2020-06-25 Wiebeaux Falls

Wiebeaux Falls with Mark Inman

Jackson County, North Carolina

Thursday, June 25th, 2020

I scoped this one out on the topo maps. However, it turns out that some of the locals and some of my Team Waterfall friends already know about this awesome waterfall and call it Wiebeaux Falls.  As a member of the TFA club, I've been asked to keep the location of this one a secret.

2020-06-18 Tumblin' Fun Falls and High Falls

Tumblin' Fun Falls on Mill Creek

and High Falls on the Thompson River

with Brenda Wiley

Transylvania County, NC

Thursday, June 18th, 2020

Brenda and Me at Tumblin' Fun Falls on Mill Creek

I have known about Tumblin' Fun Falls for years.   Yet despite many visits to the Thompson river area, I have never made it to Tumblin' Fun Falls.   One time Andy Kunkle and I even signed up for a Conserving Carolina (CMLC at the time) hike that we thought would take us there, but it turned out to be to a different Tumbling Fun Falls.

There is an easy way to get to the Tumblin' Fun Falls that Kevin Adam's mentions on page 287 of his North Carolina Waterfall Bible (Third Edition), but it requires crossing private property.  I was never comfortable with the trespassing route and the legal route did not sound very pleasant!

Brenda recently found a route to Tumblin' Fun that avoids the worst of the bushwhack yet still stays entirely on National Forest property.  I had a GPS glitch (aka user error), that prevented me from getting a full track of our hike, but here is the route we took from the Main Trail to the base of Tumblin' Fun Falls.

GPS Track of the portion of our hike to Tumblin' Fun Falls

Click here for interactive link

The little detour to the summit just above the 3,000 feet elevation line took us to a boulder field that Brenda found!

Brenda showing off the boulder field she discovered

 Me on top of Brenda's Boulder!

From the boulder field we descended down towards the Thompson River eventually connecting to the High Falls Trail.  We saved High Falls for later and continued on towards Tumblin Fun.  The High Falls trail continues on to a crossing of the Thompson Rive well upstream from High Falls.

Once across, it is tempting to stick to the trail, but that will take you into private property!  To stay legal we bushwhacked up and over a small ridge and then descended down towards Mill Creek just upstream from the private property.

From this point, it is a fairly short and easy creekwalk to the base of Tumblin' Fun Falls! 
 

Brenda creek walking up Mill Creek

Tumblin' Fun Falls

 Tumblin' Fun Falls

There is also a small tributary that enters Mill Creek just below the base of Tumblin' Fun Falls.  I wasn't expecting to see a waterfall there, so I am calling this one Surprise Falls!  This one is very difficult to photograph! 

 Brenda at Surprise Falls (aka Tumblin' Fun's Little Friend)

Surprise Falls (aka Tumblin' Fun's Little Friend)

After Tumblin' Fun, we did a little more exploring and eventually made our way to the trail to High Falls.

 Brenda and Me at High Falls

 Brenda going for a swim at the base of High Falls

 High Falls on the Thompson River

 Me at High Falls

Brenda at High Falls

It was a very enjoyable day!  Thanks Brenda for showing me the way to Tumblin' Fun!

On the drive home, I made a stop at Kyle and Anelina's Feather Creek Farmstead to pick up some fresh produce and meet the newest member of the Team Waterfall Family!

Sampson

Kyle and Angelina at their Feather Creek Farmstead!

Angelina relocating a barn visitor

Selfie with my new friend Sampson!

My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157714783567273

  

2020-06-11 The Waterfalls of Greasy Cove Prong

The Waterfalls of Greasy Cove Prong

with Jennifer Loow and the Professor

Shining Rock Wilderness Area

Pisgah National Forest

Thursday, June 11th, 2020

Group Photo at Lower Greasy Cove Falls

Neither Scott (aka the Professor) nor I have ever been up Greasy Cove Prong, so when Jennifer came up with Greasy Cove Prong as a suggestion for the days adventure, we came to a quick consensus!

Greasy Cove Prong is located north of Graveyard Fields and East of Ivestor Gap in the Shining Rock Wilderness area of the Pisgah National Forest. 

When I have a hike planned up along the Blue Ridge Parkway, I always try to leave plenty of time just in case Mother Nature decides to put on a show!  

Here are five shots from five different Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks.  These were all roadside views taken on my drive to the trailhead along the Blue Ridge Parkway between Asheville and Graveyard Fields. A great start to a fun day!

My complete set of photos from an amazing morning along the Blue Ridge Parkway
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157714699874696


I met Jennifer and Scott (aka the Professor) at the Black Balsam Trailhead parking area (our planned endpoint) and we shuttled down to our starting point along the Bridges Camp Gap.   Many people like to have gravity on their side and prefer to do shuttle hikes mostly downhill.  However, the three of us all prefer creekwalking upstream.

Outside of the initial descent down the Bridges Camp Gap Trail, our journey would be almost entirely uphill gaining approximately 1,800 feet in elevation.   Here is my GPS track from our adventure.

GPS Track from our adventure

Click here for interactive link

The best stuff along Greasy Cove Prong is all located off trail.   The lower section of the Greasy Cove Trail follows closely to the creek and there appears to be some good stuff there as well.  However, we decided to skip most of the drops along this section in order to have more time for the off trail hpper half of Greasy Cove Prong.

For more detailed directions you can reference the North Carolina Waterfall Bible (aka "North Carolina Waterfalls" by Kevin Adams - 3rd Edition - pages 210 -212)

Here are some of the photos from our adventure:

Nice cascade on Greasy Cove Prong

 Lower Greasy Cove Falls

GPS Falls

Ivestor Ridge Falls

 Group Photo at Ivestor Ridge Falls

 Hanging out at Ivestor Ridge Falsl

Jennifer taking the Up the Gut route up Greasy Cove Prong

 Group Photo at Upper Greasy Cove Falls

On the bushwhack back up to the trail

Hanging out in a cool tree

Back on the Trail

The Professor and Me

Group Photo at the Shining Rock Wilderness Sign

Along the Ivestor Gap Trail

This was an awesome adventure and an all around fun day!  If you love a great creekwalk and are up for a full day of OFF TRAIL adventure, Greasy Cove Prong is highly recommended!  

My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157714745209702







  

2020-06-08 Wintergreen Falls Adventure

Wintergreen Falls

with Jenni and Chris

Gorges State Park

Transylvania County, NC

Monday, June 8th, 2020 

Group Selfie at Upper Wintergreen Falls

For Monday's adventure I met Chris Armenti for the first time and together we helped Jenni knock two more waterfalls off the NC 500 Waterfall Challenge list.   Wintergreen Falls and Upper Wintergreen Falls.

We did it as a shuttle starting at Flat Creek Valley Road and ending at the Frozen Creek access to Gorges State Park.

Note:  Wintergreen Falls and Upper Wintergreen Falls are both off trail.  Experience with off trail navigation, bushwhacking, and creek walking are essential to reach these waterfalls.  Swimming in deep water with strong currents may also be required depending on the chosen path.   

I also did the short side scramble down to Auger Fork Falls and Maple Spring Branch Falls since it has been many years since I last visited them.

Here are some of the photos from our adventure:

 view on the hike in

 Jenni at Upper Wintergreen Falls

Upper Wintergreen Falls

Jenni at Upper Wintergreen Falls

Jenni and Christ at Upper Wintergreen Falls

Jenni and Chris at Landbridge Falls

Jenni and Chris descending Landbridge Falls using the butt slide technique

The Upper Drop of Wintergreen Falls

Wintergreen Falls

Nice cascade downstream from Wintergreen Falls

Cute frog hanging out in a trail puddle

 Auger Fork Falls

 Maple Spring Branch Falls

It was a beautiful day for a hike and great to meet Chris for the first time.  Other than Wintergreen Falls swallowing up my hiking pole, everything went according to plan!

My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157714671480711