The Georgia Pinhoti Trail - Simms Mountain Rail Trail

Georgia Pinhoti: Section 18

Simms Mountain Rail Trail

Distance from trail head: 4.0 miles
Rating: Easy (incline and distance)
Georgia Pinhoti Trail Descriptions

Parking

There are two distinct parking locations on either side of the trail listed in the guide above. The easiest access is on GA HWY 100 at the Floyd/Chattooga county line. You can also park on Huffaker Rd and Friday Rd.

A Bit About the Trail

This section of the Pinhoti is an old Central of Georgia Rail line that was decommissioned back in the 1990's.

The Trail

This is an amazingly beautiful trail to hike any time of year, but hiking it in the fall was a privilege. I began on the GA HWY 100 side of the trail. This is an excellent trail for beginners.

 It can get muddy during the rainy season, but for the most part, the trail is flat and easy to navigate.

The trail does go behind homes, and we heard dogs but never saw any. On other sections of the Pinhoti, I've seen wild dogs, but we didn't encounter any here.

The trail was very idyllic. The day was cold and windy, but it was worth a hike in this piece of woods.

Most of this trail is up a very slight grade over the four mile trip, but it is very gradual and has a low impact on the joints making this an easy (if we can ever call it that) walk. At two miles, you will cross Friday Road. If you want a four mile hike, turn around here.

These were located around the Friday Road crossing. Every time I hike, I pick up trash along the trail. It was nice to have a recycle bin use.

One of my constant trials while hiking is trying to keep my mind off my pain. When you pick a beautiful place to hike, it's easy to forget my pain. I thought about Frost and Thoreau and how easy it is to be philosophic in a place like this.

Out of all the color we saw, this section was rather green and ferny.

It was so cold that, eventually, my feet were numb and the pain was a non issue. It helped me enjoy the scenery a bit more (when I wasn't worried about windburn or losing a toe to frostbite ;-))

I definitely enjoyed the view. The trail ends on Huffaker Rd at four miles, but unless you parked a car there too, you'll have to hike the four miles back. This will make it an eight mile hike, and it's worth every step.

Berry College House of Dreams Part 3: Hurtin' Gator Trail

By now, you may have figured that I either live near Berry College or just like going there or both. Both are true. The campus sports over 40 miles of trails on the entire campus. All of the Mountain Campus trails lead to the House of Dreams in one way or another. The Viking Trail which leads from the Main Campus to the Mountain Campus is mostly in the sun; therefore, I rarely take that trail. The Mountain Campus trails are full of forests, flowers, trees, and wildlife. There are breathtaking vistas of Floyd and Chattooga counties, and many different water sources. Although I have probably hiked this campus over 100 times in the past two years, I haven't seen all of the trails

Distance from trail head: 4.3
Rating: Moderate (incline and distance)
Berry College Trail Map






This trail will bring you close to an 8 1/2  mile hike if you go down the regular HOD trail.

You will definitely want to park at Frost Chapel. The trail head goes north behind the parking lot.

The First Miles

The first mile of this trail follows a dirt road. There's a good bit of red mud in the wetter times of the year, and there's a lot of sun. Take your sunscreen. This area is flat, so the hike is very easy here.








You will pass streams and fields on this part until you hit O'Bryan Gap Road. Make sure to keep left on the trail.

The Climb

Once you make the left at O'Bryan Gap Road, you will begin to ascend Lavender Mountain via the Hurtin' Gator Trail. There is a good bit of sun mid day on this side of the mountain.

The trail is very soft up here, so it's much easier on the joints compared to the uneven gravel of the House of Dreams road trail.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                This is the most difficult part of the trail to navigate. The picture doesn't do it justice, but the incline is very steep here, and it is SUPER MUDDY.








The Hurtin' Gator Trail ends at the two mile point on the gravel trail to the House of Dreams. You will see the stone gates and have an AHA moment if you've taken the gravel road up before. There are benches here to take a rest and relieve the joints.

Berry College House of Dreams Part 2: Mountain Goat Trail

This is a much longer trek up to the House of Dreams. If you have time, this hike takes about five hours or more, and is worth the scenic views. The best way to attempt this hike is with more than one person and to park two cars: One at the Old Mill and one at Frost Chapel (noted on the map as the circled trail heads).

Distance from Trail Head: 9 Miles
Rating: Moderate (incline and distance)
Berry College Trail Map

Preparing for the Hike

You have a few options on this hike, and they are all relatively long. I would suggest bringing a snack and plenty of water. If you choose to hike all the way to the House of Dreams, I will suggest a trekking pole coming down the back side of the mountain.

Where to Begin

Where to begin is up to you. You can begin at the House of Dreams Trail Head or the Old Mill Trail Head. I will suggest the House of Dreams Trail Head if you want a trip with fewer inclines. Once you are at the top of the mountain, the trail is mostly flat or downhill.

The House of Dreams Choice

One mile into your hike to the House of Dreams, there is a trail to the left. This is the Mountain Goat Trail. You may choose to go on to the House of Dreams, and the hike will be nine miles. If you take the trail to the left, your hike will be closer to seven miles.

Short Hike

At the one mile point, take the trail to the left. This trail is a bit less strenuous on the joints as it levels out and follows the trail on the side of Lavender Mountain.

This trail has a nice, sandy feel. It's very easy on the joints, and relieves some of the pressure from the uncomfortable gravel trail up the mountain.

This side of the trail is very peaceful. It does not see a lot of foot or bike traffic.

You will experience a few inclines, but not many. The path is soft, and it's easy on your joints. The path is also relatively shady and breezy in the spring and summer.

This hike will take you by the reservoir.

You will end the hike at The Old Mill (where, hopefully, you parked the other car).

 Long Hike

On this hike, you will go all the way to the top of the mountain to the House of Dreams. Stop and take a break, because the hike will be tough for about a mile and a half.

Once you are at the House of Dreams, walk behind the house and walk towards the green barn. Go behind the barn and follow the narrow bike path. This is notated on the map as the thin, light grey line. I felt a bit odd walking behind the sheds, but there was, indeed, a trail there.

This is where you will need the trekking poles. This trail is quite steep and has several washed out places. This bike trail will intersect the Mountain Goat Trail.

This trail is also quite shady with views of Texas Valley. There is quite a bit of sweet shrub on this side of the mountain, and the smells can become intoxicating.

The path is very soft back here, and the next few miles will be easy. You will maintain a level path. Soon, you will begin seeing the reservoir.

From the dam, it's about a mile to The Old Mill. The trail is a bit rough through here, but wide. You will be able to clearly see what is ahead. It is mostly downhill, but there are a few inclines near the chestnut tree grove. If you've made it that far, you've gone nine miles!!! Hive yourself a hand!!!

 

This is my favorite hike. It gives me the opportunity to reflect and enjoy the beauty of the Appalachian foothills of northwest Georgia. Although I'm usually tired by the end, I feel accomplished and revived.

Pain

I thought the next post was supposed to be on the Mountain Goat Trail at Berry College!

Well, It was supposed to be, but I was asked to consider posting about pain because this is an inevitable part of hiking for me and many of you. This blog is written by myself, but I have to give credit to Kena Womack, my friend and collaborator. She gives me awesome artsy ideas and perspectives as well as motivation to go the extra mile. Today was originally planned as a reconnaissance mission on the Mountain Goat trail at Berry, but life interrupted, and we ended up taking a very brief hike through her pasture to bounce ideas.

We walked about half a mile, picked flowers, took a break. This wasn't necessarily supposed to be a documented hike, but ideas cropped up, the day was beautiful, and we were inspired by the parochial views.

On the way back to her house about 3/4 of a mile, the pain in my ankles decided to go from niggling to full on ablaze. I always have some level of pain while walking, and I usually take steps to avoid this, but we were only going a mile, and I didn't take the normal precautions as I would on a 3- 10 mile hike.

Fighting Pain

I won't discuss with you my medical treatment specifically, but my doctor and I have discussed what I do to prepare for a hike. Needless to say, I just don't get up and decide to hike, I have to begin preparing roughly an hour before I begin the actual hike. Today, I didn't. It was just a walk through the pasture. No worries there, right? WRONG!

There is the ever present pain, there is pain I can walk through, and then there is the ungodly, pain of a flare in the wings waiting to happen. That's what happened today. You know this pain. It feels like white, hot, searing coals have replaced your joints and there is no end in sight and short rest breaks do not help.

I sat at first. I gathered a few ticks in the shade, and regardless of how I situated my ankles, they would not ease in the slightest. You know inflamed joint juice hates disruption, and I stuck my ankles in the air....like that would help (It actually has before, but not during a flare) but it only made it worse. There was no way I could move my ankles to ease the pain.

After five minutes, I got up, picked off the ticks, and began hobbling the next quarter of a mile at a rate of one mile an hour. My ankles became even more angry with me. I could see my car, and began having evil thoughts and fantasies of Kena coming to pick me up even though I was only about 1,000 feet from her house. This is how bad the pain was.

About 200 feet from the house, I gave up again and laid down in the grass. Once again, there was no rest in the pain from my ankles and I was in direct sunlight. After a few more minutes, I got up and hobbled again to her porch.

I ripped off my shoes and contemplated every way to make them feel better. I massaged them; held them against the cool concrete. Nothing helped. As I was sitting there, my ears began to ring. I thought, "Oh Hell no! You aren't going to pass out! Lay back down!" I did, and I didn't faint, but that's how bad the pain was. Kena whipped up some ice packs for me, and I felt a little better after about half an hour and was able to drive home.

Ten hours later, my ankles are still aflame. I've iced all afternoon. I'm not 100 % sure why the pain is so bad today. I did a rather taxing two mile hike in Tennessee yesterday that took it's toll on my knees and hips, but I wasn't in pain when I began. I wasn't in pain the first half mile. It just cropped up.

Unfortunate Truth

I look completely normal, well, actually, that is entirely debatable, but to look at me, you wouldn't think I have severe RA - not yet anyway. The swelling, mostly, isn't very noticeable. I keep telling myself that I cannot stop. I can't give in, but unfortunately, some days I have to. I'm thinking tomorrow will be a day of rest and repair- lots of anti-inflammatory rubs and icing. But I'll be better in a few days, and I can go get my much needed photos of the Mountain Goat trail. I'm really looking forward to it. I just have to know my limitations, and It's something each of us need to discover and understand.

The time on this is incorrect. The hike actually took 50 minutes, but when my phone loses service, the GPS will only time where service is captured and will draw a straight line from point to point. We didn't actually hike that straight of a line

Berry College House of Dreams Part 1

This is, by far, my favorite trail. I've written this trail in parts, because there are several different ways you can get there. Part 1 is the easiest and least stressful on your joints. While still uphill, the trail is actually a gravel road and contains very few obstacles for people with RA. There is no climbing or jumping needed for this trail, so I would rate this one as a moderate trail because of the incline and distance.





Distance from trail head: 2.52
Rating: Moderate (incline and distance)
Berry College Trail Map

Parking

Berry College asks that you park at the Frost Chapel parking lot. This adds an additional .35 miles onto your hike. It's pavement, and is a great warm up as the hill is pretty steep. Parking at the trail head is for Friendship Hall residents only.

The First Mile

The first mile is magical. It's as if you have entered a faerie dun. The smell of moss, earth, and water will ensnare your senses.

 Take it all in quickly, because this is usually where my legs and knees begin their protests. The trail will be a bit more difficult if they have laid new gravel on the trail. This will add additional resistance and stress on your joints on the way up.

Mostly, I just take short breaks, but there have often been times when I've had to sit or even lie down. Hiking is not about speed. You aren't being timed.

Listen to your body. If you are in pain, stop. Take a break. Stretch. Enjoy the view. Most of the time, my pain is gone after the first mile, but it will be different for everyone. I know that If I prepare and take it easy, then I will make it.

Another benefit of taking a rest is that you get to see the abundant wildlife Berry College has to offer. You may see deer, squirrels, skunks (which we may have concluded resides withing the first mile), and even bald eagles.

The Second Mile

At the end of your first mile, you will see a trail to your left and these two signs. The trail to your left is the Mountain Goat Trail. I will talk about that one in my next post. Keep straight on the gravel road to the House of Dreams.

The next mile is much like the first. You will continue up the mountain.

The Last Stretch

You will hit mile two when you come to the stone gate. There is an area off to the left here with benches. Take a break if you wish. There will be several steep inclines ahead. You are almost there! Only half a mile to go. When you are coming down the mountain, you will notice a trail that goes straight here. That is the Hurtin' Gator trail. I will speak about that trail in another post



 


Enjoy the beautiful flora through here. It's breath taking

Top of the Mountain

You made it! Enjoy the view. Walk around the gardens. Read about the history of this beautiful retreat. Alumni and Students of Berry College can make a reservation and get a key to go inside and up the tower, but visitors can only go during regularly scheduled campus tours.

The hike is very much worth it. Take a picnic or a snack with you, and enjoy your time at the top. Take a nap in the fluffy grass or in the hammock. The rest will invigorate you for the trip down, which is much, much easier. 

View from the south side looking over Rome

Don't get discouraged. You can do it. I hope you enjoy the hike. Its my favorite.

This was a Map My Walk screenshot of the round trip from the Frost Chapel parking lot