Pinhoti Trail Adventure Run

The PTAR FKT team pulled out of Sylacauga at 5am, and picked up the trail again at Porter's Gap, starting just before 6am. 2x Pinhoti 100 finisher John Nevels arrived same time for pacing duties all day. Passed through Chandler Springs 6:48am and then Clairmont Gap about 8:20am. My oldest, Matthew (10), is dead asleep in the truck after having a VERY busy and enjoyable day hopping around trail locations yesterday; he was treated to another 4am wakeup, had pop-tarts and milk for breakfast agian, and promptly crashed out in the front seat as we left Sylacauga!

Blake Thompson and Kathy Youngren will join the effort later this morning.

Josh Kennedy
Crew Chief
Bamapinhotiteam@gmail.com

Start Location: Flagg Mtn, AL
Start Mile Marker: 0.0
Start Time: 0600 CDT (sharp!)

Major Waypoints:
Weogugka Post Office (6.3mi), 0708 CDT
Cross US-280 (15.2mi), 0834 CDT
FS603A Trailhead (22.3mi), 0956 CDT
*Over Rebecca Mtn Trail instead of continuing road section via FS603/AL-148
Bulls Gap, AL-148 (34.3mi), 1349 CDT
The Pinnacle, Horn Mtn (46.5mi), 1720 CDT

End Location: Porters Gap, AL-77
End Mile Marker: 52.3
End Time: 1848 CDT
Elapsed Time: 12 hr, 48min

Just the facts for now, check on the audio blog from Eric. We are also archiving GPS tracks for documentation purposes, and will have details on the alternative route over Rebecca Mtn east of Sylacauga. Check back all week: same Bat Time, same Bat Channel!

Josh Kennedy

Just a quick update from Bulls Gap on the Pinhoti Trail (~34.3 miles). Rob and Eric rolled off the Rebecca Mtn section of the trail into the small parking area here off AL-148 about 1:40pm. Doing fine in the overcast, warm, muggy day; they are drinking plenty of fluids and minding the chafe-prone spots!

Next section is up and over the infamous Horn Mountain, site of many a melt-down during the Pinhoti 100 race! This 18mi section features great cliff overhangs and views west into the Sylacauga basin. I should be able to get my XTerra up the 4WD road and give them some aid about 12mi into this section. After that is the descent off the Pinnacle (via 24 switchbacks) to Porter's Gap on AL-77.

If you are watching the Google Terrain map on this site, keep in mind that the position update is sent via Eric's BlackBerry; thus the position is nearest/best cell phone tower and subject to some error (as much as 5000m straight line distance). If the Twitter feed is going on the side, whenever they hit the transmit button on the SPOT device, it will send a highly accurate position update with time stamp.

Josh Kennnedy

The PTAR team kicked off the adventure this morning with a 6am sharp departure from the Flagg Mtn Tower in Coosa County, AL. Low clouds covered the mountain, so whatever photos I post up later will be hazy, but at least photographic proof we were there! My oldest son, Matthew (10), is with us and having a grand time with dad, eating poptarts and milk for breakfast and exploring the Alabama countryside!

I am currently stationed in Weogufka, AL next to Caperton's Old South General Store and Pawnshop, with Confederate flags proudly flying. Yes, this place has character!

Once down the 2.7mi crummy dirt road off Flagg, these two studs will put in about 18mi of road running to a point just east of Sylacauga. Then while on the Trammel Motorway (FS600), then will turn off onto FS603A and trail the newly blazed (but not yet open) trail over Rebecca Mtn to Bulls Gap on AL-148.

I'll keep blog posts coming as able over a Verizon Wireless aircard, or check Eric's FB account as I'll send Twitter updates that will post to his account. Feel free to email or call and I'll give you real-time updates!

Josh Kennedy