3/27/07 Wallace Branch Bartram Tr, NC

HIKERS – John Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Chuck Crisp, Terry Doyle, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, John King, Wayne Miller, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Jack Slaton, Dave Standard, Bob Thompson, and Carole Wintle.

TRAIL INFO. – This is a beautiful portion of the Bartram Trail in the N. C. mountains. The trail was in excellent shape and wildflowers are really starting to bloom! The terrain is mountainous with an elevation gain of 1400 ft., making it a very strenuous hike.

Directions: Take Highway 64 west from Franklin, NC for approximately one mile south of Highway 441. Turn right on Sloan Road and just past the Wayah District Forest Ranger Office, Sloan Rd. T-intersects with Old Murphy Rd. Turn left on Old Murphy and take a quick right on Pressley Rd. Continue on Pressley Rd. You will pass Wallace Branch Rd. but continue on Pressley and it will change to Ray Cove Rd. and continue to the Wallace Branch trailhead which is a 100 ft. circular area. The trail starts with a wooden bridge crossing Wallace Branch.

Another great day for a hike – Mostly sunny, very hazy, with temperatures ranging from the upper 50’s to the low 70’s.

Hiking distance approx. 7 miles – very strenuous.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Bloodroot, Cut-leafed Toothwort, Robin’s Plaintain, Fire Pink, Pussytoes, Wood Anemone, Buttercup, Hooked Buttercup, Purple Violet, Lobed Violet, Mountain Vetch, Star Chickweed, Serviceberry, Hepatica, Yellow Wood Sorrel, Ragwort and Cinquefoil.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Tufted Titmouse, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Veery, Black-capped Chickadee, Turkey, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture , American Crow, Towhee, Pine Warbler, Red eyed vireo, and Carolina Wren.