Sat, Feb 11 2012 - Winter Panthertown Valley Trek (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Jay G Participants: Jay G, Melanie Dixon, Jonathan L, Kimberly, William Dean, Matthew Borland, Jennifer Howle, Todd M

Write Up:
This one was memorable.  A nice and early start from the carpool got us to PV's Salt Rock trailhead around 10am; where we saddled up and made the short trek to camp in the pines along Mac's Gap Trail.   We made camp close so we could drop some weight and dayhike as much of the valley as we could with what little daylight we had.  

Jen had commented how the the PV trail map look like the speghetti maze from the the children's magazine 'Highlights'; which was good b/c I told here we were taking the speghetti route around the valley.   We only hit a few falls since they are not as fun in the winter; but our path took us from Mac's Gap to PVT trail, to Little Green, back to Mac's Gap,  over to Big Green, back around to the Great Wall Trail, past the shelter, up to Granny Burrels, and the back to camp.  A decent 8.5 miles of hiking with high winds and cold temps.  

 Oh, yes cold temps.   By late evening 8 people were huddle around a nice fire b/c the temps had fallen to 7degrees.  Add a good 15-20 wind and it makes for some dangerous temps if your not prepared.   Thankfully the group survived.   Unfortunately the extreme cold had put us behind schedule and sucked the life out of a few of the group so we forwent the Sunday day hike and instead, settled on lunch at a local BBQ joint in downtown Cashiers.

Can't wait to return with warmer temps and more daylight.   

 

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