April 8, 2008
| Today’s hike was on the border of GA/SC on the Chattooga River Trail. The starting point was the parking lot on the SC side of the Highway 28 Bridge and the hike took us to Lick Log Falls and Pigpen Falls.
HIKERS – Phil Brownrigg, Greta Driggers, Pam Euliss, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Deena Johns, Wayne Miller, Joe Raguckas, Elizabeth Gandy, Dave Hinson, Linda Johnson, John King, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Bob Presley Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Jarrod Sinnock, Pom Sinnock, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – This is always a nice hike! Much of the trail is near the Chattooga River with a beautiful forest of Eastern Hemlock, White Pine, Oak, Hickory, Fraser Magnolia, great wildflower habitat, etc. Terrain is mostly gentle with lots of flat stretches. Hiking distance – 8.8 miles round trip. Directions: Take Hwy. 28 between Highlands, NC and Walhalla, SC and drive to the Hwy. 28 Bridge (Russell Bridge) and park in the parking lot on the SC side of the bridge. Another great day for a hike! Mostly to partly cloudy, with temperatures ranging from the low 50’s to mid 60’s F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Bloodroot, Pussy Toes, Purple Toadshade Trillium, Yellow Toadshade Trillium, Hepatica, Rue Anemone, Yellow Round-leafed Violet, Halberd-leafed Violet, Purple Violet, White Violet, Trailing Arbutus, Serviceberry, Hooked Buttercup, Robin’s Plaintain, Foam Flower, Yellowroot and Cinquefoil. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Turkey, Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Titmouse, Crow, Yellow Throated Vireo, Towhee, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Red Eyed Vireo, Red Shouldered Hawk, Pine Warbler, Red Start, Carolina Chickadee, Black Throated Green Warbler, Belted Kingfisher |
 The Highway 28 bridge parking lot – SC side. |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 Lots of nice early-season wildflowers in bloom! (top left & clockwise) Rue Anemone, Bloodroot, Purple Toadshade Trillium, Trailing Arbutus. |
 A couple of OFHC hikers sneak in a little trout fishing! . |
 Here, we look down on the river from the trail. |
 Typical view along the river. |
 A recent tree fall. |
 Licklog Falls! |
 Pigpen Falls, our lunchtime destination. |
 Lunchtime at Pigpen. |
 A nice calm spot along the river. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r front) Linda Johnson, Bruce O’Connor, Geri Whitaker, Nugget “the trail dog” and David Whitaker.(Back) Carole Wintle, Dan Ross, Jeanne O’Connor, Greta Driggers, Wayne Miller, Pam Euliss, Deena Johns, Jarrod Sinnock, Vic Robson, Joe Raguckas, Bob Thompson, Elizabeth Gandy, Dave Hinson, Bob Presley, John King, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Doug Russell, Pom Sinnock and Phil Brownrigg. |