This PHOC hike took us through the Birkhead Wilderness of the Uwharrie National Forest. We began at the Tot Hill trailhead, headed for Rush's Mine, Fern Valley, back to the Birkhead Mountain Trail, lunch at Bingham's Graveyard, with a return via Hannah's Creek Trail, Robin's Branch Trail and finally out on the Birkhead Mountain Trail. The GPS data for this hike varies from 12.2 to 12.5 miles with a 1400-1700 foot accumulated elevation gain.
The springhouse above is at Rush's Mine. Mining ceased in the area around 1910. The metal crank used for raising dirt and ore out of Rush's Mine is still in place in the last hole to be mined. There are several other holes nearby including 2 just a few yards apart. I think there may have been a vein someone was mining horizontally when either a collapse or another hole was dug.
Fern Valley stills looks green with all its ferns and holly trees.
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