July 24, 2012
| This week’s hike was on the Chimney Rock Trail in NC from the dead end of the Tate City Road up the the summit of Big Scaly Mountain (5,200 ft).
HIKERS – Karen Brown, Phil Brownrigg, Dan Euliss, Pam Euliss, Dave Hinson, Bill Hunt, Dick Metzgar, Donna Presley, Tony Presley, Vic Robson, Pom Sinnock, David Whitaker and Geri Whitaker. TRAIL INFO. – A beautiful hike beginning on the upper end of the Tallulah River and climbing up and up to Case Knife Gap. Then another half-mile climb up to Big Scaly Mt. The views are great in the wintertime but the leaves obscure most of the good mountain views during the summer months. Still a nice but strenuous hike. Total hiking distance today – 7.5 miles with a very large elevation gain. Directions: Take Highway 76 West out of Clayton, GA for 8 miles and turn right onto Persimmon Rd. Continue 4 miles and turn left onto Tallulah River Rd. Continue for around 5 miles through Tate City and continue past the NC line for another mile or so until the road comes to a dead end. Park here for the trail-head. Another great day for a hike! Mostly sunny and warm. Temperature in the low to 70’s warming to the mid 80’s. FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Spotted and Pale Jewelweed, Heal-all, Black Cohosh, Yarrow, Beggar’s Lice, Crimson and Basil Bee Balm, Rattlesnake Plantain, Stinging Nettle, Thimbleweed, Indian Pipe, White Snakeroot, Starry Campion, Spiderwort, Blue Phlox, Alumroot, Wood Betony, Tall Bellflower, Great Rhododendron, Carolina Lilly, Dodder, Cow Wheat, Mt. Hydrangea, Horse Balm, Mt. Mint, Joe -Pye Weed, False Foxglove, White Violet, Cowbane, 2 Rudbeckia, 3 Helianthus, Coreopsis, Goldenrod, and White Wood Aster. BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Broad-winged Hawk, Crow, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-Eyed Vireo, Cardinal, Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, Junco, Towhee. OTHER FAUNA: River Otter |
 Today’s hike was a couple of miles above one of Georgia’s northernmost communities. |
 The trail parking lot is at the dead end of the Tate City Road. |
 For the second week in a row we are in the Nantahala Wilderness Area. |
 Another great day for a hike! |
 These are the upper headwaters of the Tallulah River that eventually becomes the Savannah River. |
 Mushroom of the Week! |
 Working our way up the long incline to Case Knife Gap. |
 Beautiful Carolina Lily with a Black Swallowtail Butterfly! |
 A large patch of Red Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) |
 “Nugget” the trail dog – He is the one without the hat! |
 Lunchtime at Case Knife Gap! |
 Nice! |
 Lance-leaved Coreopsis. |
 The OFHC gang for today’s hike! (l-r) Tony Presley, Bill Hunt, Phil Brownrigg, Pam Euliss, Dan Euliss, Geri Whitaker & “Gabby”, Dick Metzgar, Dave Hinson, Karen Brown, Vic Robson, “Nugget”, Pom Sinnock, Donna Presley and David Whitaker. |