June 5, 2007
| Today’s hike was on the Foothills Trail from the Bad Creek Parking lot to the Thompson River Foot-bridge. Total – 7.2 miles out and back.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Lynne Porter-Whitmire, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Carole Raguckas, Joe Raguckas, Pom Sinnock, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker. TRAIL INFO. – This portion of the Foothills Trail is a nice walk through a beautiful forest of hardwoods mixed with White Pines and Eastern Hemlock along with abundant Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel . Starting in SC, we cross over into NC after 3 miles or so. Directions: From Seneca SC, take Scenic Highway 11 past Tamassee, to Salem, SC continue to the intersection SC 11 and SC 130. Turn left onto 130 and drive approx. 10 miles and look for the Bad Creek Project on the right. Drive up to the gate and it will open automatically. Drive down this road for a half mile or so and you will see a sign for the Foothills Trail access. Turn left and proceed about a quarter mile to the parking lot. Another great day for a hike! Mostly sunny and mild. Temperatures from the mid 60’s to mid 80’s. Hiking distance – 7.2 miles WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Mountain Laurel, Skullcap, Dandelion, Galax, Native Hydrangea, Tall Bluet, Whorled Loosestrife, Milkweed, Beard-Tongue, Yellow Star Grass, Rattlesnake Weed, Spotted Wintergreen, Racemed Milkwort, Devil’s Bit, Bluet, Ragwort, Daisy Fleabane, Rosebay Rhododendron, Catawba Rhododendron, Carolina Rhododendron. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Mocking Bird, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, Crow, Hooded Warbler, Titmouse, Scarlet Tananger, Oven Bird, Red Eyed Vireo, Towhee, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow Throated Vireo, Chipping Sparrow, Redstart, Black Throated Green Warbler, Red Wing Blackbird. |
 On our way to the Thompson River |
 Crossing the bridge at the Whitewater River (low water level due to the drought) |
 The Whitewater River Foot-bridge. |
 Wild Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens). . |
 At the 3.5 mile mark, we arrive at the boulder-filled Thompson River. Water level much lower than normal due to the drought. |
 We soon come the the foot-bridge across the Thompson River. |
 Just below the bridge, we take our lunch break. |
 A great place to have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! |
 Photo op! |
 Headed back to Bad Creek! |
 Looking down the Whitewater River… |
 Two of today’s wildflowers: (l) Hairy Skullcap (Scutellaria elliptica) (r) White Milkweed (Asclepias variegata) |
The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Bill Hunt, Pom Sinnock, Tony Presley, Lynne Porter-Whitmire, June Bellamy, John Bellamy, Donna Presley, Joe Raguckas, Carole Raguckas, Bob Thompson, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker, Bob Presley, Jack Jacobi. |