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Northeast Georgia HikingNew & Old Friends Who Like to Hike

August 12, 2014

Appalachian Trail - Wayah Gap - Siler Bald - NC

This week's hike was on the Appalachian Trail near Franklin, NC from Wayah Gap to 5,216 ft. Siler Bald and the Siler Bald Shelter loop

Trail information

This portion of the Appalachian Trail offers fabulous mountain views especially from the summit of Siler Bald. However, today turned out to be cloudy and the mountain was completely fogged in. Today was nice for late summer wildflowers and mushrooms. Total hiking distance today - Including the shelter loop, a little over 6 miles

Directions

From Franklin, travel west on US 64 for 3 miles to Old Murphy Road where there is a Wayah Bald sign. Turn right and drive .2 mile to Wayah Road (SR 1310). Turn left and continue for 9 miles to Wayah Gap and FR 69. There is an Appalachian Trail crossing sign. (Wayah Crest Picnic Area is on the left.) Another great day for a hike! Cloudy with fog and temperatures steady in the mid-60's F

Conditions

Cloudy with fog and temperatures steady in the mid-60's F.

Hikers (13)

  • Geri Barrios
  • Wayne Barrios
  • John Bellamy
  • June Bellamy
  • Phil Brownrigg
  • Cup Gales
  • Stephen Gales
  • Bill Hunt
  • Dick Metzgar
  • Trushna Nadig
  • Sandy Robson
  • Vic Robson
  • Carole Wintle

Flowers in bloom

Heal-all, Mullein, Fire Pink, Carolina Lily, Turk's Cap Lily, Southern Harebell, Goldenrod, Silver-rod, Mountain Mint, False Foxglove, Oxeye Daisy, White Yarrow, Angelica, Lance-leaf Coreopsis, Tall Coreopsis, White Snakeroot, White Bee Balm, Crimson Clover, Starry Campion, Joe Pye Weed, Black-eyed Susan

Birds identified

Raven, Blue Bird, Goldfinch, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Towhee, Junco

Photos (14)

  • Parking at the Wayah Crest Picnic area.
  • Wayah Crest
  • Headed for Siler Bald!
  • A great day for mushrooms.
  • The fog is settling in.
  • As we arrive at the grassy slope to the summit, we find the vegetation higher than we ever remember it! In the past it has been mowed at least once during the summer.
  • Half of our hikers decided to hike to the fogged-in summit.
  • The marker at the summit of Siler.
  • Next, we take the side trail down to the Siler Bald shelter for lunch.
  • All of the side trails on the A.T. are marked with blue blazes.
  • We saw some nice Carolina Lilies!
  • The Siler Bald Shelter.
  • Another great day for a hike!
  • The OFHC gang for today's hike. (l-r sitting) Geri Barrios, Carole Wintle, Vic Robson, Trushna Nadig and Sandy Robson.(l-r standing) Stephen Gales, Cup Gales, Wayne Barrios, Bill Hunt, John Bellamy, June Bellamy, Dick Metzgar and Phil Brownrigg.