DALTON, Ga. - Dalton State College officials are working to complete public, on-campus hiking trails that one day could tie into the Pinhoti Trail.
Biology professor Dr. John Lugthart said the trail project started about two years ago. Volunteers have completed all but a short section of a 1.3-mile loop trail, he said, and plans are to open it to the public this summer.
The trail is on forested property behind the main campus. Eric Eades, construction director with the Benton MacKaye Trail Association, is volunteering with the college to complete the project.
He said plans are to add another loop trail to the south.
Dr. John Schwenn, president of Dalton State, said the trail will provide an educational resource for biology programs but it's also something to enjoy.
"As we're trying to get our students to stay here and to do more things (here), this gives another opportunity for students to have something to do while they're at Dalton State," he said.
HOW TO HELPTrail workdays are scheduled. Bring sturdy shoes or boots, gloves and drinking water and meet on George Rice Drive at the service road, across from the student center. For questions or information, e-mail Dr. John Lugthart at jlugthart@daltonstate.edu.Workdays are from 8:30 a.m. until noon on:* Feb. 12* March 13* March 26* April 17* April 30
College officials met Friday with Dalton City Administrator Ty Ross and Brad Kotrba, community planner for the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, to discuss how their trail system could connect with the Pinhoti Trail.
"We're just in a planning phase," Mr. Ross said.
The Pinhoti is more than 200 miles long and extends from Alabama to Georgia's mountains, according to information on the Georgia Pinhoti Trail Association Web site.
Mr. Ross said official hope to connect the Pinhoti Trail on Dug Gap Battle Road with the George Disney Memorial Trail, which is behind the Georgia State Patrol office in Rocky Face. This would follow the ridge behind Dalton State College.
David Elrod, director of institutional advancement at Dalton State, said an anonymous donation of $1 million let the college acquire an additional 171 acres leading to the top of the ridge.
Dr. Schwenn said additional trail development in the area is planned that would connect with the Pinhoti extension.
"This is an opportunity to have people know more about Dalton State," he said.