July 31, 2007
| Today’s hike was on several shorter trails in the Highlands, NC area. First, we traveled to Whiteside Mountain and did the nice 2+ mile loop over the awesome rock cliffs at the summit of the mountain. Next, we visited the Highlands Botanical Garden and walked their nature trails and had lunch. Then we walked the Sunset Rock Trail up to Sunset Rock and then over to Sunrise Rock. Then, we finished off the day with a hike on the Glenn Falls Trail. Total approximately 5.5 miles. 26 hikers!
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Chuck Crisp, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Steve Jordan, Allan Lance, Bob Magee, Joe Metzger, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Bob Presley, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Carole Raguckas, Joe Raguckas, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Dave Standard, Steve Stokes, Bob Thompson , David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker. TRAIL INFO. – The Whiteside Mountain Trail is an awesome 2+ mile loop trail that takes you up to the summit of Whiteside Mt. at 4,930 ft. elevation. The trail follows the rim of the huge rock cliffs with amazing breathtaking views. The Botanical Garden nature trails are very nice with several loop options and wildflowers and plants with many labeled specimens. The Sunset Rocks and Sunrise Rocks are located in Ravenell Park across from the Botanical Gardens and is a little more than one mile out and back. The Glenn Falls Trail is nice walk down to a series of beautiful waterfalls. Directions: Whiteside Mountain is about halfway between Highlands and Cashiers off of Hwy 64 turn onto Whiteside Mtn. Rd and go about 1 mile to the parking lot. The Highlands Botanical Garden near downtown Highlands is accessed by taking Main Street straight through town (north to south) . Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway. Glenn Falls is about 2 miles south/west of Highlands off of Hwy 106 (Dillard Highway) turn at the Glen Falls sign and drive on a dirt road to the Glen Falls Parking Lot. Another great day for a hike! Partly cloudy and mild . Temperatures ranging from the upper 60’s to upper 70’s. Hiking distance – approx. 5.5 miles WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: White Yarrow, Summersweet, Yellow Wood Sorrel, Pale Corydalis, Rosebay Rhododendrun, Sourwood, Whorled Coreopsis, Starry Campion, Hawkweed, Southern Harebells, Leather Flower, Woods Sunflower, St. John’s Wort, Spiderwort, Turk’s Cap Lily, Bergamot, Mountain Mint, Mountain Hydrangea, Filmy Angelica, Joe Pye Weed, Stachys, Teaberry, Evening Primrose, White Snakeroot, Flat-topped Aster, Tall Bluet, Cow Wheat, Ragged Soldier and Philadelphia Fleabane. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Towhee, Crow, Robin, Junco, Carolina Wren, Pine Warbler. |
 Walking through the sunbeams up to Whiteside Mountain. |
 The rock cliffs of Whiteside! |
 Beautiful Turk’s Cap Lilies. |
 More views! . |
 Nice patch of Coreopsis growing on solid rock! |
 Breathtaking! |
 We saw several varieties of Sunflower. |
 We enjoyed walking the nice Nature Trail here. |
 Pitcher Plants on the lake loop. |
 Lunchtime at the Botanical Gardens. |
 We explore Sunset Rocks (overlooking Highlands). |
 The view from Sunrise Rock looking back toward Whiteside Mountain. |
 Glenn Falls! |
 We met Virginia Nelson and her daughter Melita from New Orleans on Whiteside Mountain. |
 The OFHC gang from today’s hike (l-r kneeling) Steve Stokes, Wanda Miller, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Melita Nelson, Bruce O’Connor, Steve Jordan, Joe Metzger, Dave Standard, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker. (l-r standing) Bob Presley, Allan Lance, Jack Jacobi, Doug Russell, June Bellamy, John Bellamy, Jeanne O’Connor, Bob Thompson, Carole Raguckas, Joe Raguckas, Dan Ross, Chuck Crisp, Phil Brownrigg, Wayne Miller, Bill Hunt, Bob Magee . |