May 6, 2008
| Today’s hike was on the Chattooga River Trail beginning at Burrell’s Ford north of Walhalla, SC to the East Fork Trail on to the State Fish Hatchery. Hiking distance approximately 8.6 miles.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, Phil Brownrigg, Russell Burken, Greta Driggers, Pam Euliss, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Deena Johns, Linda Johnson, Dick Metzgar, Wanda Miller, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Carole Raguckas, Joe Raguckas, John Ray, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Doug Russell , Char Sinnock, Pom Sinnock, Faye Sisson, Bob Thompson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker, Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – Starting at the Burrell’s Ford parking lot, hiking northward, this trail is mostly flat and follows the river all the way to the NC line at Ellicott Rock. Today, we turned to the right after the first 1.5 miles and hiked the East Fork trail to the SC State Fish Hatchery. The trail takes you up the beautiful East Fork Chattooga River. Total hiking distance today was 8.6 miles including the short side trail up to Spoon Auger Falls. Directions: From Walhalla, take SC 28 north to SC 107. Turn right onto SC 107 and follow for 17 miles to Forest Service road 708 (Burrells Ford Road). Travel about 2 miles or so down this gravel road and park in the campground parking lot . Another great day for a hike! Fair, with temperatures ranging from the upper 50’s to the upper 70’s F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Fraser Magnolia, Horse-sugar, Healall, Strawberry, Catesby’s Trillium, Vasey’s Trillium, Large Flowered Trillium, Lyre-leafed Sage, Dog Hobble, Star Chickweed, Indian Cucumberroot, Dogwood, Silverbells, Yellowroot, Purple Violet, Halberd-leafed Violet, Sweet White Violet, Primrose-leafed Violet, Wood Anemone, Rue Anemone, Wild Ginger, Hooked Buttercup, Meadow Rue, Red Baneberry, Blue Cohosh, White Erect Trillium, Devil’s Bit, Yellow Buckeye, Cinquefoil, Jack-in-Pulpit, Heart-leaved Alexander, Golden Alexander, Sweet Shrub ,Robin’s Plaintain, Mayapple, Foam Flower, Oil Nut, Clintonia and Bluet. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Oven Bird, Black & White Warbler, Titmouse, Black Throated Green Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Redstart, Red Eyed Vireo, Crow, Great Crested Flycatcher, Carolina Wren, Common Yellow Throat, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Yellow Throated Vireo, Pileated Woodpecker, Carolina Chickadee, King Bird, Pine Warbler |
 Trail sign that is applicable to all hiking trails. |
 Beautiful Spoon Auger Falls, near Burrell’s Ford. |
 Trail sign as we head toward the Fish Hatchery. |
 Another great day for a hike! . |
 This is the view up the East Fork Chattooga as we cross the foot-bridge. |
 The only bad spot on the East Fork trail is this large tree-fall. |
 The Fraser Magnolias are starting to bloom! |
 Awesome rock cliff along the East Fork Trail. |
 Very large brood stock Rainbow Trout at the hatchery. |
 Some of today’s wildflowers (top left then clockwise) Red Baneberry, Vasey’s Trillium, Mayapple and Devil’s Bit. |
 The foot-bridge across the East Fork (sometimes called the “$40,000 Bridge”) |
 Horse-sugar (Symplocos tinctoria) |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r front) Wayne Miller, Vic Robson, Bruce O’Connor, Tony Presley, Wanda Miller, Bill Hunt, Geri Whitaker and David Whitaker. (l-r back) Phil Brownrigg, Jeanne O’Connor, John Bellamy, Dan Ross, Carole Wintle, Jack Jacobi, Linda Johnson, Doug Russell, Donna Presley, Bob Thompson, Carole Raguckas, Faye Sisson, Joe Raguckas, Gretta Driggers, Dick Metzgar, Pam Eullis, Deena Johns, Pom Sinnock, Char Sinnock and John Ray. |