5/17/2011 Bartram Trail – Bob Gap – Dicks Creek Falls – GA

HIKERS: John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Karen Brown, Phil Brownrigg, Chuck Crisp, Jackie Crisp, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, Pam Euliss, Dave Hinson, Jack Jacobi, Dick Metzgar, Bruce O’Connor, Jeanne O’Connor, Saranjit Plaha, Don Preece, Vic Robson, Lynne Saporito, David Whitaker and Geri Whitaker.

TRAIL INFO. – This portion of the Bartram Trail is very nice with mountain views in winter, great views of the Chattooga River and Dicks Creek Falls, beautiful mixed forest, all on a very well marked and maintained trail. The terrain is rolling and we consider it to be moderately difficult. There were a couple of significant blow-downs to climb under or over today.

Directions: Take Warwoman Road 5.9 miles from Clayton and turn right on Sandy Ford Road. Cross the bridge turn left toward Dicks Creek then shortly turn right on Poole Creek Rd then 0.9 miles to Bob Gap.

Another great day for a hike! Partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from 54-60 degrees F.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Pepperbush, Yellow Star Grass, Woodland Bluet, Mountain Laurel, Rosebay Rhododendron (catawbiense), Bowman’s Root ( Indian Physic), Partridge Berry, Galax, Fairy Wand ( chamaelirium luteum ), Wood Geranium, Japanese Honeysuckle, Tulip Poplar, Blackberry, Hearts-a-bustin’, Pink Lady’s-slipper, Ground Cedar ( lycopodium trystachyum), Rattlesnake Hawkweed, Pipsissewa, Wild-ginger, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Whorled Loosestrife, Flowering Spurge, Catesby’s Trillium, and Elderberry.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Cardinal, Hooded Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Red Eyed Vireo, Black & White Warbler, Black Throated Green Warbler, Black Throated Blue Warbler, Tufted Titmouse, Oven Bird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Brown Thrasher, Northern Flicker, Crow, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Headed Vireo, Carolina Wren, Wood Thrush, Pine Warbler, Nuthatch.