2019-06-21 Fork Creek Epic Adventure - Still House Falls and Elmo Falls

The 2019 Fork Creek Overarching Epicity Tour

Still House Falls and Elmo Falls

Pisgah National Forest

Transylvania County, NC

Friday, June 21st, 2019

Group Photo at Elmo Falls

Photo by Ryan Mallon

I celebrated this years Summer Solstice by taking Friday off from work to join in on the 2019 Fork Creek Summer Solstice Overarching Epicity Tour!  While these waterfalls are all located on public land within the boundaries of the Pisgah National Forest, access and parking can be questionable.

Found on my windshield at the end of the hike. 

My vehicle was parked at the northern intersection of Slick Fisher Road and Hwy 281.

Therefore I will not be posting my GPS track from this adventure!

Joining in on this adventure would be Thomas Mabry (Badger), Kitty Myers (Rock Sprite), Scott Burns (The Professor), Everette Robinson (Everest Denali), Joey Cagle, Ryan Mallon (Mountain Cat), and Eliza Stone-Crib.

Eight Went In
L to R: Thomas, Kitty, Scott, Joey, Eliza, Ryan, Me, Everette

(From the Badger Selfie Collection)

First on the agenda was Laceration Falls.  I was not overly impressed by the waterfall itself.  However, there were a few nice blooms to focus on and Badger's re-enactment of how Laceration Falls got it's name was very impressive!

Some nice blooms at Laceration Falls

 Badger Re-enactment of how Laceration Falls got it's name

Next up would be Devil's Canyon!  Despite the rugged terrain and a valiant attempt to keep us away by a large group of angry Yellow Jackets, we made it to the Devil's Canyon.  Definitely worthy of a Badger Thumbs Up!  I concur!
  

  Devil's Canyon Falls gets a Thumbs Up by the Badger!

Badger gives a Thumbs Up to the Mountain Cat Handstand at Devil's Canyon Falls

Badger and Mountain Cat at Devil's Canyon Falls

After Devil's Canyon we continued on to Still House Falls.  Again, I am not going to post my GPS track, but you can find information about the waterfalls below on pages 311-313 of Kevin Adam's North Carolina Waterfall Bible (3rd Edition).

Still House Falls is a beauty!  I can't believe I hadn't made it here until now!  And since the lighting was not good for waterfall photography I will definitely be back!

 

Still House Falls

Still House Falls Selfie with Eliza, Thomas, and Scott

Group Photo (except for Kitty) at Still House Falls

L to R:  Scott, Joey, Thomas, Everette, Ryan, Eliza, Me

A Mountain Cat Flip at Still House Falls

The Professor and the Badger at Still House Falls

Eliza working her way down from Still House Falls

After Stillhouse Falls we continued downstream hitting several additional smaller waterfalls and cascades along the way!

Everette making has way down Lower Still House Falls

Hidden Falls

Kitty and Scott at Cleft Falls

Badger Perch at Emily's Cascade

 Emily's Cascade

Eventually we made it to "Staging Rock" near the top of Elmo Falls.  This is the spot where you have to decide how the heck to get down to the base.  My gut was telling me that river right looked like the better way to go.  However, the group ultimately decided to head down river left.

 Nice cascades at the top of Elmo Falls

 Kitty, Joey, Eliza, and Scott at the Staging rock near the top of Elmo Falls

I can't say if river right would have been any better, but I can say that river left took us almost 3 hours to get from the top of Elmo Falls to the base.  This included included another Yellow Jacket attack and about a 2 hour detour to advance approximately 15 feet (not an exaggeration)! 

Eliza utilizing the Butt Slide Bushwhacking Technique

Kitty checking out some cool rocks!

The Professor descending down the Mountain Cat Crevice

Setting sights on Elmo Falls made it all worthwhile!  This one is truly spectacular!

Elmo Falls

Elmo Falls

Kitty and Scott at Elmo Falls

Kitty Leading the way to the Ledge of Legends

Badger Group Selfie at Elmo Falls

L to R:  Thomas, Me, Kitty, Scott, Joey, Everette, Eliza, Ryan

Mountain Cat at Elmo Falls

Everest Denali photographing Elmo Falls

Say Hi to the Professor at Elmo Falls

Eliza and Ryan at Elmo Falls

After Elmo Falls, we still had about a mile of creek walking downstream to our vehicles.  My plan was to drive down to Lake Keowee after the hike to join some of my other Team Waterfall Friens (Darrin, Bob, and Elliott) for an evening of camping.  I had hoped to make it there in time for sunset, so Scott and I picked up the pace a bit and surged ahead of the rest of the group!

Unfortunately, I just missed the Lake Keowee sunset, but there was still a nice sky and a little swim in the lake felt awesome after the epic adventures earlier in the day!

Just after sunset at Lake Keowee

Bob, Darrin, and I had a very enjoyable evening hanging out at the lake.


Since there was a 0% chance of rain, I didn't bother to take the time to properly stake and tie down my tent and rain fly.  Darrin also elected not to set up his rain fly.

Shortly before 2:00am the wind really picked up and blew my inadequately secured rain fly off.  I quickly checked the radar, and saw the 0% chance of rain was now up to 100%.  While trying to re-secure my rain fly, the wind caught it just right and my tent lifted up about 15 feet into the air (possibly an exaggeration).

Plan B:  I collapsed the entire tent, wadded everything up into a ball, and climbed up the hillside to my truck.  This is what the radar looked like once I was safely inside my truck for the rest of the evening.

 0% Chance of rain for the evening?

Darrin and Elliott also ended up spending most of the night in their respective vehicles!  But we all made it through safe, alive, and ready for the next camping adventure!


We enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing morning on the lake!

After the Storm!  Saturday Morning Sky above Lake Keowee

 Jet Ski Selfie

Elliott and Bob hanging out at the Lake

Elliott and I decided to stick around and help Bob finish up a little project he was working on.  A deck / tent platform constructed entirely out of scrap wood!

Our Saturday Morning Project - Made entirely out of scrap wood

This was an awesome way to spend the Summer Solstice!

My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157709262579473

2019-06-14 Cheoah Bald Backpack and Ledbetter Canyon

Cheoah Bald Backpack and Ledbetter Canyon 

A Team Waterfall Adventure

Swain County, NC

Friday June 14th and Saturday June 15th, 2019

Cheoah Bald Sunset

Ledbetter Canyon Falls is listed on page 411 of the Third Edition of Kevin Adam's "North Carolina Waterfalls" bible.   Even more interesting is the section of creek upstream from Ledbetter Canyon Falls which is described as being virtually impossible to access.

After months of planning and several weather delays Team Waterfall would finally conquer Ledbetter Canyon.  I was not comfortable with the Rappelling that would be required to reach this spot, but I still wanted to be a part of this Team Waterfall Weekend.

So Andy, Scott, and I hatched our own parallel plan!

We would start our weekend with a Friday afternoon backpack hike up the Bartram Trail to spend the evening camped out on Cheoah Bald.

At the Bartram Trailhead

GPS Track from our hike up to Cheoah Bald

Click here for interactive link

At over 3,000 feet in elevation gain in just under 5 miles, this was no easy climb!  Especially with a full backpack of camping gear!  But it was quite rewarding as well!  And we made it to the summit in time to set up camp and catch an Amazing Sunset!

 Sunset from Cheoah Bald

Cheoah Bald Selfie with Scott and Andy 

Boone and Kona enjoying Cheoah Bald

Our Campfire at Cheoah Bald

 Kona at Cheoah Bald

Scott and Andy photographing the sunset from Cheoah Bald

Cheoah Bald Sunset

Once the sun went down, the temperature dropped dramatically and the wind really picked up!  It was quite chilly, especially for those of us that forgot to bring pants.  A beautiful sky, a near full moon, and even Jupiter made for quite an enjoyable evening around the campfire.

A near full moon above our campfire at Cheoah Bald

Scott hanging out by the campfire 

Andy and Scott hanging out around the campfire

Can you spot Jupiter?

Our plan for Saturday Morning was to wake up in time to catch a sunrise.  This is not a problem for me as I am almost always awake before the sun.  Andy blamed his lack of pants for not being able to exit his tent.

This time of year, you can't actually see the sun rise from Cheoah Bald.  However, there was still some very nice color to the sky!

 Cheoah Bald Sunrise

Cheoah Bald Sunrise

Scott and I were packed up and ready to begin the hike back down by the time Andy woke up.  Andy's plan was to cook breakfast at the campsite.  However both Scott and I had planned out eating breakfast back at our vehicles.   So Scott and I started our hike back down the mountain.

 Scott ready to begin our hike down the mountain

 Morning View from Cheoah Bald

 Fire Pink

White Flame Azelea

Flame Azelea

Bartram Falls

This is where the rest of the crew planned to begin their descent down into the Ledbetter Slot Canyon

We were here right at 10:00am.  

We figured the rest of the crew was behind schedule so we didn't wait around for long and continued on down.   Less than a half mile from the trailhead, we ran into Everette who I have known from Facebook, but have never actually met in person!  Until Now!

Scott and Everette

A few minutes later, the rest of the crew showed up.   

 From the Badger Selfie Collection (aka the Thomas Mabry Collection)

L to R:  Badger, Rock Sprite, Bushwhack Jack, Mountain Cat, The Captain, The Professor, and Denali

 
Thomas (Badger), Kitty (Rock Sprite), Ryan (Mountain Cat), Everette (Denali), and John (the Captain) would continue the hike up the Bartram and start their descent of Ledbetter Creek at about the 3,000 foot elevation.

Scott and I continued down to the parking area.  We had a nice breakfast and popped open a beer while waiting for Andy and the Dogs.  What I was not expecting was Spencer to show up!

So we hung out with Spencer for a while and enjoyed another beer.

Once Andy and the dogs arrived we began our creek walk up Ledbetter Creek!

Unfortunately Ledbetter Creek was too much for Boone to handle and Andy was forced to turn back early.  Spencer, Scott, and I continued upstream in hopes of running into the others.

 Scott and Spencer by a nice waterfall on Ledbetter Creek

 Scott taking a photo of Spencer

 Nice cascades on Ledbetter Creek

The Professor in his element

 Spencer heading up alongside another waterfall on Ledbetter Creek

 Ledbetter Canyon Falls

Me, Scott, and Spencer at Ledbetter Canyon Falls

We had expected to run into the Rappel crew at Ledbetter Canyon Falls.  Scott and Spencer decided to find a safe route up Ledbetter Canyon Falls, while I elected to turn back.  I met back up with Andy at this nice cascade near the trailhead.

Nice cascade on Ledbetter Creek

I hung out with Andy for a little while before heading on home.

My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157709127774903


Note:  Everyone else eventually made it home safely as well, but it turns out the Rappel was more difficult than anyone was expecting.  They eventually were successful, but it took them over 10 hours to cover just over a mile!