Logo Late 2017 Explorations
Southern Nantahala Wilderness Area
All Text & Images:
Copyright (2017)

Two more explorations in the Wilderness Area:
1 - Discovery of a large rock cave, and 2 - A climb to Shooting Creek Bald

(1) Dec 2017 - Images from a hike with Molly to check out a satellite image indication...


Google_earth_image
This was the indication that piqued my curiosity...


Tree_gall
Tree gall


Boulder
Huge boulder
I had marked the coordinates for the satellite indication on my PC, but somehow neglected to add it to my phone GPS app.
I knew the approximate location, and as I gained elevation, I noticed some large boulders across a steep cove from a ridge.



Boulder_folds
Folds in the rocks...


Boulder
Another boulder on the steep slope
But I didn't really think that these boulders were what I was seeing in the satellite view...



Lichens
Tree lichens


Bracket_fungi
Dried, but colorful, bracket fungi
Maybe a Cracked Cap Polypore (Fulvifomes robiniae)



Pano_rock_cave
While looking down the cove, I noticed a huge boulder-ledge on the STEEP side of the far ridge.   Aha, THIS was the landform
in the satellite indication.   Climbing down, then up, I saw that the hole on the right side went back a ways into darkness.



Hollow_tree
Cave-hole
With hibernation underway, but a warm day, I didn't look to see if there was a bear in there...



Boulders
Vague old logging road along ridge top...



(2) Another late December 2017 exploration:
A climb up to Shooting Creek Bald on the High Cove Ridge, via Eller Gap.


Gorge_cascades
A high elevation creek gorge


Gorge_cascades
Closer view of some frozen water.
This was a few days before the frigid temperatures that moved in with the New Year.



Rock_mound

Two of 8 or 9 rock mounds, plus a stone circle, in a stone pile complex of about 1/4 acre.
This high elevation site (a gap at 3550 feet) may or may not have Native American origins.
{The lighting was horrible (late afternoon sun through the trees) so I didn't take many photos here.   I need to return.}


Rock_Mound



Shooting_Creek_Bald_view
View south from Shooting Creek Bald


Shooting_Creek_Bald_view
View SW from Shooting Creek Bald.
Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest mountain, is visible to right of the tree near the center.



Bracket_fungi
Bracket Fungi



Misc. Explr. Index S. Nantahala Index
Hiawassee Index NE GA - NC Index