May 11 Hiking with NC Nature Conservancy

As part of the NC Native Plant Society's spring meeting, we can participate in small (10 person) guided hikes to one of the NC Nature Conservancy's most special places. It was actually the first place they acquired in NC, back in 1974. Access is very limited and controlled. I was able to secure a spot before they sold out.

We drive to a spot we are asked not to divulge, and wait for our guide, Kelly. She is in the jeep with the colorful bumper. Normally, we would have to walk the first mile of a rough dirt road but a couple of us have 4x4s and we can drive right to the top. It was a very rough ride but we made it. Once at the final gate, we step out in awe. I am stunned to see a forested field of Indian Paintbrushes, including a yellow one. There are Pink Lady Slippers blooming in the periphery. There is so much more.  

As we step out of the truck, our view

So stunning they don't look real

And Yellow!!

Too many to count

We traveled through 3 distinct areas on the mountain top. After walking for a hour or more in a very rich forested area, we entered a Hemlock forest and then into a mountain bog. Our hike started out with loads of Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Wild Sarsaparilla, Wood Anemone, violets, Iris, Baneberry, False Hellebore, Painted Trillium, Pink Lady Slippers, Yellow Mandarin, Wood Betony, Ramps, Clintonia, Pipe Vine, and many more.

Efts made their bright orange presence known as well.   

A Sugar Maple

A moss?

We are surprised to see a hand hewed cabin on the mountain top next to a small pond with a fire pit and stone benches. I'm the weird one in the photo. 

Kelly leads us to an overlook. This spot drops off precipitously. There is a waterfall we can hear but can not see. We see patches of purple Phlox along the cliff. Just stunning! 

Here is a photo of the hemlock forest we are about to enter. These Hemlocks have been treated and are quite healthy. Kelly says she treated one on her property with some chemicals that cost $90. I have heard larger ones cost thousands. 

After walking through the Hemlocks, we enter a nice gneiss outcrop which is loaded with Reindeer lichen. Kelly instructs us to walk on rock only as the lichen takes years to develop. This looks like the same lichen we fed to the reindeer in Norway. They loved it and tried to shove the others out of the way to get at it. Yet, Kelly says the deer don't eat it here.

The Lazy Slipper leans up on a tree

We enter a large open area, I consider a fen. There is water several inches deep in the grass. We see more Paintbrushes and a small patch of Sundew. It was too small to photograph. 

Bellworts in the fen

After 3 hours, we are back at the vehicles, having walking in a big loop. On the drive down the mountain I spot some pipe vine blooming. There a numerous blooms but all too high to photo. 

Can't wait to visit this place again.