Monday, May 18, 2020

2020-05-12 Hazel Creek Cascades Marathon Hike

Hazel Creek Cascades Marathon Hike
with Jenni Johnson
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Swain County, North Carolina
Tuesday, May 12th, 2020

Hazel Creek Cascades with Jenni

My friend Jenni is working on the North Carolina 500 Waterfall Challenge.  It is highly probable that she will become the first and only Deaf person to complete this challenge!

Many of the waterfalls on the 500 list are rather easy and can be crossed off the list by a simple drive to the mountains.  However, some of them put new meaning to the word challenge!   Hazel Creek Cascades is one of those waterfalls.  There is no easy way to get to this one!

Most people get to Hazel Creek Cascades via a multi day backpacking trip and/or a monster shuttle hike!  Jenni's plan was literally a Marathon of a day hike  (26.4 miles and 5,224 feet total ascent according to my GPS app!).

Here is the GPS track and some of the photos from our hike!


Roadside view from The Road to Nowhere

Two went in!  The Tunnel to Nowhere!

 Jenni at Campsite #71

 Sad looking Black Snake

Jenni Crossing Forney Creek

 Jonas Creek Falls

 Jenni cross Jonas Creek

 Trillium

Almost There!

Hazel Creek Cascades (Lower Drop)

Jenni at Hazel Creek Cascades (Middle Drop)

 Hazel Creek Cascades (Upper Drop)

  Hazel Creek Cascades (Upper Drop)

Cascade on Hazel Creek Headwaters

Jenni crossing Jonas Creek

Group of Horses at Campsite #70

Inside the Tunnel to Nowhere!

Two came out!  After 26.4 miles of hiking


My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157714352780342




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