July 28 Great Pizza

A pound of ground beef and a pound of chanterelles. Not your typical Papa John's pizza. This one was spectacular. I feel I'm getting close to "my" perfect pizza.

July 24 Great Wall of Panthertown

I was not signed up for this hike but the leader, Darcy Douglas had her co-leader depart for home early and she asked if I'd assist. We are visiting the Great Wall of Panthertown. The Great Wall is an one mile long, 400 foot high granite rock face. Our hike was billed as a 5 mile loop. Darcy told me the night before it was more like 8 or 9 miles. Not knowing Darcy that well, I just assumed she wasn't looking at the map right and hadn't calculated it properly. Leaders are assigned hikes and should scout them. Darcy had done that but still I wasn't convinced. Then she showed me the maps and I calculated the distance at 10 miles. So in the morning we had to tell folks who had signed up to go on a 5 mile hike, that we were doing almost double that and there was a take your shoes off creek crossing (above). That scared some folks off and we were left with a total of 14.

I had read the top of the Great Wall - Big Green Mt was not a worthy hike and was confusing so I knew we'd want to skip that, bringing it down to an 8 miler.

Things started out fine. We stopped at this waterfall roller coaster - Granny Burrell Falls, for lunch. It was quite scenic and several other folks came by while we monopolized the dry rock. It was here Bad Boy Bob hiked on back to where he'd left his boots knowing that we were to head that way after lunch. As we left the lunch break I counted 13 and that prompted a search for Bob. Darcy and group went on ahead to a junction and I was to search and catch up. Well, of course they found Bad Boy Bob sitting there. This prompted Darcy to remove him from her responsibility but we let Bad Boy hike on with us.

This is the best glimpse you get of the great wall. There was lots of water streaming down the face.

Here we are walking through what I'm told is an abandoned Christmas Tree farm from a few decades back. 

Colicroot had me baffled for a while.

I understand Yosemite is sometimes referred to as the "Panthertown of the West".

Luna moth in the trail.

Our hike ended up being 8 miles and we were finished before 3pm. Even though Bob was bad, he had made a deal with Darcy prior to that. If he'd slide down the waterfall, Darcy would buy him ice cream afterward. Darcy made good on that promise.

July 23 Judaculla Rock

After hiking today with Jerry Parker, I visited his farm and the rock. Jerry may know more about this rock than anyone else. He can point out some initials of locals who have carved on it years ago. He looks after it like it is his own.

The rock was carved 1000-1500 years ago. It may have been a boundary marker. The legend is a slant eyed giant ruled this hunting ground. He ruled from the top of Devil's Courthouse. Once while chasing some hunters off his land, he jumped and steadied himself on this rock, leaving a hand print.

The Parker family has owned the land around the rock for over 150 years. It was just a rock in their field until the 1930's when it first began appearing on road maps and drawing some tourists. The Parkers very much wanted to preserve the rock and have donated it and an acre surrounding to the county which now maintains it somewhat. Jerry lived just 150 yards from it so he spends a fair amount of time looking after the rock and admonishing tourists who want to touch and feel the rock.

In the photo above you can see a couple round carved spots on the lower right side. Those are where soapstone bowls were carved from the rock.

Above and below are a drawing and photo which give a much better idea of what is on the rock. The post card is of Jerry's grandfather. In it the carvings have been chalked so you can see them much better.See the slant eyed giant's hand print? 

July 23 Chattooga River Trail

This outing is led by Joyce Jacques and Jerry Parker, both of the Nantahala Hiking Club. On the ride from Cullowhee to Cashiers, Jerry gives a running commentary on the sights we pass. He has lived all his life here and knows the name of every curve in the road. We begin the hike in National Forest property but very near a golf course. There is some elevation gain but it is not a hard hike. Once again we spot lots of mushrooms including the Velvety black earth tongue above.

We hiked down to the river and followed it downstream for about half an hour to this spot. The bridge had to have been airlifted in. It crosses a side creek to the main channel. On these rocks we enjoy lunch and I get wet in the water. There is a nice sandy bottom and it is very pleasant to wade and wander in the water.

This photo above is taken from the bridge. Just to left of the folks on the rock, the river emerges from a tight, narrow chute which is known as the narrows. Below is a photo of the narrows.

As we hiked here, one couple decided they had had enough and were going no further. Jerry had stayed with them and I was to scoot on back after lunch and assist him. I was told the gentleman, Jack was 91 but I don't know if that was correct. I hurried on back but could not catch them until I was within a half mile of the trailhead. Jack and his wife were doing great. They had not stopped since  leaving the river and appeared to be in fine shape. As I walked with them out, I got to speak with Jerry the sweep. He spoke about Judaculla Rock. It was located along the road we had taken and was surrounded by his property. I agreed to visit it with him on the return. 

We made it out and waited about 45 minutes for the others to arrive.

July 22 Tennent Mountain hike

Today's ATC hike was led by Carolina Mountain Clubber, Les Love and "Adirondack" Ron Berger. Les was serious and earnest, Ron was irreverent. We had the perfect match. Les knew the route well and guided us superbly  through the area. Our route began on a forest service road off the BRP. We were in the vicinity of Shining Rock and many other attractions so there were lots of folks out hiking here. Almost all day we were exposed and it was a mostly sunny day, but the temperature was cool enough for us not to get overheated - most of us anyway.

Turks cap lily is prolific here and it appears to be peaking right now. From the top of the mountain where we ate lunch, you could spot yellow patches on the hillsides around. It turned out to be Dodder vine, a parasitic plant with an orange/yellow vine and small white flowers.

The hike is billed as 6 miles but it certainly seemed like a longer hike to me and everyone else. We eventually got on the MST and headed back to the cars. At about the one mile point to go, we stopped to let the stragglers catch up. We all congregated within a few minutes except Adirondack Ron and another Ron. The other Ron was quite gregarious at lunch pointing out the mountains and regaling us with past hiking tales. Finally after 25 minutes the Rons show up and the gregarious one is almost completely spent. I had frozen a bottle of Powerade for the hike. It had just thawed and I had taken a couple  sips of the cold drink at this time. It was obvious Ron needed some food and electrolytes. I gave my bottle and 10 seconds later the liter was empty. He continued to drink water and ate some. After some consultation with Les, the main group heads to the cars and 3 of us stay with our fallen comrade for a slow walk out. Our sweep, Adirondack had done this before and he placed himself behind and another fellow just in front. My job was to carry his pack out. I did this "canoe carry" style. With my pack on my back, his back went on the front. I felt pregnant but it worked. We slowly walked out and everything turned out fine. I attribute this result to Adirondack Ron and his experience in having dealt with these situations before. I seem to have gained the nickname "Two Pack" as a result.

July 21 Big Scaly Hike

Big Scaly Mountain is just outside Highlands, NC. My favorite hike hike leader, Doris Gove is leading us today. The route is a short one but it is uphill to the top  of the mountain and then we retrace back to  the cars. 

We spotted many mushrooms on this walk. The one above is Salmon Unicorn Entoloma. I hope my Mycology friend Christine is watching and keeping me straight on these. Below we have a Black trumpet chanterelle. 

Above is Caesar's Mushroom. It was a great day for colorful mushroom species. There was one overlook which had a great patch of white bee balm, one of my favorites.

Here we are at the top of the mountain. The trail continues but it is our turn around spot. This is the Bartram Trail and it is wet right now. We are looking south to Georgia here. 

The one rare plant Doris pointed out, Roundleaf Sundew is hidden in the moss above. It is a carnivorous plant which produces a sticky mucilage which catches insects attracted to it. An enzyme dissolves the insect so the plant can extract ammonia from its proteins. It is hard to spot. In the photo above it is the reddish plant in the moss.  

July 20 Birding at Cowee Mountains

Today's outing is, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's biennial conference, an excursion. We have joined leader Brent Martin of the Wilderness Society and co-leader and top birder, Heather Nagy for this short 2 mile hike in the Cowee Mountains. I counted only 11 species we either saw or heard today, a measly number for a bird outing. We got see both the Indigo Bunting and the Black Throated Blue Warbler. The other birds were common enough to not get excited.  

Bright red seed pods on these trillium was a neat sight to see. Our leader Brent Martin was well versed in the type forest we were in, trees which surrounded us and birds we should have heard. He did identify Spotted wintergreen as Pipsissewa, but I'll let that slide. Spotted wintergreen has variegated leaves and Pipsissewa has all green leaves. 

Above we walk out on an overgrown boardwalk into a Spruce bog. Everything looks like a bog this year with the constant rainfall. However, this is a rare type bog. Due to the overgrown rhododendron, we couldn't see much.

This spindle shaped yellow coral fungus is called Spindle shaped yellow coral fungus. Too bad everything isn't that easy.

We concluded the hike in a nice overgrown pasture where we should have spotted a lot of birds. There were pretty Black eyed susans and Summer Phlox to enjoy.

July 13 Elk Knob

Our day continues with a hike up Elk Knob on the new 1.9 mile trail to the top. The new trail replaces an old road which went straight up. That route has eroded badly and needed to be abandoned. The new trail was completed a couple years ago by local volunteers. When volunteers do work in the park, their hours are recorded and included in paperwork destined for Raleigh. The amount of time sent on trailwork by the volunteers equated to over $400,000 worth of labor. The stone work and stone steps are a work of art.

In the photo above we have a lovely view of the clouds. As you may note, the sign indicates the elevation as 5520 feet, 20 feet higher than snake. So, I assume if Snake is the highest mountain entirely in the county, Elk Knob must also fall into Ashe County.

No views today but we have some nice wildflowers like Primrose above and Wood Sage below. Finally at the bottom is a great bursting bloom of Fly Poison.

July 13 Snake Mountain

This Piedmont Hiking and Outing Club hike was led by David Memory. The first portion was a climb up and back on an unmaintained trail on Snake Mountain. The mountain is the highest entirely within Watauga County at 5500 feet. We park on a DOT parking area near the entrance to Elk Knob State Park. The trail up begins across the road through a locked gate, past a No Trespassing sign. I am told, David and other scouted this route earlier this year and were met by the owner of the lower portion of the mountain. Being a hiker himself, he permitted others to hike and respect the property. We walked through beautiful fields of tall grass and wildflowers. The trail gradually dwindled to just a rut through the fields. Only 7 of us pushed on beyond a halfway point and continued up more steeply and exposed. Views were scarce today. We did catch a glimpse here and there through the clouds.

As we reached the ridge near the top, the climb leveled but became more of a scramble over rocks. Here the land is part of Elk Knob State Park. In the top photo, you can see a road winding up the hillside. That road is part of the Sunalei Preserve, a luxury home development slowed by the real estate downturn. They transferred part of their holding to Elk Knob State Park and Blue Ridge Conservancy to protect the ridge and top of Snake Mountain.

The natural rock gardens here are breathtaking as are the views. The ridge has a blazed trail along it which I assume to come up from the Sunalei Preserve.

Our time is limited on this mountain as there is another climb to follow. None of the climbers made it to the very top of the mountain. I'll do that another day.

We descended about as slow as we went up. The group formed back together and we walked back down to the vehicles. 

July 8 Doud Mine in Birkhead Wilderness

I'd never given Doud Mine much thought. It is one of the mines within Birkhead Wilderness. However, today it was noted on the map I used to accompany one of Central Land Trust's summer intern's natural heritage project. I didn't expect to find it. As we walked the trail to Camp 3 and Rush Mine, she reminded me, we should be looking for the mine. So turning back we retraced our steps perhaps .2 mile and just walked into the woods - and there it was. A big pile of earth surrounding a pit. You could see more pits from here.

In the above photo, many pits are visible. As we walked pit to pit, it began to encompass a rather large area. I'm guessing there were at least 20 pits. As we reached the point at which a stream developed, the pits ended.

Above, one of the pits holds water. A great place for the frogs. I don't know if this pit is normally filled with water. Probably not , as later we saw Rush Mine full which is not normal.

I don't know the purpose of this cut. It goes from the very deep pit up the hill down to the stream below.

The total area here may have been 5 acres in size. It was a nice find, just off the trail and easy to locate again.

June 29 New River Trail - Cliffview to Fries and back

Today's bicycle ride was a bit under 30 miles, beginning at New River Trail State Park headquarters at Cliffview. Beginning here eliminates the 2 mile ride into Galax which some folks don't find as enjoyable. 

Above is a non-native flower, Everlasting Peas. Below is the New River on the ride into Fries. AT this point is has a scenic pastoral look but just downriver it gives way to a wilder forested  look.

June 24 Roan Mountain Garden

Atop Roan Mountain is a wonderful garden of Catabwa Rhododendron. It is a Tennessee State Park. You're within shouting distance of North Carolina. The paved and dirt paths wind through the Rhododendron bushes.

An Elderberry Longhorn beetle looks for something to eat.

We saw many bushes like this one. Our afternoon plans were to hike out on the balds and view more bushes but the rain came again today and washed that idea away.

It looks like someone placed these golden asters in an arrangement. 

June 23 Grandfather Mountain

I had never hiked the Black Rock Trail in Grandfather Mountain State Park. It begins a short distance down the road from the Mile High Swinging Bridge. The trail is only a 2 mile roundtrip and turns back at a spot called "Grandmother"s View". The hike was easy with many features seen on other trails in the park. It went right by a rock jumble and had ladders and cables to access views from atop rocks.

The reason I'd never taken this trail previously is due to its location. It would add several miles to either the normal routes I've hiked in the park and I never wanted to pay the fee to enter on the toll road. Today I was with a friend with a yearly pass so there was no excuse. The day began cool and nice but soon the rain came just about the time we finished our hike.

This overlooks the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Beacon Heights parking area. It looks like a cellular tower on the "hump" mountain but it didn't improve the signal much.