Tuesday, June 16, 2020

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.


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







  

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