9/5/2017 – Bartram Trail Jones Knob and Whiterock Mt. – NC

HIKERS: John Anderson, Bob Browe, Phil Brownrigg, Joe Collins, Renee Corbett, Joe Deanes, Greta Driggers, Jim Driggers, Pam Euliss, Tim Hale, Jenna Hensley, Gary King, Bob Magee, Jeanne O’Connor, Terre Pratt, Tony Presley and Vic Robson.

Today’s hike was on the Bartram Trail in NC near Highlands. We hiked from Jones Gap to Jones Knob then toward Fish Hawk Mt. and we took the short side trail to Whiterock Mt.

TRAIL INFO. – This portion of the Bartram Trail is one of our favorite hikes for great mountain views. The terrain is moderately easy with the only steep climbs on two short side trails. Early into the hike, we took the short side trail up to Jones Knob for great early morning mountain views. Later, we took the short side trail up to Whiterock Mountain for lunch on the spectacular rock faced summit. Total hike today approx. 5 miles – moderate difficulty.

DIRECTIONS: From Clayton, GA take highway 441 N thru Dillard and turn right on GA Hwy 246 (Toward Highlands, NC) and continue 10.1 miles and turn left onto Turtle Pond Rd. Continue on Turtle Pond for 4.4 miles and turn left onto Dendy Orchard Rd.(rd. 1678) Continue on this road until it runs into a gravel F.S. Rd. Continue to the top of a hill and look for a turn to the left. (there will be a Bartram Trail access sign). Continue on this road to the dead end at the trailhead.

Another great day for a hike! Partly cloudy and cool with temperatures ranging from 60 to 70 degrees F.

WILDFLOWERS IN BLOOM: Lady’s Thumb, Pale Jewelweed, Spotted Jewelweed, Red Clover, Spiderwort, Pokeweed, Southern Harebells, Wood Aster, Bushy Aster, Goldenrod, Hawk Weed, White Yarrow, Crown Vetch, Mountain Mint, Field Thistle, Green-headed Coneflower / Golden Glow, Monkshood, Spurge, White Snakeroot, Starry Campion, Gentian.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED: Crow, Blue Jay, Black and White Warbler, Junco, Chickadee, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Cardinal, Vireo.

The start of today’s hike

Lots of late-summer wildflowers – Green-headed Coneflower

Shortly into the hike, we come to the side trail leading to Jones Knob.

Arriving at Jones Knob.

Hazy view from Jones Knob

Coral Mushroom

Southern Harebells

Back on the Bartram Trail we come to a view point looking over to Whiterock Mountain..

The side trail to Whiterock Mt.

Arriving at breathtaking Whiterock Mountain!

Simply spectacular

This pretty little wildflower is extremely poisonous. One of the most deadly if injested! Monkshood / Aconitum

We spotted this large Timber Rattler on the road just below our parking area.

The OFHC gang for today’s hike (l-r ) John Anderson, Gary King, Phil Brownrigg, Joe Deanes, Bob Browe, Joe Collins, Pam Euliss, Vic Robson, Tim Hale, Bob Magee, Jeanne O’Connor, Greta Driggers, Renee Corbett, Jenna Hensley, Terre Pratt, Jim Driggers and Tony Presley.

See video of the Hike below!