Hiking and viewing mountains

Saturday morning began with banana pancakes!  We followed that up with a hike up Satulah Mountain.  This is a short moderately difficult hike.  The trail follows an old rocky road for about a half mile distance up about 400 ft, to the top of the mountain.  There is the remains of a shelter on one side of the mountain at 4,543 ft (Highlands Cashiers Land Trust has an old photo of the shelter on their page).  From here you have a 270 degree view of mountains in three states (North Carolins, and Georgia) to the south, east and west.  You can see the Piedmont, Blue Valley and Rabun Bald.  

On the way back to Mountain Retreat for lunch, we stopped at the Highlands Nature Center and took a quick walk around the Botanical garden.  The garden is 11 acres, and includes over 500 species of trees and other plants.  There are also example gardens using native plant for landscaping around buildings.  These border gardens included Black-eyed susan, Joe-pye-weed, and lobelia.

The garden trails wind through woods with large Rhododendrons and azaleas (neither were in bloom at the time).  Then around a four acre lake.  The pond's water lilies were putting on a show, and the fall flowers along the banks were attracting many insects including swallowtail butterflies. We took a short hike up a hillside trail through an old growth hemlock-hardwood forest.    

The afternoon hike up Whiteside Mountain followed an old logging road for about a mile.  The road provided a moderate ascent of 500 ft to the top at 4,930 feet, the first of several overlooks.  The trail continues around about one half of the ridge top, providing numerous vistas.  The trail then rapidly descends back down.  This is a short, steep and often difficult half mile back to the logging trail.  The hike was worth the views at the top, but requires more time then the distance would suggest.  To the north Shortoff and Yellow Mountains,  Chimneytop Mountain to the east.  The foothills and Piedmont to the south.  Nantahala Mountains on the western horizon.  

Escape from the heat!

It has been unbearably hot this summer which kept me from my porch, and indoors for most of the month of August.  I was delighted to escape to Highlands NC, at the Mountain Retreat and Learning Center for a lovely three day weekend.  This was another trip sponsored by the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Natural History.  The current President of the Friends is a Past Director of the Highlands Biological Station and was the organizer of this trip.  He had also promised to lead us on some great hikes up Whiteside and Scaley Mountains to view the flora and fauna.


The Mountain Retreat includes the majority of Little Scaley Mountain.  The facilities are on top of the mountain, where there are great views from the decks of buildings and the tower.  The sunset photo above, was taken from the tower (photo at right was taken earlier in the day).  While the view from the top of the tower was beautiful, the wind was howling!

The mountain top is a rock bald with a forest of ancient wind-sheared white oak (krummhloz), that are 400 to 500 years old.  The view from the deck of the Lodge where we were staying was wonderful!

My watercolor travel kit

I looked at a lot of bags, camera cases and small packs in my quest for the right watercolor travel kit.  I was actually running out of time, when I found a Mountainsmith lumbar series packs that was perfect.

I wanted a pack that was small enough to carry with me at all times, but big enough to carry all the essentials:

1. Koi Pocket Field Sketch Box  
2. 5" x 8" journal (or two)
3. mechanical pencil(s)
4. ink pen(s)
5. kneaded eraser
6. 2 oz spray bottle
7. 2 oz dropper bottle
8. kleenex packet (or two)

I also was interested in something that was tough, light and waterproof (or at least water resistant). What I found was something that that would easily hold the above, and also carry:

9. a water bottle for me - journaling is thirsty work!
10. my field hat
11. other personal items like a phone, keys, cash, plastic cards
12. and I could secure my raincoat to it as well

I use the Fleece lined eyewear pocket for glasses, phone, etc. This pocket has a waterproof zipper and cord port - so cool! The zippered main compartment has a zipper cover that does an excellent job of keep out the rain and easily holds my watercolor kit, journals, kleenex AND other items. There is one hanging interior mesh zippered pocket that I use for pens, pencils, erasers, 6" plastic ruler and wax resist crayon (I just know some day I will use it).  I use one of the two side water bottle pockets for a water bottle and the other to hold the both 2 oz water bottles and/or my hat.

The elastic rigging on the front of the pack is useful for holding my hat or raincoat, or even a larger journal.  The adjustable waistbelt makes it really easy to get into and out of, and it was very comfortable to wear all day every day of the trip.  While hiking I position the pack to my back, but when sketching I move it to the side, or even the front for easy access of items.