Flats Mountain Trail 102 in Citico Wilderness

Just a few pics of Flats Mountain Trail (102) in Citico Wilderness. It is 6.1 miles from Eagle Gap on the Cherohala to Beehouse Gap. Once you begin your walk from the parking area, you will gain some elevation, but not a big deal. Then you will come across two "balds" or fields. At the first one, you will turn right into the forest and after a couple hundred yards will be at the second.

 The first field perhaps 1/2 mile from Eagle Gap parking area

 The second field perhaps three hundred yards from the first

 The Wilderness Area sign used to be here...but its gone and now its just a bear toothpick!

 Indian Boundary Lake can be seen from the trail just after the second field

Hemlock Wooly Adelgid on this Eastern Hemlock. My grandchildren will perhaps never see an Eastern Hemlock!

ABBY BRANCH FALLS on ROCKY FLATS TRAIL

Took a New Years hike up the Rocky Flats Trail to Abby Branch Falls.  OF COURSE it was beautiful! Wanted to be in a wilderness area for Day One! Here are some pics...

 Sometimes you have to lay down on the forest floor to see the intricate detail of the smallest living things!

 Abby Branch Falls, is far into the gorge up Rocky Flats Trail. It consists of two ledges of sandstone which have many large blocks broken from it.

 Several rocks above the waterfall have this pattern. The specimens all were from the same type of rock and all had the exact pattern.  Hum?

The spot where I took my Polar Bear Plunge!  Dang was it cold!

From the parking area and "campsite" at the former wardens cabin, angle 45 degrees between Citico Creek and the upper portion of the campsite. The trail was not marked and is not very recognizable. If you begin walking up a steep grade within a 100 feet, then you know you are on the trail. You will go up, up, up, make a turn to the right into a small hollow, then the trail crosses a tributary, makes a hard left and continues into the forest within earshot of Citico. Eventually you will cross a rocky nose then drop off onto an old road. Turn back hard right and cross the creek within 150 feet. Several people have pilled brush on the old road in order to help you and me make the hard right once you get on the old road.  Have fun!