Note:  Preregistration is required.  Please email Hal Massie at massiefarm@aol.com

Trip Leader:   Hal Massie

Description:   This will be an exploratory trip on the new Man O’ War Railroad Recreation Trail, which is a Rails-To-Trails Conservancy project. So far, the trail connects the town of Pine Mountain to Hamilton and crosses the crest of Pine Mountain near the western entrance to FDR State Park. This will be an unusual field trip for the Botanical Society because the trail is paved. We will see montane longleaf pine, Pinus palustris; Georgia oak, Quercus georgiana, Alabama cherry, Prunus alabamensis, as well as many other trees typical of Pine Mountain. Hopefully, we’ll see some good autumn foliage color. I’m not sure what we will see as far as wildflowers, but we always see something interesting on Pine Mountain. After walking some of the Man O’War Trail, if anyone wants to walk a little bit more, and since we will just happen to be there anyway, we will explore some of the Pine Mountain Trail starting at its western terminus.

Directions:   Take I-85 south from the Atlanta area to I-185. Head south for about 6 miles and turn south on US 27 at Exit 42. Stay on US 27 south for approximately 11 miles, going through the town of Pine Mountain and past Callaway Gardens on your left. As you crest Pine Mountain, GA 190 will be on your left – turn onto 190 and immediately turn right into the parking area. (32.810711°, -84.855547°). From the east, take US 80 to Columbus, then north on US 27 through Hamilton. The parking lot is on the right, approximately 4 miles north of Hamilton.

Meet At:   The parking area directly across US 27 from the Callaway Country Store. Do not park in the Country Store parking lot!

Bathroom Facilities:   None nearby, the closest bathroom will be about 3 miles away at the FDR State Park HQ.

Walking Difficulty:   The trail is paved and will be very easy to walk on. We will be walking up Pine Mountain for at least half of the trip, but it is a gradual uphill. Round trip will probably be about 3 miles, depending on what we see.

Bring:   Lunch, snacks, & water.  Remember to dress for the weather and wear comfortable hiking shoes (this trail is suitable for wearing tennis shoes).  Bring your favorite field guide, notebook, binoculars (great for trying to identify trees as well as birds), and hand lens. The trip leader is inordinately fond of dark chocolate. Just sayin’.

Contact:   Hal Massie, 478-957-6095, massiefarm@aol.com