Thursday, December 17, 2020

2020-12-10 Keowee-Toxaway State Park

Keowee-Toxaway State Park
Pickens County, SC
Thursday, December 10th, 2020

My last visit to Keowee-Toxaway State Park was back in 2003.  I decided that after 17 years it was a time for a return visit.  
 
Selfie from Raven Rock
Keowee-Toxaway State Park, SC
 

I also hiked a short section of the Palmetto trail that I have never done.  
 
GPS Track from my hike
Click here for interactive link
 

Here are a few photos from my hike:
 
Good place for a Social Distancing Hike!

Palmetto Trail!

There are two Bridges along this stretch of trail 
that have been destroyed by floodwaters

Nice campsite along Lake Keowee

Lake Keowee Selfie

Lake Keowee

Lake Keowee from Raven Rock

Lake Keowee

Kayakers on Lake Keowee

Lake Keowee
 
 
My complete set of photos is posted here:




Tuesday, December 8, 2020

2020-12-03 Table Rock Climbers Trail

Table Rock with Kyle and Sammy
Table Rock State Park
Pickens County, SC
Thursday, December 3rd, 2020
 
Amy decided to give me one of my Christmas presents early this year!
 
Early Christmas Gift from My Love!
 
I decided to break it in on a visit to Table Rock State Park in Pickens County, SC.  

Table Rock is practically in Kyle's backyard, so he and Sammy were able to join me on the day's adventure.
Selfie with Kyle and Sammy

Kyle and Sammy overlooking the Table Rock Reservoir

Rather than take the touristy trail to the summit of Table Rock, we decided to explore the CCC Climbers Trail.  We did not see a single other human during our entire time on the "trail".

Here are some photos from our adventure:
 Table Rock, SC
 
Kyle and Sammy at Arrowhead Rock

Arrowhead Rock

Kyle and Sammy overlooking Table Rock and the Table Rock Reservoir

Kyle going out on a limb
 
View of the Table Rock Reservoir from the base of Table Rock
 
 Sammy at the base of Table Rock

Kyle and Sammy

Selfie with Kyle and Sammy 

Kyle and Sammy at Table Rock

Dog Tired!

Sunday, November 29, 2020

2020-11-27 Upper Whitewater River Adventure

 Upper Whitewater River Adventure
Jackson County, NC
Black Friday, November 27th, 2020
 
Selfie with the Professor at Entrance Falls
 
As tradition, I spent Black Friday out in the woods!
 
This year The Professor Scott Burns joined me on a return visit to the Upper Whitewater River area of Jackson County, NC. 
 
Sculpted Falls
 
 
We had both been here less than a week prior, but felt the desire to connect a few dots and fill in some blanks from our previous adventure!
 
We were able to find a route to Entrance Falls staying entirely on public property. I am 100% confident that the route we took was NOT the path of least resistance! 
 
Entrance Falls

Scott working his way down the side of Entrance Falls
 
Sculpted Falls


 
Rather than crossing the river and taking the trail down to Exit Falls, we decided to see if we could find a safe route staying on River Right.   No safe route was found!
 
We were able to find a route to get to Green Party Falls from above, but I would not recommend this route to anyone! 
 
Green Party Falls
 
 I had a wonderful day exploring with Scott.  We saw no other humans during our day in the Mountains of North Carolina.

 

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

2020-11-22 Upper Whitewater River Adventure

Upper Whitewater River Adventure
Transylvania and Jackson County, NC
Sunday, November 22nd, 2020
 
A few photos from our adventure along the Upper Whitewater River and some of it's tributaries!
 
 Jen and Andy by Jen's favorite tree of the day!

The Professor clearing some deadfall from FR89 Falls

FR89 Falls on Deadfall Branch


 
The Gang at 55MPH 

 
Three Amigos

 
Andy Crossing the Whitewater River


 
The Trail

Carlos at 55MPH Falls

 
Merge Lane Falls


 
The Badger and Carlos exploring a Cave


 
Bedrock Betty


 
The Badger at Bedrock Betty


 
Carlos arrives at Green Party Falls


Green Party Falls



Democrat Creek Cascade


Spencer and Scott!  
Team Waterfall Powers Activate!



My complete set of photos is posted here:
 
 




Friday, November 20, 2020

2020-11-18 Introducing Samson Falls + Rock Creek Exploration and Sky Falls

Introducing Samson Falls!
Rock Creek Exploration and Sky Falls
with Kyle and Samson (aka Sammy)
Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve, SC
Gorges State Park, NC
A Bit of Private Property, NC (with permission)
Jocassee Gorge Wildlife Management Area, SC
Wednesday, November 18th, 2020

Selfie with Sammy and Kyle at Sky Falls

Kyle, Sammy, and I had a great day exploring around the Rock Creek area of SC/NC
 
From US278 in Rocky Bottom, SC we drove Horsepasture Road to Canebrake Road.  I believe Canebrake Road is open seasonally from September 15th  thru January 2nd  and April 1st thru April 30th.
 
GPS Track of our Adventure
Note:  I intentionally cropped out the northern part of our loop since it crosses private property.
 
From our start point along Canebrake Road we headed north through a parcel of land that until recently was private property.  It is now Public Property and part of the SCDNR Jocassee Gorges Wildlife Management Area.   Note:  South Carolina State Law (and common sense) requires either an orange vest or an orange hat when entering Wildlife Management areas. 

We continued north into the Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve where we would begin our exploration of an area of Rock Creek that looked promising!

Sammy by the first drop along Rock Creek a short distance below the road


A small tributary stream that doesn't show up on any map enters Rock Creek a short distance further downstream.  This next one was the most unexpected surprise of the day.   Unless I determine that someone else has already named this one, I am proposing Samson Falls!

Kyle and Sammy at Samson Falls


Samson Falls

Samson Falls

 
We continued downstream past a few more nice waterfalls and cascades along Rock Creek.
 
Sammy by a nice cascade on Rock Creek

Sammy and Kyle by a nice waterfall on Rock Creek

Nice cascade along Rock Creek

Nice Waterfall along Rock Creek

Kyle and Sammy heading down Rock Creek

Waterfall on Rock Creek

Sammy taking a break

Up until this point we stayed 100% on public land.  Downstream from here Rock Creek forms the boundary between private property and public land.  Our intention was to attempt to stay either in the creek or on the public side.   It soon became obvious that our intended route would not be safe and instead we entered private property via the very inviting looking Walter Kludge Trail.
 
Kyle and Sammy heading up the Walter Kluge Trail
 
Old Moonshiners vehicle along the Walter Kluge Trail

Waterfall along the Walter Kluge Trail.  
This one is immediately upstream from Indian Ford Falls.

Selfie with Kyle by the Waterfall along the Walter Kluge Trail

While trying to find a safe route down to Indian Ford Falls, we heard yelling from up above.  Sammy quickly turned around to make friends with one of the property owners.  They strongly advised us against continuing down the way we were going and instead led us down to Sky Falls.
 
Thanks Jack and Diane Boyer for allowing us to access Sky Falls through your property and to continue our planned loop!   

Break Time at Sky Falls


Sky Falls

 
Selfie with Sammy and Kyle at Sky Falls

We never did end up making it to Indian Ford Falls, but at least we have good reason to get back!

From Sky Falls we continued downstream along Rock Creek to where it meets the Foothills Trail at Lake Jocassee.

Nice cascade downstream from Sky Falls
 
Sammy fetching sticks in Lake Jocassee
 
 
Sammy and Kyle at Lake Jocassee

From Lake Jocassee we finished our day with a long climb along the Foothills Trail and Canebrake Road back to my vehicle.

Sammy leaving Gorges State Park
 
Dog Tired!
 
Kyle and Sammy along Canebrake Road

It was a fun day of exploring around the Carolina Mountains!

My complete set of photos is posted here:

Meet Zoey

 Meet Zoey! Amy and I just adopted this beautiful girl!