| Today, we hiked the Bartram Trail from The Highway 28 Bridge on the GA side of the Chattooga River southward 5 miles to the south side of Willis Knob.(10 miles round trip)
HIKERS – John Bellamy, Andy Brown, Phil Browmrigg, Chuck Crisp, Jackie Crisp, Terry Doyle, Pam Euliss, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Joe Metzger, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Don Preece, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Dan Ross, Lynne Saporito, Pom Sinnock, Faye Sisson, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker and Carole Wintle. TRAIL INFORMATION – This portion of the Bartram Trail is very nice with quite a bit of flat terrain for the first couple of miles followed by some rolling hills. The trail is well maintained with only a few areas in the first half of the hike with minor weed encroachment since it is late summer. Several nice river views along with several mountain creeks add to the beauty of the trail. Difficulty – moderately easy Today’s hiking distance – 10 miles Directions: The highway 28 bridge is located on the GA/SC border between Walhalla SC and Highlands NC. Easily accessible from Walhalla, SC, Highlands, NC, or Clayton, GA. Another great day for a hike! Sunny, mild with temperatures ranging from 64 to 80 degrees F. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Yellow Coneflower, Bull Thistle, Joe Pye Weed, Stiff Verbena, Blue Aster, Tall Lobelia, Begger’s Lice, Goldenrod, Hog Peanut, Southern Harebells, St. Andrew’s Cross, Flowering Spurge, White Snakeroot, White Wood Aster, Bushy Aster, Heart-leafed Aster, Golden Aster, Sneezeweed, Lady’s Thumb, Heal All, Elephant’s Foot, Asiatic Dayflower, mountain Mint, Indian Plantain, Woodland Sunflower, Horse Balm, Bear Paw Sunflowers, Fire Pink, Milkwort, Cardinal Flower, Featherbells, False Foxglove, Coralroot, Yellow Wood Sorrel, Stinging Nettles, Small-leaf Sunflower, Wing Stem Sunflower, Spotted Jewelweed and Pinesap. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Pileated Woodpecker, Crow, Blue Jay, Chipping Sparrow, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Carolina Wren, Hooded Warbler, Titmouse, Yellow Throated Vireo, Chickadee, Nuthatch, Mourning Dove, Red Shouldered Hawk, Red Eyed Vireo, Broad-Winged Hawk. OTHER FAUNA – Black Snake and Garter Snake YouTube Video from today’s hike!
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 Parking at the Highway 28 Bridge |
 Team Dairy Queen! |
 Trail sign near the start. |
 Hiking along the Chattooga River |
 Crossing the bridge over the West Fork Chattooga River |
 Looking down the West Fork to the merge point with the main Chattooga River. |
 Some of today’s wildflowers (top left then clockwise) Cardinal Flower, Lobelia, Asiatic Dayflower, Spotted Jewelweed. |
 The rock fireplace/chimney of an old home place. |
 Very large tree near the old home place. |
 Lunchtime on the Bartram Trail! |
 All the creeks have nice footbridges with handrail. |
 The rock marker back at the start. |
 Fungi of the week! |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike. (l-r kneeling) Bruce O’Connor, Joe Metzger, Andy Brown, Donna Presley, Dick Metzgar, David Whitaker, Geri Whitaker and Tony Presley. (l-r standing) Phil Brownrigg, Carole Wintle, Chuck Crisp, Jackie Crisp, John Bellamy, Jeanne O’Connor, Jim Driggers, Pom Sinnock, Jack Jacobi, Terry Doyle, Lynne Saporito, Faye Sisson, Don Preece, Dan Ross, Greta Driggers, Pam Euliss and Vic Robson. |