May 12, 2009
| Today’s hike was on the Bartram Trail starting at the Buckeye Creek Trail access and hiking to Wolf Rock Mountain (4,450 ft) and Overlook in NC. Total hike – 9 miles.
HIKERS – Chuck Crisp, Jackie Crisp, Dave Hinson, John Hires, Dick Metzgar, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Joe Raguckas, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Doug Russell, David Whitaker , Geri Whitaker. TRAIL INFORMATION – A very nice and not heavily used portion of the Bartram Trail. This area is a very rich wildflower habitat and the mountain views are very beautiful. The terrain is a bit challenging with a 2,000 ft elevation gain from the start to the turn around point. Today’s hiking distance – 9 miles with large elevation changes – moderately strenuous. Directions: Take Highway 441 N. thru Clayton, GA and continue to Otto, NC. Turn right on Tessentee Rd. and go several miles and turn left onto Buckeye Branch Rd. (there is a Bartram Trail sign here) and drive this gravel road to the dead-end parking lot just before the Forest Service locked gate. Another great day for a hike! Partly Cloudy with temperatures ranging from the low 50’s to the low 70’s F. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Purple Phacelia, Tulip Poplar, Mapleleaf Viburnum, Lyreleaf Sage, Solomon’s Seal, False solomon’s Seal, Catesby’s Trillium, Vasey’s Trillium, Large-flowered Trillium, Florabunda Rose, Golden Alexander, Heart-leafed Golden Alexander, Indian Physic, Fire Pink, Robin’s Plantain, Rattlesnake Weed, Fourleafed Milkweed, Cinquefoil, Yellow Wood Sorrel, Sweetshrub, Mountain Laurel, Flame Azalea, Flowering Spurge, Mountain Vetch, Pink Ladyslipper, Yellow Ladyslipper, Puttyroot Orchid, Wild Sasparilla, Purple Violet, Sweet White Violet, Primrose-leaf Violet, Yellow Violet, Bird’s Foot Violet, Spiderwort, Strawberry, Blackberry, Dewberry, Deerberry, Buckberry, Oilnut, Indian Cucumber, Pipsissawa, Wild Quinine, Green Dragon, Clintonia, Wild Geranium, Cinnamon Fern, Micheaux’s Saxifrage, Yellow Star Grass, Shooting Star Lily, Bluets, Dutchman’s Pipe, Pale Corydalis, Star Chickweed, Perfoliate Bellwort, Sweet Cicily, Squawroot, Cockspur Hawthorn,Spring Beauty, Meadow Rue, Ragwort and Mayapple. Fauna: Garter Snake. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Black Throated Green Warbler, PeeWee, Oven Bird, Carolina Wren, Red Eyed Vireo, Crow, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, Hooded Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, Pileated Woodpecker, White Breasted Nuthatch, Great Crested Flycatcher, Cardinal, Towhee, Turkey Vulture, Wild Turkey, Scarlet Tananger, Black and White Warbler, Rose Breasted Grosbeak. |
 Parking at the Buckeye Creek trail access. |
 The trail starts out on an old forest service road that is very green and lush. |
 After a little over a mile, the trail turns left and the marker says “most difficult”. |
 Some of today’s wildflowers. (top left then clockwise) Pink Lady Slipper, Fire Pink, Shooting Stars and Puttyroot Orchid. |
 The most notable landmark on this portion of the trail is the old school bus. |
 A rare treat along the trail… Yellow Lady Slipper. |
 Magnificent mountain views. |
 A view from Wolf Rock Overlook. |
 Lunchtime at Wolf Rock! |
 A magnificent old oak tree leaning over the trail. |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 Another wildflower – Spring Beauty. |
 A nice rock formation. (contorted biotite gneiss) |
 Dutchman’s Pipe |
 Two Dam Runners at Wolf Rock. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r kneeling)Tony Presley and Bruce O’Connor. (l-r standing)Dan Ross, Jackie Crisp, Chuck Crisp, Dick Metzgar, Jeanne O’Connor, Joe Raguckas, Vic Robson, John Hires, Donna Presley, Dave Hinson, Geri Whitaker, David Whitaker and Doug Russell. |