How things along the Pine Mountain Trail got their names….
Little Bridges Campsite:
Dead Pine Campsite:
Buzzard Roost Parking Area: Named for nearby Buzzards Roost on the PMT. Buzzards Roost got its’ name from: __________________
Broken Tree Campsite: When the camp was proposed in for the area in 2000, there was a large broken oak tree over the trail right where we planned to put the entrance to the trail. Thus the name “Broken Tree Campsite.” However, in about 2004 a fire started by some backpackers burned the campsite area and the broken oak tree.
Indian Mountain: ____________________
Fox Den Cove: ______________________
Turtle Hollow Campsite: While looking/scouting out the area for a new campsite in 2011, Eddie, Jonathan and Jim Hall found a turtle shell. Thus the name stuck with “Turtle Hollow”.
Berry Patch: ___________________________
Big Knot Campsite: For many years there was a large oak tree near the entrance trail to the camp.
It had some large growth “knots” on it. Thus the name for the campsite. The tree died and fell over
about 15 years ago.
Jenkins Springs: The name for the spring came from naming it after trail volunteer with D. Neal Wickham, Bill Jenkins. Bill and others were part of Neals’ young volunteer know n as the “RED HAT GANG” for the red felt hats Neal gave the boys. In 2008, we built Jenkins Springs Campsite and gave Bill Jenkins a copy of the sign for the camp. The campsite sign was installed by some of those who worked on the camp and were part of the first ones to camp there in October of 2008
Four of the RED HAT GANG : 19_____ _______________ __________________ _________________ _____________________ and the dog _________________
Rattlesnake Bluff:
Beech Bottom Campsite:
Molly Hugger Hill : _______________________
Whiskey Still Campsite:__________________
Sunset Rock____________________________
Bethel Creek Campsite: Named for the small spring/creek near the original camp. The original campsite
was destroyed by the April 2011 tornado, then cleared in January of 2012 by an Eagle Scout candidate for his project, then again in 2013 by US Army volunteers with the PMTA. The camp just was not usable due to continued weeds and being out in the open. In January 2014 the camp was relocated about a half mile east to the current location.
Elephant Rock was discovered and named by Jonathan and Jim Hall in about 1998. .
Dowdell Knob: The overlook has a long history dating back to the 1800’s. President FDR used to visit the knob and have picnics there.
Brown Dog Bluff: _______________________
Brown Dog Campsite: Name for nearby Brown Dog Bluff when the camp was built in 1998
Hornet Knob:____________________
Sparks Creek and Sparks Creek Campsite: Through the camp runs a small spring/creek named Sparks Creek. __________________
Big Oak Springs Campsite: In 2011 while scouting around for a campsite location, Eddie Hall found a large white oak with a neat rock culvert spring nearby. In May of 2012 the camp was opened.
Eddie and the BIG OAK……………………………………………………………………….spring below the tree
Rocky Point: ________________________________________
Sassafras Hill Campsite________________________________
Hog Back Mountain _________________________________
Ferney the big loblolly pine ____________________________
Old Sawmill Campsite ________________________________
“Combs’s Crossing” :
PMTA board member Jack Combs from West Point had been on the board for several years when he passed away May 2nd of 2015. Jack was not only on the board but an active “in the woods” volunteer on many a workday. His work during the 2011 tornado cleanup will long be remembered. Jack was with us when we put in the new bridge at Jenkins Springs Campsite in 2014. We wished he could have lived to see the new bridge east of Old Sawmill Campsite put in 8 July 2015 with the help of 5 PMTA volunteers and 15 US Army officers doing a service project. When a name for the crossing was considered, the name “Combs’s Crossing” had a ring to it and that’s what the bridge/crossing is being called.
Jack Combs in 2014
Cascade Falls : Now called Cascade Falls, in the early 1900’s it has been found that the falls were known
as Glenora Falls.
The “Wolf Den”:__________
Bumble Bee Ridge Campsite:_________________
Slippery Rock Falls:________________
Big Rock Falls: ______________________
Csonka Falls: _______________________
Dry Falls: __________________________
Odie Overlook: In 2006 it took most all year for PMTA Volunteers working with Carl Carlson to complete the White Candle Trail. The PMTA wanted to do something to honor Carl for his work. On each workday Carl’s dog Odie who was found on the trail by Carl, was with him. In December of 2006 the PMTA named this one grand overlook “ODIE OVERLOOK” . Odie passed away in April of 2007.
Carl and Odie Carl and Jim Hall opening day of the trail
White Candle Trail: When thinking of a name for the new trail on the east end of the trail system, Jody Rice then FDR Park Naturalist suggested we call the trail after the new growth of small long leaf pines like those found on the trail section. The new growth is thus known by foresters as a “white candle.”