12 Comments

Wow! Well as always, gotta begin my comments by commenting on the stunning photos. I know you were worried about a lack of views in the first half of your piece, but even that image of the road with the autumn leaves had my jaw on the floor.

Never heard of this trail! But as soon as I read it was in Alabama, I was going to mention the Pinhoti. Then you mentioned it! I didn't thru hike it, but a friend of mine made it 3/4 of the way but ended up bailing because of a lyme disease scare.

He said it was great except for one stretch that was going to he like...a 10 mile roadways or something like that.

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Road walking sucks and its tough to plan around. I'm having to factor in a long road stretch in planning for the Bartram Trail, too. The Pinhoti is really starting to interest me because it's by far the longest trip I've considered, but still within a reasonable possibility of doing. Maybe I'll get it on FarOut and start daydreaming! 😁

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Yessssssss! From what my friend said, it wasn't demanding in the sense that the AT has prolonged bursts of steep climbs....the ascents on the Pinhoti are fewer and shorter. Definitely start daydreaming! (Or I will poke you about a long AT section...!)

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Every single one of these photos tells an entire story. The opener...that empty road...I always feel a desire to follow roads like that. Beautiful shot. Also, the hollow log (my fav) and the sweeping views. Incredible 😍 I always try to imagine how many little ecosystems exist in spaces like that.

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Those small details are very interesting, but they can be challenging to capture in a photo! The view on that road grabbed me right away. I wasn't expecting that at all and when I saw it I had to pull over.

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I've driven down a road like that here in my province. The Rockies were off in the distance and it was breathtaking.

I'll never get tired of your eye for the good shots!

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Ha, thanks! You rock!!

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Great story and photos Erik. I have certainly felt that frustration of not being able to find a nice view, especially when the light is starting to look good. Who put all those trees there?!

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Haha! Exactly! Spoiler - it continues the next day, but I found a great little waterfall to photograph!

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'The crunching underfoot continues as my mind churns questions while I walk. Why is this named the Chinnabee “Silent Trail?”' I had just thought...I wonder why it's called the Silent Trail, lol

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I found out why written on a sign I ran across on day 2. The trail was made by a Boy Scout troop from a school for the deaf. That’s one of those obvious, but still unexpected answers that makes you think… just wow!

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Yes, especially, as you say, there was sound within the silence.

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