September 26, 2006
| This week’s hike was in North Carolina, from Deep Gap to the summit of Standing Indian Mountain and beyond. This part of the A.T. is west of Franklin, NC and the parking lot is at the end of F.S. road 71 near the Clay Co. / Macon County line.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Terry Doyle, Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Wayne Miller, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Dan Ross, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, and Carole Wintle . TRAIL INFO. – The trail is in excellent shape and the difficulty is moderate due to elevation change. Total hiking distance – 10 miles more or less. Directions: From Franklin, NC, go West on US64 13.6 miles (from overpass where US23 turns South toward Atlanta) to FS71 Deep Gap Rd. It is the first road to the left past the County Line sign (Clay County). Drive approximately 5 miles on this gravel road (FS 71) to the Deep Gap parking lot. Another great day for a hike! Mostly cloudy, temperatures from the upper 40’s to the low 50’s F. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: White Snake Root, White Wood Aster, Perfoliated Aster, Heart-leafed Aster, Stiff Gentian, Mountain Gentian, False Foxglove, Peruvian Daisy, Spotted Jewelweed, Pale Jewelweed, Joe Pye Weed, Goldenrods, Silverrod, Heal All and Horse Balm. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Towhee, Blue Jay, Cat Bird, White Breasted Nuthatch, Crow, Titmouse, Pileated Woodpecker, Rosebreasted Grosbeak, Barred Owl, Raven, Turkey. |
 Trail-head for today’s hike – Deep Gap, NC. |
 On the way to Standing Indian. |
 We did not see any bears! |
 The Standing Indian Shelter |
 Much of today’s hike was in the Nantahala Wilderness Area. |
 Here, we are about a quarter mile from the summit of Standing Indian Mountain. |
 At the summit, the views were fogged-in but the Mountain Ash Trees were beautiful. |
 The trail marker back at Deep Gap. |
 Mountain Gentian. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Tony Presley, Phil Brownrigg, Wayne Miller, Dan Ross, Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Donna Presley, Bob Thompson, Carole Wintle, June Bellamy, John Bellamy, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker, and Terry Doyle. |