March 2nd. It’s the time of year when there seem to be more
rainy days than not. I wanted to fit something in to a ‘dry’ day and decided to
check out Hard Labor Creek State Park. I’ve driven through the park many times
and rowed Lake Rutledge on several occasions but I’ve never hiked in the park.
I wanted something different from the short nature trails in
the center of the park so I decided to hike one of the equestrian trails. I had
a copy of the Gerogia State Parks Hard Labor Creek State Park Trail Map and my
handheld GPS to trace my trail.
My first choice was to hike part of the Lake Rutledge Trail
which didn’t seem to have the same elevation gains that I anticipated would be
involved in the Lake Brantley Trail, particularly since I was braking in new
hiking boots. As it happened, I abandoned the Lake Rutledge Trail and decided
to hike at least part of the Lake Brantley Trail.
The route I took. This includes the first section, and
return, along the Lake Rutledge Trail as well as my track along the Lake Brantley trail that begins when I crossed the Camp Rutledge Road.
I started out on the Lake Rutledge Trail to the east. The
trail – designated the Blue Trail – is a 14 miles loop trail with shorter
options that allow 4.4-, 7.2, or 8.8 miles. I thought I would do the 4.4-mile
option for my first hike. (It’s worth noting that the Blue Trail is marked on
Google Maps although some of the cross trails that form the shorter loops are not).
I found some nice Witch’s Butter (Tremetes mesenterica) on a branch lying on the trail.
The trail is quite pretty and descended to a floodplain.
It seems that daffodils have been planted in any place that
man has ventured and this was no exception.
Then I came to the first creek, Mountain Hill Branch. Water fords weren't exactly what I bargained for but, since it is an equestrian
trail, not surprising when I thought about it.
I walked down to the creek. The water level is higher than
it would be in the summer due to recent rain. There were a line of level
concrete blocks ‘lining’ each side of the crossing and the water wasn’t too
deep on the blocks on the downstream side. I had a snake hook, which doubles as a walking
stick, with me but figured that if I slipped I could either fall into the water
or get my boots soaked. Either way, that would end my hiking for the day, so I
turned back. I’ll have to wait until it’s a little drier to attempt to hike this
trail again.
I decided that, rather than wasting my trip, I would hike up
the Lake Brantley trail to Fairplay Road and decide at that point whether to
explore the trail to the west of the road which would allow a 4.4- or 8.8- mile
loop. (I was pretty sure I would only be hiking the 4.4-mile loop.)
Although the Lake Brantley Trail is listed as a ‘Blue’ trail
on the park map, the signs were green. These were placed as fairly regular
intervals along the trail to the east of Fairplay Road. Initially the trail
climbs quite steeply until it reaches the contour that it follows, with some climbs
and descents along the way. (It's worth noting that this trail is not marked on Google Maps)
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) trees along the slope.
Looking down into the gully. The slope to the small creek is
quite steep.
I found leaves of this wild ginger at several points along
this section of trail. I’m not sure which species this is. The ‘sharp-angled’
leaves look different from the Little Brown Jug (Hexastylis arifolia) I’m used
to seeing at Fort Yargo State Park.
This was the most exciting find along the trail that I
hiked. A fallen log with two fungi, lay at a steep angle downhill from the
trail so I contented myself with taking photos from the trail. The Turkey Tails
(Trametes versicolor) are in the background. These Turkey Tails looked fresh
unlike most of the ones I’ve seen this year. The jelly fungus in the foreground
was the more exciting find.
I believe these are Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula). I
thing I’ve only seen these once before in Elbert County. These are superb
specimens.
Some
formed a pretty rosette. I wish I could have gotten closer but I feared I
wouldn’t be able to get back up onto the trail even if I didn’t end up sliding
down into the gully on the loose leaves.
I
was reassured by the trail markers that I was still on the right path.
The
skeleton of an Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) with its characteristic
shark-like ‘fins.’ There weren’t many cedars in these woods.
A
small patch of Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides).
A
small mushroom ‘hiding’ among the fallen leaves. I wouldn’t have seen it if I
hadn’t had to sit on a log to change the batteries in my camera.
Leaves
of Cranefly Orchid (Tipularia discolor) were scattered along the trail.
I
saw only one Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens) by the trail.
I
wasn’t alone in the woods. A White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn
had passed along this trail since the last rain the previous day.
Emerging
leaves on an American Beech tree.
I
could see Fairplay Road beside me but this was the sure sign that I had reached
the road crossing.
I
decided to cross and hike at least the ‘short’ loop of the Lake Brantley Trail west of Fairplay Road.
2 comments:
Witches butter and Jelly ear - they are very cool looking. While we are still in the 'wet' season, I'll have to look out for them!
I hope you manage to find some. I did find some more brown jelly fungus which might have been smaller jelly ears at Fort Yargo State Park a few days ago.
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