July 17, 2007
| Today’s hike was on the Appalachian Trail from Deep Gap to the summit of Standing Indian Mountain in the Nantahala National Forest of NC. Standing Indian is a giant of a mountain with an elevation of 5,499 ft. According to Cherokee myth, the peak is the stone remains of an actual watchman, an Indian warrior sent to the mountaintop to stand lookout for the winged monster that had stolen a village child. When the Great Spirit answered the village’s prayers and destroyed the monster with a furious lightning storm, the mountain was shattered and the lone scout was turned to stone.
HIKERS – Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Ann Magee, Bob Magee, Dick Metzgar, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Joe Raguckas, Doug Russell, Pom Sinnock, Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – This popular portion of the A.T. is one of several ways to access the summit of Standing Indian Mountain. The hike from the Deep Gap parking area is a little more than a 5 mile round trip. The hike up involves an elevation gain of 1,200 ft. but the climb is mostly gradual. Directions: From Franklin, NC, go West on US64 13.6 miles (from the 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! Partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from the low 60’s to mid 70’s F. Hiking distance – 5+ miles. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Rosebay Rhododendron, Turk’s Cap Lily, Heal-all, Yellow Gerardia, Whorled Loosestrife, Woodland Sunflower, Mountain Mint, Phlox, Wood Sorrel, Indian Pipes, Mandarin (in fruit). BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Towhee, Carolina wren, Blue Jay, White Breasted Nuthatch, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Junco. Snakes: Garter Snake |
 The starting point today at Deep Gap. |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 Beautiful NC mountains! |
 Several brightly colored fungi were spotted. . |
 A nice little Junco joined us at lunchtime. |
 The view from the summit of Standing Indian. |
 Mostly cloudy but the view is still worth the trip! |
 Standing Indian is one of our favorite lunch spots! |
 The blueberries will be ripe in a few weeks. |
 Turk’s Cap Lily (Lilium superbum) |
Here, we chat with a NC Wildlife Officer collecting data from a bear baiting/checking project. When we saw him at Standing Indian, he had checked 5 baits between there and Deep Gap and all five had been cleaned out by bears! |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r) Jack Jacobi, Doug Russell, Bill Hunt, Wayne Miller, Wanda Miller, Bob Magee, Ann Magee, Pom Sinnock, Joe Ragukas, Dick Metzgar, Carole Wintle. |