction of a new loop trail dedicated as “Carl’s Cove Easy Hiking Trail.” Funds for the mulching, grading, gravel, signs etc was done with donation funds. Volunteers worked a couple hundred hours to build this stand - alone wide flat 4900’ loop.
- How else are your contributions used? Besides things like the tornado clean up, it takes a lot of money to maintain and provide/replace the signs and painted blazes along the trails. A single 2 ft. x1- 2 in. x 8”.sign board costs about $20 a foot, and about $65 a sign for lettering. Then there is post, bolts, and preservative. That comes to over $100.00 by the time the sign is concreted in the ground or replaced.
- Tools and equipment to maintain the trails during group led workdays have been bought by the PMTA (including both hand tools and power tools such as brush-cutters.) All the trees that fall across the trails are cut away by PMTA volunteers. The PMTA provides the chainsaws and other equipment.
- We also work with groups of students and military, who want to do a “service project”. We provide the work project and often feed the volunteers along with paying for any supplies for such a project.
- We have provided large trash bags to be distributed to each permitted backpacker and hikers at the park office for over 25 years. These heavy duty bags cost the PMTA nearly a dollar each.
- Over the last few years there has been need for a number of new bridges and walkways along the trails that have been added. Due to flooding, several bridges had to be replaced. Signage was also placed at all the waterfalls too. A bridge is now over $1700.00
- All of these projects have been made possible by contributions by folks like you and labor provided by a number of volunteers working with the PMTA.
VOLUNTEERING
If you would like to volunteer to maintain a section of trail, or just going on a hike and want to know what you can do to help, go to the bottom of any page here on this website and click on CONTACT US. Be sure to include your phone number so someone can call you. Your email will be sent to PMTA board members who
can help you help the trail.