April 19, 2005
| HIKERS – Phil Brownrigg, Ray Cowan, Jack Jacobi, Terry Doyle, Dick Metzgar, Wayne Miller, Pat Neafsey, Bob Presley,Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker.
TRAIL INFO. – Today’s hike was on the Park Creek Trail near Deep Gap and Standing Indian Mountain in NC. We also did an extra hike up an un-named trail to the top of the mountain at Park Gap. Total round trip hiking distance – approx. 8 miles The Park Creek trail is a nice trail through the hardwood and rhododendron forest along Park Creek. It was a very good wildflower viewing day as you can see from the pictures below. Directions: Take Highway 64 West from Franklin for about 13 miles just past the Clay County sign. Turn left on forest service road 71 and drive about 3 miles to Park Gap (there are signs). Another great day for a hike! Mostly sunny with temperatures ranging from the upper 50’s to low 70’s. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Trout ilies, Wood Anemone, Rue Anemone, Wood Betony, Perfoliated Bellwort, Blood Root, Star Chickweed, Bluet, Halberd-leafed Violets, Yellow Round-leafed Violets, White Round-leafed Violets, Purple Violets, Butterweed, Hepatica, Squirrel Corn, Buttercups, Cinquefoil, Large Flowered Trillium, Red Stinking Benjamin, White Stinking Benjamin, Red Toadshade, Ramps.
BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Solitary Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo American Crow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black and White Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Red Shouldered Hawk, Blue Jay, Ovenbird, Junco. |
 Nice mountain views along the trail since the leaves have not yet emerged. |
 Hardwoods and Rhododendrons all along the trail. |
 Nice creeks and streams along much of the trail. |
 The Park Creek trail has only gentle hills . |
 Another nice mountain view! |
 Some of the wildflower highlights of the day. Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) |
 Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) |
 Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) |
 Squirrel Corn (Dicentra canadensis) |
 White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (front l-r) Donna Presley, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker, Wayne Miller, Phil Brownrigg, Bob Presley, and Pat Neafsey. (back l-r) Tony Presley, Dick Metzgar, Dan Ross, Terry Doyle, Jack Jacobi, Bob Thompson, Doug Russell and Ray Cowan. |