The map shows the somewhat horseshoe bend of the mountain cliffs that were our destination, but also destinations for those that want
local cliffs for rapelling. From our 9 am gathering at the Recreation Center parking lot in Cullowhee, we drove up to and along the nicely paved Charlie's Creek Rd., and parked at Cathey's Gap. From there the group of some 22 folks walked up the heavily rutted dirt and gravel and periodically icy stretches of Wolf Mountain Rd. This led us some 3.5 miles to our lunch spot at the bald mountain top at 4,100 feet. (Clicking images will open larger versions of the images.)
This is the kind of road that jeep owners love.
The amount of trash along cliff and the county road was disturbing but what we hauled off in trash bags made a good dent in the problem.
These mountain hillsides being far from major streams, the ground level vegetation was sparse and when found was often peaking out from underneath the carpet of dried leaves.
You can just spot the five leaf cluster of cinquefoil.
In addition to tree skirt moss, there were many lovely lumps of the above broom moss.
Many scattered Christmas ferns were along the trail.
Running cedar fern
Don't mistake its slightly oval, shiny leaves for the rounder galax leaves. The plants may often be found nearby each other. If in doubt, pinch off a small leaf. Trailing arbutus leaves have the greatest scent when crushed in your fingers.
The mysterious "horse hoofprints" of Horseshoe Rock are the results of the weathering of rather uniform weak spots the composition of the granite.
Reindeer lichens lined up like so many gnome homes.
Multifora rose shows the winter hardiness that has made this ground-grabbing invasive species so destructive of native plants.
Just an occasional small stream could be found cascading down the hillside.
Dog hobble leaves put on some wonderful hues this time of year.
This is tree farm country that we walked through and such fields filled the valley below Horseshoe Rock.
The smooth water reflection of the higher forest shows that the winds were often calm on this walk.
We are a well provisioned and experienced group and we discovered just how many first-aid kits that group members carry. Well done.
Rattlesnake plantain (e.g., Goodyera/jade orchids/ ladies' tresses) has a number of weeks to go before its stalk of delicate white blossoms will announce that spring is here. This one's had a healthy winter. Let's keep an eye out next week for the stalks that may just be beginning to appear at lower altitudes.
- RSH -
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