| Today’s hike was on the Chinquapin Mountain Trail near Highlands, NC. This trail starts at the parking area for Glenn Falls.We hiked to the Mountain Retreat Center for lunch and some nice views from the observation tower.Total hike approximately 6 miles round trip.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Karen Brown, Chuck Crisp, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Linda Johnson, Dick Metzgar, Leigh Ann Miller, Wayne Miller, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Ric Porter, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Pom Sinnock, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, Lynne Saporito, Bob Thompson, Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – This trail is very nice with 5 mountain look-offs along the way. With elevations over 4,000 feet, it makes for a cooler hike during the hot summer months. The area is extremely dry due to severe drought. Hiking distance – 6 miles – Difficulty – moderate due to elevation change. Directions: The Chinquapin Mountain Trail starts at the Glenn Falls parking lot located off of Highway 106 (the Dillard Highway) about 3 miles south of Highlands, NC. Look for the sign to Glenn Falls. Another great day for a hike! Partly Cloudy, and mild! Temperatures ranged from 60 to 70 degrees F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Evening Primrose, Rosebay Rhododendrun, Flowering Spurge, Jewelweed, Yellow Coneflower, White Yarrow, Woodland Sunflower, Phlox, Tall Bluet, Joe Pye Weed, Goldenrod, Starry Campion, Mountain Mint, White Woods Aster, Summersweet, Hawkweed, Pokeweed, Ox-eye Daisy and White Snakeroot. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Barred Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Towhee, Raven, Turkey Vulture, Broad-winged Hawk, American Crow, Chimney Swift, Black-throated Blue Warbler and Carolina Wren. |
 Starting point for today’s hike! |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 We spotted this nice Barred Owl looking at us. Zoom photo from about 75-100 ft. |
 The view from our first look-off. |
 A total of five in all. |
 The view from #3! . |
 Another view |
 Taking in the view from Look-off #4 |
 We took the trail up to The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center for lunch. |
 Most of the Rhododendrons were under extreme stress due to the drought. |
 A view from the observation tower at The Mountain! |
 The fungus of the day! |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r front) John Bellamy, Bruce O’Connor, Linda Johnson and Leigh Ann Miller. (l-r middle) June Bellamy, Karen Brown, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Jack Jacobi, Doug Russell and Tony Presley. (l-r back) Dan Ross, Lynne Saporito, Bob Thompson, Carole Wintle, Pom Sinnock, Bill Hunt, Dick Metzgar, Wayne Miller, Vic Robson, Chuck Crisp and Ric Porter. |