2019-11-16 Fort Harry Smokies Adventure

Team Waterfall Fort Harry adventure

Saturday, November 16th, 2019

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Group Photo at Fort Harry Falls 

(from the Badger Selfie Collection)

L to R:    Thomas (Badger), John (Captain), Scott (Professor), 

Ryan (Mountain Cat), Me (Bushwhack Jack), Kitty (Rock Sprite)

Today's adventure included a civil war history lesson on Fort Harry.  You can get a little more background here:

Fort Harry History

We had a slight delay on the drive to the trail head due to some Elk Crossing along US441.

Elk Crossing

Our first hike/bushwhack of the day would be to Fort Harry Falls.

 The Badger and Mountain Cat at Fort Harry Falls

The Captain and The Professor at Fort Harry Falls 

Ryan on a rock next to Fort Harry Wall 

 Ryan at Fort Harry Falls

Hanging out at Fort Harry Falls 

Ice at Fort Harry Falls

Next up was some scrambling around the mountainside above US441 looking for remains of Fort Harry.  We do believe we stood upon the exact location of the historic civil war fort, but found no physical remains from the actual structure.

Scott, Ryan, and Kitty on Fort Harry

 The Badger Documenting History with The Captain

The fun part was getting down!  Here is the Badger showing how it is done:

Badger Slide down Fort Harry

Ryan assisting Kitty with the descent down Fort Harry

Mountain Cat Flip off the Guardrail

Our next goal of the day was to attempt to find some of the civil war cemeteries mentioned in our Fort Harry History Lesson.  No luck finding any remains, but we did have some fun bushwhacking around the snow frosted forest!

The Professor = Over 

The Rock Sprite = Over 

The Badger = Under

Our final hike of the day was to Trickling Falls along the Road Prong Trail.

Along the way to Trickling Falls

Trickling Falls

 Trickling Falls

Trickling Falls

We finished the day with a post sunset view from Newfound Gap in the heart of the smokies along the TN/NC state line!

 Post Sunset View from Newfound Gap

 Post Sunset View from Newfound Gap

My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157711891276282

2019-11-09 Curtis Creek Area Waterfalls

Curtis Creek Area Waterfalls

Pisgah National Forest

Grandfather Ranger District

McDowell County, NC

Saturday, November 9th, 2019

Licklog Branch Falls Selfie with Jenni

I took a break from the SSPBDT Mancation Weekend Festivities to meet up with Jenni Johnson for a morning of waterfalling around the Curtis Creek Area to help knock a few more waterfalls off Jenni's 500 Waterfall Challenge List.

Jenni had already done Hickory Branch Falls (page 120 of Kevin Adam's NC Waterfall Bible - 3rd Edition), so I decided to start with that short and easy warmup hike prior to meeting Jenni.

 Hickory Branch Falls

After Hickory Branch Falls, I met up with Jenni for our hike/bushwhack to Slick Falls (page 121 of Kevin Adam's NC Waterfall Bible - 3rd Edition)

Jenni bushwhacking down towards Slick Falls

Slick Falls

Jenni at Slick Falls

Jenni hiking through some nice fall color on the Snooks Nose Trail 

on the way back down from Slick Falls

After Slick Falls, we drove up the road a short ways to start the bushwhack to Licklog Branch Falls 
 (page 122 of Kevin Adam's NC Waterfall Bible - 3rd Edition).

 Licklog Branch Falls

 Jenni at Licklog Branch Falls

Jenni pointing out the nice Fall color above Licklog Branch Falls 

Jenni with a huge leaf

(anyone know what kind of three this is from?)

 Jenni on an easy bushwhack back from Licklog Branch Falls

The bushwhacking for both Licklog Branch Falls and Slick Falls was easier and quicker than we were anticipating leaving the entire afternoon open.

I decided to return to the Snooks Nose Trail and get in a little cardio hike!   I hiked from Curtis Creek up to the Green Knob Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway and then on to the Green Knob Fire Tower.

View from Snooks Nose 

 The Green Knob Overlook

View from the Green Knob Fire Tower  

The Green Knob Fire Tower

view from Green Knob

GPS Tracks

Links to the GPS Tracks:

Hickory Branch Falls

Slick Falls

Licklog Branch Falls

Snooks Nose Trail



Flickr Photo Link:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157711740092121

The 19th Annual SSPBDT Mancation Camping Weekend

The 19th Annual SSPBDT

Mancation Camping Weekend

Camp Buff

Rutherford County, NC

Friday, November 8th through Sunday, November 10th, 2019

Welcome to Camp Buff

Shortly after I started working at Spartanburg Steel Products over 20 years ago, the SSPBDT (Spartanburg Steel Products Beer Drinking Team) was established.  With the majority of the core team members no longer with the company, our meetings have become less and less frequent over the years.

However, one thing that has remained consistent is our Annual SSPBDT Mancation Camping Weekend.  For the past 19 years, rain or shine (mostly rain) the SSPBDT Mancation Camping weekend has always taken place!

For the past six years, the event has been held at Camp Buff, a five acre parcel of private land where we can gather and do what we want without fear of violating the rules of "The Federal"

Here are a few photos from this years festivities:

Our Accommodations for the weekend

Jeff Fueling the Fire

Hanging out around the campfire at Camp Buff

Hanging out around the campfire at Camp Buff

Hanging out around the campfire at Camp Buff

I love a good campfire!

Full Moon above Camp Buff

Saturday Afternoon Gun Show and Target Practice

 

Saturday Afternoon Gun Show and Target Practice

Full Moon above Camp Buff

Campfire

Full Moon above Camp Buff

Flickr Photo Gallery Link:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157711740489917