Pink Beds Loop, Transylvania County (8-24-12)
Read MoreThe loop begins and ends at the Pink Beds Picnic Area which, in my opinion, is one of the nicest in the area...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
We recently had to tape off a corner of the picnic area because of this, a basketball-sized bald-faced hornet nest...these guys are MEAN so we're not going to mess with them. A nest this size could be home to over 1,000 hornets!
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
The loop begins from the northwest corner of the picnic area...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
What seem to be a type of woodland sunflower grew thickly along the early part of the trail...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Almost immediately the trail crosses Pigeon Branch, one of the many tributaries that flow down from the surrounding ridges forming the Mills River...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
For now the southern portion of the loop is closed to foot traffic (you'll see why in a couple pics)...as an employee of the USFS I'm able to jump the fence, however....
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Almost immediately I found myself in a thick laurel tangle, it would be a common sight along this hike...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Even though the trail is closed it is quite open due to the foot traffic back to where repairs are being done...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Waking me up...disguised in with a bunch of tree roots I just about stepped on this 4-foot Rat Snake...not venemous, just enough to get your heart going for a second...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Overcompensation? Probably. The former bridges were flooded so these replacements, sturdy enough to hold a pickup I'm sure, are being constructed in their place...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
You could almost imagine you were a few hundred miles farther north in a few spots along this hike...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Before long I arrived at the unfinished boardwalk, the reason why the trail remains closed. A portion of the beaver dam which has caused all the 'problems' can be seen to the right...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Only a half mile in and already two snake spottings...this would be a water snake, I believe, which aren't venomous but aren't real friendly either...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Carefully continuing along the boardwalk...for being so cash-strapped, I'm impressed at the obviously large amounts of money the USFS is putting into this section of trail...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Where the boardwalk runs out...a teetering, makeshift crossing has been constructed over the final pond...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Happy to be back on dry ground, the woodlands quicky closed in around me...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Almost looks like tree growth rings, doesn't it?
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
The southern half of the loop never strays far from the Mills River South Fork...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Having already spotted two snakes I was watching my steps more carefully and, guess what, I spotted a third! This time just a curious garter...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
One of the more inventive bridges I've seen...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
The lack of traffic on this section of trail is allowing the forest to reclaim portions in a hurry...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
The green and the beautiful sun in the trees hides what was bothering me here...BUGS!! The mosquitoes and gnats were particularly annoying today...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
This long boardwalk crosses between the north and south portions of the loop. Its located about a mile and a quarter from the trailhead...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
I wandered out on the boardwalk to see what I could see...not much...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Now on the back half of the loop the trail wanders higher above the river and passes some impressive old growth trees. This surprised me as this area was intensively logged over the past two centuries...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Don't know my mushrooms, but I liked this one...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Views are pretty much non-existent on this hike so when I spotted the Pisgah Ridge through the trees I had to get a shot...too bad my lens was smudged...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
The embrace of the forest and the peacefulness of the surroundings are the true beauties of this hike...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
About two miles in the trail passes closely to the Mills River again, offering a nice change to the scenery...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
As a result of a wildfire a number of years ago the forest floor opens up as you reach the far eastern portion of the loop. Ferns cover every inch of the understory...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Another remarkably well-made bridge for this neck of the woods...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
The halfway point, 2.5 miles from the trailhead...I'd be continuing the loop to the left...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Crossing the South Fork Mills River one last time...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
The northeastern quarter of the loop seemed to have taken the brunt of the aforementioned wildfire. The open woodland was pretty, but just felt unnatural...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
The next generation of laurel sprouts beneath the charred remnants of their parents...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
A familiar three-leaved plant...Trilliums!!! I will have to come back in the spring for another look!
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
The north half of the loop crosses a number of small tributaries which spill off the neighboring ridge into the valley...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
Three-quarters of the way done...this big intersection marks where one could cross to the southern portion of the loop via the boardwalk pictured earlier...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass
I don't have all that many years experience in the southern mountains but it sees like theres been a higher than average profusion of mushrooms this year. It had been very wet so far this summer, which I'm guessing has something to do with it...
Pisgah National ForestCradle of ForestryNational Historic SiteflorawildflowersmushroomssnakeshikeBrevardBlue Ridge ParkwayPisgahBiltmore SchoolMills RiverLooking Glass