July 28, 2009
Dry Falls & Whiteside Mt. - NC
Today, we traveled to Highlands, NC and did several short trails. Starting at Dry Falls then Whiteside Mountain followed by the Highlands Biological Station Trails, Rhododendron Trail and Sunset Rock
Directions
Dry Falls - From Highlands, take Hwy 64 west for just over 3 miles from it's intersection with Hwy 106. Look for a brown and white forest service sign for Dry Falls and turn left into the parking area. Whiteside Mountain - From downtown Highlands, go east on US 64 for 5.5 miles to the Whiteside Mountain Road sign turn right on paved road NC 1600 and go .6 mile. Highlands Biological Station - From Dillard, GA: Take Hwy 106 to Highlands and turn right onto Main Street. Continue straight through town. Turn left onto Sixth St. and make a right turn into the Station driveway. Another great day for a hike! Partly cloudy and cool. Temperatures ranged from 68 degrees to 74 degrees
Conditions
Temperatures ranged from 68 degrees to 74 degrees FLOWERS IN BLOOM: Woodland Sunflower, Indian pipes, Spotted Jewelweed, Button Bush, Purple Flowering Raspberry, Teaberry, Pitcher Plant, Spikenard, Alumroot, Yellowroot, Micheaux's Saxifrage, Mountain Hydrangea, Summersweet, Rosebay Rhododendrun, Stinging Nettle, Evening Primrose, Queen Anne's Lace, Bergamot, White Yarrow, Hawkweed, Daisy Fleabane, Yellow Wood Sorrell, Heal All, Lady's Thumb, White Wood Aster, Turk's Cap Lily, Leatherflower, Pale Corydalis, Whorled Coreopsis, Sunflower, Tall Bluet, Starry Campion, St.
Hikers (20)
- Tonya Andrews
- John Bellamy
- June Bellamy
- Karen Brown
- Phil Brownrigg
- Pam Euliss
- Dave Hinson
- Tyler Hinson
- Bill Hunt
- Jack Jacobi
- Bob Magee
- Joe Metzger
- Bruce O'Connor
- Jeanne O'Connor
- Don Preece
- Donna Presley
- Tony Presley
- Vic Robson
- Dan Ross
- Lynne Saporito
Flowers in bloom
Woodland Sunflower, Indian pipes, Spotted Jewelweed, Button Bush, Purple Flowering Raspberry, Teaberry, Pitcher Plant, Spikenard, Alumroot, Yellowroot, Micheaux's Saxifrage, Mountain Hydrangea, Summersweet, Rosebay Rhododendrun, Stinging Nettle, Evening Primrose, Queen Anne's Lace, Bergamot, White Yarrow, Hawkweed, Daisy Fleabane, Yellow Wood Sorrell, Heal All, Lady's Thumb, White Wood Aster, Turk's Cap Lily, Leatherflower, Pale Corydalis, Whorled Coreopsis, Sunflower, Tall Bluet, Starry Campion, St. John's Wort, Angelica, Lantern Vine, Joe Pye Weed, Stacys, Phlox, Evening Primrose, Whorled Loosestrife, and Goldenrod
Birds identified
Rufous-sided Towhee, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Dark-eyed Junco. Other Fauna - Snapping Turtle, Mllipede and Woodchuck
Photos (15)
Approaching Dry Falls! A rare opportunity to walk behind a waterfall! Looking out from behind the falls. Simply spectacular! Yes! Fungus of the week! The first viewpoint from Whiteside Mt. Breathtaking rock cliffs! North Carolina mountains. Awesome Devil's Courthouse! We had lunch at Highlands Biological Station and walked the nature trails. Beautiful moss covered rock cliff along the Rhododendron Trail. Taking in the views at Sunset Rock. A very nice place to relax and explore the huge rock face above Highlands. The OFHC gang for today's hike. (l-r kneeling) Dave Hinson, Joe Metzger, Bruce O'Connor and Tony Presley. (l-r middle) Tyler Hinson, Karen Brown, June Bellamy, Jeanne O'Connor, Lynne Saporito, Vic Robson, Pam Euliss and Bob Magee. (l-r back) Phil Brownrigg, Dan Ross, John Bellamy, Bill Hunt, Jack Jacobi, Don Preece, Donna Presley, Tonya Andrews.