| Today’s hike was on the Appalachian Trail and a portion of the Bartram Trail from Wayah Crest Picnic area to Wayah Bald.Total hike approximately 8.5 miles round trip.
HIKERS – John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Linda Johnson, Dick Metzgar, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Pom Sinnock, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker and Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFO. – This is a nice cool hike to do during the hot summer months. It offers spectacular mountain views and a beautiful hike through a lush hardwood forest. Wayah Bald’s historic fire tower is a great place to view the NC mountains. The Appalachian Trail and Bartram Trail combine for the second half of the hike to Wayah Bald.. Hiking distance – 8.5 miles – Difficulty – moderate due to elevation change. Directions: From Franklin, travel west on US 64 for 3 miles to Old Murphy Road where there is a Wayah Bald sign. Turn right and drive .2 mile to Wayah Road (SR 1310). Turn left and continue for 9 miles to Wayah Gap and FR 69. (Wayah Crest Picnic Area is on the left.) Another great day for a hike! Partly Cloudy, and mild! Temperatures ranged from 66 to 74 degrees F. WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Angelica, Healall, Daisy Fleabane, Phlox, Southern Harebells, Begger’s Lice, White Woods Aster, White Snakeroot, Tall Goldenrod, Mullein, Mountain Mint, Woodland Sunflower, Hog Peanut, Groundnut, Indian Plaintain, Spotted Jewelweed, Pale Jewelweed, Featherbells, False Hellebore, Joe Pye Weed, Flowering Spurge, White Yarrow, Starry Campion, False Foxglove, Bergamot, Horse Balm, Fire Pink, Whorled Loosestrife, Monk’s Hood, Dodder, Black Cohosh, Stinging Nettle, Canada Violet, Ragged Soldiers, Meadow Rue, Golden Glow Sunflower, Alumroot, Virgin’s Bower and Yellow Wood Sorrel. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Red Eyed Vireo, Yellow Throated Vireo, Towhee, Hooded Warbler, Pileated Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Chimney Swift. |
 Starting point for today’s hike! |
 Hitting the Appalachian Trail at Wayah Road (SR 1310) |
 The Official Trail marker at the highway. |
 The trail was very lush with lots of wildflowers! We identified 39 species in bloom! |
 Pale Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida) |
 About halfway out, the Appalachian is shared with the Bartram Trail. Yellow marker (Bartram) White marker (Appalachian) . |
 One of the information boards at Wayah Bald. |
 Lunchtime in the Wayah Bald Fire Tower. |
 The view was a bit hazy/foggy today but still nice. |
 Looking down from the tower. |
 Monkshood (Aconitum uncinatum) Beautiful blue flowers that we rarely see but they were abundant in one area today! The whole plant is highly toxic – simple skin contact has caused numbness in some people. |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r front) Bruce O’Connor, Geri Whitaker and David Whitaker. (l-r standing) Tony Presley, Donna Presley, Linda Johnson, June Bellamy, Jeanne O’Connor, John Bellamy, Carole Wintle, Pom Sinnock,Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Doug Russell and Dick Metzgar. |