Feb 4 Hanging Rock scramble

Today's hike (scramble) at Hanging Rock was led by Ben Harris. Ben developed this route after several off trail excursions along and on top of Moore's Wall. Beginning from the parking area at Tory's Den, we follow the Sauratown Trail into Hanging Rock State Park.

The walk is slightly uphill and easy until we turn off trail and start scrambling along the spine of Moore's Wall. The route along the spine has several faint trails within its approximately 30 yard corridor. Eventually we join the Moore's Wall Loop Trail and head toward the observation tower. There is no view today so we don't even bother stopping. 

Roughly .3 mile from the tower, we drop down to the base of the wall and make our way back to the starting point. I've been on this route 3 previous occasions and still enjoy the walk. The rock formations above are quite unlike anything else in the area.

Feb 3 Resurrection Ferns in Uwharries

This bog or upland pool is along the Robbins Branch Trail in the Birkhead Wilderness of Uwharrie National Forest. Note the large oak tree in the water (center top of the photo). As we approached this pool, looking for eggs and birds, my naturalist friend, Balinda, with the sharp eyes of an experienced birder saw what appeared to be ferns going on the tree. Closer views with binoculars confirmed they were dried ferns. Resurrection Ferns often grow on the top side of cypress and oak trees. They can lose 97% of their moisture and survive. When this happens, the leaves turn with their underside up. Since leaves absorb water from the underside, when it rains or mists, these leaves are ready to soak up the moisture and re-hydrate.  There is also a mechanism in the leaf's system which allows it to not break apart when it dries out as most leaves would.

These are salamander eggs. Often mistaken as frog eggs, salamander eggs have an extra layer of gelatinous mass surrounding them. Frog eggs are surrounded by a gelatinous mass individually but the entire raft of eggs does not have the extra layer.

Resurrection Ferns growing on the horizontal limb of this oak tree.

Jan 29 Little Long Mountain

Crystal Cockman with the land Trust for Central North Carolina led this short hike along the former Uwharrie Trail. Leaving from the USFS parking area on Flint Hill Road, we took a short .3 mile road walk to access an old two track alongside Poison Branch. About 10 minutes into the woods, there is a side trail leading to a solitary grave.

We continued following Poison Branch, but on the opposite side, before heading up and away from the creek, finally making the short climb up Little long Mountain.

The top of the mountain affords the only 360 degree view in the Uwharrie National Forest. The top is covered with broom sedge, salt bush and sumac. It appears the view will be mostly gone within a year as the vegetation heightens. 

It is unclear if this trail will become a continuation of the Uwharrie Trail. The current status of the land Little Long Mountain resides on is owned by the land trust with owner financing. The owner has retained hunting privileges for an unspecified period. It may be the best interest of the land trust to continue this arrangement as hunting clubs maintain a property and keep vehicles out. With limited resources, the land trust may not be able to adequately manage that responsibility. So I can't envision a viable hiking trail until year round access is available. The potential for confrontations is too great with the two interests. 

Jan 28 Mount Mitchell & No Snow

Eighteen hiking club members braved the warm winter weather for the club's 5th annual winter assault on Mt Mitchell. Led by Matt Perry, this hike is barely 12 miles long but is guaranteed to be a long day. Today was no exception as we exited the woods just before 5pm.

The start point for this hike is Black Mountain Campground, a good 3700 feet lower than Mt Mitchell top at 6684'. Early in the hike, we pass through nice second growth forest accompanied by the occasional rhododendron hell. A few minor creek crossings presented to obstacle. As we climbed in elevation, those creek crossings became iced over presenting a bit more challenge but still not enough for the majority to manage the entire hike without foot traction.

Of course you can drive to the top of the mountain and walk a short paved trail to the actual summit with panoramic views. Normally at this time of the year the road is closed due to snow and ice but not today. A few motorists made the drive only to be socked in at the top. We did manage to see some limited views between massive gusts of wind and parting clouds.

Mt Mitchell was the highest point in the United States until 1845 when Texas joined up. 

From Wikipedia:

Dr. Mitchell set out in the summer of 1835 to test his and other people's opinions that the Black Mountains were the highest peaks east of the Mississippi River. He set out to do this by barometrical measurement." In doing so, he showed great patience, energy, and perserverance, for "To climb the Black Mountain and carry up the instruments to determine its height in 1835 required courage and scientific ardor to an unusual degree. The country, naturally savage, was at that time very little known.  It was much more inaccessible than it has since become by reason of the progress of settlements around its base; but Dr. Mitchell overcame all difficulties, and he found the height of one of the peaks to be 6476 feet, while Mount Washington in New Hampshire, long considered he highest point of the Alleghanies, is only 6428 feet high.  Dr. Mitchell's account of this exploration was published, and attracted wide attention.  It was the first authoritative announcement that Black Mountain was higher than the White Mountains [NH] and indeed, the highest in the United States east of the Rockies." (1905. Ashe, Samuel. A Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. I, pp.387, 388.)

In 1844, Dr. Mitchell returned to the Black Mountains, this time looking for the tallest peak of all. He succeeded, and "In recognition of his discovery, his name was attached to a peak of the mountain on the maps and geographies of that period." (1905. Ashe, Samuel. A Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. I, p.388.)

There was controversy over this decision, however. Thomas Clingman asserted that Dr. Mitchell had measured the wrong mountain but that he himself had correctly measured the highest mountain in the Black Mountains. Some people then suggested that Mount Mitchell's name be changed to Mount Clingman. Dr. Mitchell "contended that he was the first to measure and ascertain its superior height, and that he was on that very peak and had measured it in 1844." (1905. Ashe, Samuel. A Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. I, p.388.)

Dr. Mitchell then announced his intentions to return to the Black Mountains in order to re-measure the peak and prove that he had been on Mount Mitchell in 1844 by gathering statements from the men who had acted as his guides in that year. He went back in June 1857 with his son, Charles A. Mitchell. He worked for two weeks. On Sunday, June 27, he quit work at 2:30 in the afternoon, "proposing to cross the mountain to the settlement on Caney River for the purpose of seeing Mr. [Tom] Wilson and others who had guided him to the top on a former visit.  He promised to return on Monday at noon.  This was the last time he was ever seen alive." (1905. Ashe, Samuel. A Biographical History of North Carolina. Vol. I, p. 389.)