May 8, 2007
| Today’s hike was on the Bartram Trail in N.C. starting at the Buckeye Creek Trail head to the summit of Wolf Rock. This is an out-and-back hike of approx. 9 miles.
HIKERS – Phil Achey, Chuck Crisp, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, John King, Dick Metzgar, Wayne Miller, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Joe Raguckas, Dan Ross, Pom Sinnock, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, and Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – This portion of the Bartram Trail is especially beautiful with a lush wildflower habitat and great views of the N.C. mountains. The trail was in good shape except for a couple of blow-downs that were easy to navigate. The hike out is moderately strenuous with an elevation gain of approximately 2,000 ft. Hiking back is mostly easy downhill to flat. Directions: Take Highway 441 N. thru Clayton, GA and continue to Otto, NC. Turn right on Tessentee Rd. and go several miles and turn left onto Buckeye Branch Rd. (there is a Bartram Trail sign here) and drive this gravel road to the dead-end parking lot just before the Forest Service locked gate. Another great day for a hike! Sunny and mild. Temperatures from the upper 50’s to low 70’s. Hiking distance – approx. 9 miles WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Yellow Lady-slippers (large and small forms), Pink Lady Slipper, Puttyroot Orchid, Catesby’s Trillium, Vasey’s Trillium, Large-flowered Trillium, White Wood Lily, Solomon’s Seal, False Solomon’s Seal, Twisted Stalk, Shooting Star, Purple Phacelia, Pale Corydalis, Fire Pink, Jack-in-Pulpit, Spring Beauty, Star Chickweed, Mouse-eared Chickweed, Yellow Stargrass, Cinquefoil, White Baneberry, Flame Azalea, Rhododendrun Grandiflora, Mountain Laurel, Buttercup, Hooked Buttercup, Mayapple, Sweet Shrub, Cockspur Hawthorn, Indian Physic, Purple Violet, Yellow Violet, Birdsfoot Violet, Sweet Cicily, Spiderwort, Serviceberry, Strawberry, Blackberry, Dewberry, Robin’s Plaintain, Golden Alexander (2 kinds), Micheaux’s Saxifrage, Squawroot, Pepperroot, Mountain Vetch, Ragweed, Bedstraw, Wild Geranium, Beardtongue, Cinnamon Fern, Rattlesnake Weed, Lyre-leafed Sage, Sweet Shrub and Blue-eyed Grass. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Oven Bird, Cardinal, Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Red Eyed Vireo, Black Throated Green Warbler, Scarlet Tananger, Chipping Sparrow, Hooded Warbler, Red Start, Blue Jay, Towhee, Crow, Wood Thrush, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Black and White Warbler, Raven, Song Sparrow, Titmouse, Crested Fly Catcher, Yellow Throated Vireo, Turkey Vulture |
 The sign at the corner of Tessentee Road and Buckeye Branch Rd. The trail-head is at the end of this road. |
 Shortly into the hike, we spot this nice Pink Lady Slipper. (Cypripedium acaule) |
 The trail starts on an old gated Forest Service Rd. and 1.5 miles later turns onto a regular foot-path. This is the marker at the start of the foot-path. |
 Nice views along the trail. . |
 A nice treat! The smaller form of Yellow Lady Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) |
 The most common landmark along this section of the trail. The old school bus! |
 There are several rocky sections along the trail. |
 Another nice trail-side view. |
 We reach our destination! Wolf Rock Overlook. |
 Lunchtime at Wolf Rock! |
 May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum) |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r kneeling) Donna Presley, Dick Metzgar, Chuck Crisp, Pom Sinnock, Bill Hunt and Tony Presley. (l-r standing) Carole Wintle, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, Dan Ross, Jack Jacobi, Phil Achey, Joe Raguckas, John King and Wayne Miller. |