The first, the Pine Log Creek trail, was opened in November, 2007. It is on a small state route well away from I-75. The parking lot is easy to miss, but I managed to get there. I found that one car was already in the lot, belonging to a couple of boy scouts who had already completed the trail while waiting for the troop. One of them borrowed my phone to check on the group, which he found out was not coming.
The trail (4.6 mi, Climb: ****, Terrain: **, Interest: ***) has two loops. The west loop begins with a very strenuous climb to Ken Cannon overlook at 1,312 feet.
The second loop descends to an old quarry which is now a picturesque lake. This trail was build by a professional trail company, and is well laid out. I ran into two other people during the hike, but otherwise had complete solitude.
After lunch involving food I should not have been eating, and on my way back the Interstate, I spotted a directional sign for a hiking trail. The sign pointed to the other side of the Interstate, which dead-ends into a hill. Not being able to stand an unknown trail, I followed the signs. I discovered the Pine Mountain trail, built very recently by the City of Cartersville.
This trail (4.9 mi, Climb: *****, Terrain: ***, Interest: ****) also exists in two loops. The West loop is for hikers only, and the East is shared with mountain bikes on Wednesdays and Saturdays (wish I had known this in advance). I started up the West loop, and was presented with another strenuous climb. I quickly started running into small groups of 20-something hikers, all dressed like mountain bikers who had just rode out of REI. The first group asked me if I had seen a large orange flag. Curious. As I got further up, I came across a clearing with more than 20 unattended mountain bikes. Half of the mystery was solved at this point.
I continued on a side trial, the sign indicating that it led to a summit. For my strenuous climb, I was treated to one of the best vistas I have encountered, this one atop Pine Mountain at 1,562 feet. This vantage point overlooks Cartersville, including a large lake. I lingered unusually long taking in the view.
I then proceeded back down the summit trail, where I picked up the east loop. Most of the bikes were now gone from the clearing, and I would soon learn why. I began meeting mountain bikers, always traveling in groups of 3. They all had laminated maps and compasses, and would frequently leave their bikes and go off into the woods.
In finally asked one group what they were up to. They indicated that they were part of an adventure race (I would learn later the Sandmann Adventure Race), which consists of biking, hiking, and canoeing. I would spend the balance of the day dodging bikes. They were all polite, frequently referring to me as “sir” (which really makes one feel old). The trail was wet, and with all of the bike traffic, it had turned to mud. I was having trouble keeping my footing in some sections. I was very close to sliding downhill on more than one occasion.
I began to get familiar with some of the biker groups, as I seemed to run into some of the same ones over and over. They seemed somewhat amazed that I was doing on foot what they were complaining about doing on bikes, and one even commented that I must be in good shape (quite an ego boost for a 50-something!!!).
I finished the East loop, and managed to get back to the bike-free West loop, and eventually to the parking lot.
Both of these trails were a great find in an area one would not expect to find them. They are both rated as strenuous, and while those who do these ratings are usually conservative, in this case, the rating was deserved.
After lunch involving food I should not have been eating, and on my way back the Interstate, I spotted a directional sign for a hiking trail. The sign pointed to the other side of the Interstate, which dead-ends into a hill. Not being able to stand an unknown trail, I followed the signs. I discovered the Pine Mountain trail, built very recently by the City of Cartersville.
This trail (4.9 mi, Climb: *****, Terrain: ***, Interest: ****) also exists in two loops. The West loop is for hikers only, and the East is shared with mountain bikes on Wednesdays and Saturdays (wish I had known this in advance). I started up the West loop, and was presented with another strenuous climb. I quickly started running into small groups of 20-something hikers, all dressed like mountain bikers who had just rode out of REI. The first group asked me if I had seen a large orange flag. Curious. As I got further up, I came across a clearing with more than 20 unattended mountain bikes. Half of the mystery was solved at this point.
I continued on a side trial, the sign indicating that it led to a summit. For my strenuous climb, I was treated to one of the best vistas I have encountered, this one atop Pine Mountain at 1,562 feet. This vantage point overlooks Cartersville, including a large lake. I lingered unusually long taking in the view.
I then proceeded back down the summit trail, where I picked up the east loop. Most of the bikes were now gone from the clearing, and I would soon learn why. I began meeting mountain bikers, always traveling in groups of 3. They all had laminated maps and compasses, and would frequently leave their bikes and go off into the woods.
In finally asked one group what they were up to. They indicated that they were part of an adventure race (I would learn later the Sandmann Adventure Race), which consists of biking, hiking, and canoeing. I would spend the balance of the day dodging bikes. They were all polite, frequently referring to me as “sir” (which really makes one feel old). The trail was wet, and with all of the bike traffic, it had turned to mud. I was having trouble keeping my footing in some sections. I was very close to sliding downhill on more than one occasion.
I began to get familiar with some of the biker groups, as I seemed to run into some of the same ones over and over. They seemed somewhat amazed that I was doing on foot what they were complaining about doing on bikes, and one even commented that I must be in good shape (quite an ego boost for a 50-something!!!).
I finished the East loop, and managed to get back to the bike-free West loop, and eventually to the parking lot.
Both of these trails were a great find in an area one would not expect to find them. They are both rated as strenuous, and while those who do these ratings are usually conservative, in this case, the rating was deserved.
1 comment:
An adventure indeed. The view from Pine Mountain is so pretty!
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