July 19, 2005
| HIKERS – Don Alducin, Sharada Alducin, John Hires, Dick Metzgar, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Lynne Porter-Whitmire, Rick Porter-Whitmire, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, David Whitaker, and Geri Whitaker.
TRAIL INFO. – Today, we hiked on four short trail sections to two awesome mountain peaks and two nice waterfalls. We hiked to the summit of Albert Mountaiin and took in the awesome views from the old fire tower. Then back down to our cars and down the road for a couple of miles and hiked the Pickens Nose Mountain trail for awesome mountain top views. Next, we traveled back down the road toward Standing Indian Campground and hiked the short trail to Mooney falls and finally back down the road a half mile to hike the Laurel Falls Trail. Trail difficulty rating: Moderate with a few significant hills. Total hiking distance – 6 mi. Directions: From Franklin, NC, take US Rt. 64 west for 12 miles to Wallace Gap/Standing Indian campground sign (Old Murphy Rd. Old 64). Turn left onto Old Murphy Rd. and go 1.9 miles to Standing Indian campground sign (Forest Rt. 67). Turn right onto Rt. 67 and go 1.8 miles to the fork in the road and bear left and follow this road for about 5 miles to the Laurel Falls Trail sign. For Mooney Falls continue on the road about .5 mi beyond the Laurel Falls sign. Then for the Albert Mtn. parking lot continue on several more miles to the end of the road. For the Pickens Nose Trail, go back down the road from Albert Mtn. parking lot for a couple of miles and look for the trail sign and parking lot. Another great day for a hike! Partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from the low 70’s to the upper 70’s. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: St. John’s Wort, Whorled Loosestrife, Whorled Coreopsis, Fire Pink, Phlox, Bush Honeysuckle, Heal All, Bergamot, Bee Balm, Sundrops, Evening Primrose, New Jersey Tea, Indian Pipes, Rosebay Rhododendrun, Mountain Hydrangea, False Heleborus, Galax, Spirea, Black-eyed Susan, Daisy Fleabane, Meadow Rue, Mountain Mint, Tall Bellflower, Indian Plaintain, Tall Bluet.
BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Solitary Vireo, Towhee, Junco, Peewee, Black Vulture. |
 Our first stop of the day at the parking lot near Albert Mountain. |
 The Albert Mountain Fire Tower. |
 Great views in every direction from the tower. |
 Next stop for the day – Pickens Nose Mountain Trail. |
 We saw some folks rapelling down the rock cliffs! |
 Lynne and Wanda standing on this amazing rock cliff. |
 A breathtaking view from our lunch spot for the day! Pickens Nose Mountain. |
 Beautiful Mooney Falls! |
 Laurel Falls! |
 A few of today’s wildflowers. (top left clockwise) Sundrops, Black-eyed Susans, Spirea, Phlox. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r kneeling) Doug Russell, Tony Presley, Sharada Alducin, Wanda Miller, Donna Presley, Bob Presley. (l-r standing) Rick Porter-Whitmire, Wayne Miller, Dan Ross, Lynne Porter-Whitmire, John Hires, Don Alducin, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker, and Dick Metzgar. |