Jan 21 Baker Mountain

 

Baker Mountain located just southwest of Hickory is considered part of the South Mountains. Although it tops out at 1755' the park's trail does not go all the way to the top. A cellular/communication tower sits atop the peak and is closed to the public. This observation deck is located at the end of the hiking trail. 

The views are to the north. Grandfather and Tablerock were the easiest to identify. I have not seen this view of the Catawba River Valley before. A broad flat land is situated between South Mountains and the Blue Ridge. I counted 9 water towers in the Hickory area. I tried but could not make out the Uwharries nor Sauratowns. 

Baker Mountain Park is part of the Catawba county parks system. They have 4.5 miles of trails on 189 acres. The main loop trail to the top and back is 2.8 miles. All the other trails interconnect with that loop trail. 

The park has a lot of Mountain laurel and some Rhododendron. Chestnut oaks dominate the forest. 

This chimney is the remnant of a 1917 hunting cabin. It appears to have been a tiny one.

The magical Sourwoods

On my way to Black Mountain, this was the perfect stopover for a vigorous hike. 

Jan 7 Ramsey Cascade Old Growth Forest

 

I scouted this hike last month and now am back hiking it with Wilderness Wildlife Week. The main attraction for most folks is the waterfall but I think the old growth forest is the real star of this hike. So much of the land here was cut during the 1910-1940 era, it is surprising that this tract did not. The spot pictured above is about 1/2 way to the waterfall. It is in a group of Tuliptrees which just invites selfies like this one of Susan here. 

Same tree except looking up.

A big buckeye

A big Black Cherry

More big Tuliptrees

Ramsey Cascade

Jan 2 Hickory Creek Access to Mayo River SP

 

Back for a second time in greenmon's folly is the Tetradactyl Sourwood. This is a remote off trail area in an undeveloped, recently added part of Mayo River State Park, yet this tree makes its second appearance in my blog. Sourwoods can grow every which way and this one proves that. 

It looks like a firetower but this is a 2 story enclosed deer stand with a internal and external staircase.  The tower is located in a long field with long range shooting lanes. 

Somewhere in there is Snakeskin liverwort. This is a rather small colony of it. There is a much larger area nearby that I was unable to locate on this hike. 

Our hike today was following a couple scenic creeks which feed the Mayo River. The creeks are rocky and in deep gorges. This is a fun area to explore. 

 

Dec 28 Octopus Tree at Huntington Beach

 

Special trees get named - Angel Oak, Pinchot Sycamore, General Sherman etc. The practice has gotten a bit silly in some cases. Today I came upon the Octopus Tree while birding at Huntington Beach State Park. First, I started the day with coffee and a a sunrise as seen above. We were not oceanfront but still had nice seats for this sunrise. 

While poking around the upper pond at HBSP, I slipped up on this snoozing Black crowned night heron. It looks headless but just has its head tucked in. The bird briefly unfolded but I wasn't quick enough to get a head shot. 

Live oaks grow like this with many many trunks rising from the root system. It shades a large spread out area. This one obtained a name "Octopus" . 

Dec 9 Rhododendron and Injun Creeks

 

It is chilly start to a day that never warms up much. On the Greenbrier Rd in the Smokies, I find my parking spot right next to where Rhododendron Creek enters the Pigeon River. This is former Whaley land. The manway I intend to follow roughly follows the creek to Grapeyard Ridge Trail which continues to follow the creek for several miles. The manway starts out on level ground for about one tenth of of a mile, then crosses the creek. The crossing can be creative but was rather straight forward today. 

Sarah Owenby grave off Injun Creek

Now the waterfall show begins. They are all rather small falls but they come right after one and another for an entertaining upward hike. I'd guess you pass 10 waterfalls but several are quite obscured by vegetation even in winter. The trail narrows and has several "too close to the edge" moments. This is the area in which I encountered 4 boar last month. None today.

Christmas decorations

Eventually I make it to the top and join the Grapeyard Ridge Trail. Just below this intersection are the ruins of a Messer homesite. The Grapeyard Ridge trail is like a highway compared the Rhododendron Creek manway. The trail crosses the creek several times. They are easy enough crossings with today's water flow but they can all be wet crossing very easily. 

Not a chimney

The steam engine wreck

Dodgen-Rayfield cemetery

Oyster mushrooms

Snakeskin liverwort

First waterfall headed up Rhododendron Creek

More waterfalls

More Waterfalls

Nov 2 Hemphill Bald Hike

 

Today's hike included side diversions to Soco Falls and the Masonic memorial before arriving late morning at Polls Gap ready to hike.

Soco Falls, on Cherokee land, has been an attraction for generations. The roadside pulloff and scramble route down to the waterfall has been an a fun stop for me for years. During the past year, the access received a major upgrade. There is now a long looping parking area along a former section of Rt 19. From there, a rather long and steep trail leads to the waterfall. The old previous route was very short but sketchy. This new alignment is much much longer but can be accessed by many more folks. 

The spot is actually the site of two waterfalls on separate creeks as they flow together here. You do have to scramble down to the plunge basin to see both falls.

Polls Gap trailhead

Blue Ridge carrion flower berries form these cool balls of blueish black berries, popular with wildlife. I saw one in bloom back in June on Andrews Bald. It is in the Smilax family and gets its name from its hideous odor. 

Hemphill Bald Trail is a 5.5 mile long trail from Double Gap to Polls Gap. The hike today is a mile shorter to Hemphill Bald and back today. That makes a 9-10 mile out and back. I very much enjoyed the wonderful trees along this route. Older trees develop character. This trail certainly had a lot going on in that respect. Lots of Buckeyes, Birches, Basswoods, Beech and some others that don't begin with "B". 

At the bald.

Looking toward Max Patch

Lots of burls today

Cataloochee Ski lift out there

Lung lichen

Much of the trail follows  old road bed with the remains of a Locust split rail fence. The trail was the property line, once you a get to the open fields owned by the adjacent high end Cataloochee Ranch resort. I checked to see what a room tonight would cost. $1387.50 including all meals. My 3 night stay at Stonebrook set me back $405 (breakfast included). 

The walk in a mature hardwood forest became forest on one side and open areas forever on the other once the Cataloochee Ranch property is reached. Most of the forested hike is side sloped with occasional views to the north. 

Once out in the open of the bald area, winds picked up and shortened lunch despite it being one of the great view sites in the park. Long range views were in 3 directions, all mountainous terrain. A beautiful stone picnic table is open to the public here on Ranch property. 

That hollow tree