toadshade's Journal

The first was part (4/17/16) was a hike with the Carolina Mountain Club that started in the valley of Hawksbill Creek and followed it up to a 400 bushwhack to Hawksbill Rock and from there to the Little Snowball Mountain Fire Tower and down the other side looping back to where we joined Hawksbill Creek. A total of 9 miles. The 2nd (4/23/16) was a solo hike from Beetree Gap on the road from the BRP to Craggy Gardens where the MTS trail connects with the Big Snowball Mountain Trail that joins with Hawksbill Rock in about 1.25 Miles and follow the same ridge trail I took last week to the Fire Tower. Elevations ranged from 2900 to 4900 feet. The area was full of Ramps by the creek and on the ridge. Dwarf Delphinium was everywhere along with both dicentras, Squirrel Corn and Dutchman's Breeches. Large flowered Bellwort and Trillium grandiflorum were were also present. The one I hadn't seen before was Spotted Mandarin which was a real treat. Bloodroots on the ridge were almost spent the first week and gone the 2nd week. This area is rich in wildflowers this time of year and I intend to visit it often.

The first was part (4/17/16) was a hike with the Carolina Mountain Club that started in the valley of Hawksbill Creek and followed it up to a 400 bushwhack to Hawksbill Rock and from there to the Little Snowball Mountain Fire Tower and down the other side looping back to where we joined Hawksbill Creek. A total of 9 miles. The 2nd (4/23/16) was a solo hike from Beetree Gap on the road from the BRP to Craggy Gardens where the MTS trail connects with the Big Snowball Mountain Trail that joins with Hawksbill Rock in about 1.25 Miles and follow the same ridge trail I took last week to the Fire Tower. Elevations ranged from 2900 to 4900 feet. The area was full of Ramps by the creek and on the ridge. Dwarf Delphinium was everywhere along with both dicentras, Squirrel Corn and Dutchman's Breeches. Large flowered Bellwort and Trillium grandiflorum were were also present. The one I hadn't seen before was Spotted Mandarin which was a real treat. Bloodroots on the ridge were almost spent the first week and gone the 2nd week. This area is rich in wildflowers this time of year and I intend to visit it often.

This area is close to home - about 3 miles - so I visit it often. The part of it I hike is in the Xeric Sandhills which runs through the midlands and Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve. Basically the same types of flora is found in both - Long-leaf Pine, Turkey Oak, Sassafras, Sandhill Post Oak, Sandhill Rosemary, Sand Myrtle, Sparkleberry, Deerberry, Rayner's Blueberry, various Grassleaf Golden-asters (pityopsis), various St Johnswort (Hypericum hypericoides, H. Lloydii, H. gentianoides), Southern Oak-leech, Wireplant and Sandhills Gerardia. I'm finding a type of Hawthorn in both which will be added. If anyone can tell from the picture which type of Hawthorn it is I'd be grateful. The glands are black tipped. I'm thinking crataegus uniflora. Saw a few others on the hike yesterday also.