2021-01-24 Crane Creek Adventure

Crane Creek Adventure

with Scott, Jen, Dillon, and Blizzy

Oconee County, SC

Sunday, January 24th, 2021

Group Photo at Crane Creek Falls

Photo by Scott Burns

L to R:  Scott, Jen, Me, Blizzy, Dillon

On Sunday, I joined The Professor (Scott Burns), Jennifer Loow, Dillon Senn, and Blizzy on an off trail adventure along Crane Creek.  

Here are some of the photo highlights from our amazing day!

Hanging out at Yellow Jacket Falls

Photo by Dillon Senn

Jen and a tree

The Professor at Crane Falls

(not to be confused with Crane Creek Falls)

Crane Creek Falls

Group Selfie at Crane Creek Falls

Jen crossing Crane Creek

The Professor at Yellow Jacket Falls

Group Selfie at Yellow Jacket Falls

Dillon and Blizzy

The Professor on a Rock

 

Jen at Yellow Jacket Falls

Miuka Falls

The Professor at Miuka Falls

Dillon and Blizzy at Miuka Falls

The Professor stretching out at a huge rock wall

My complete set of photos is posted here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157718066986227

2021-01-22 Mountain Bridge Wilderness with The Salmon

Mountain Bridge Wilderness Hike

with The Salmon 

Greenville County, SC

Friday, January 22nd, 2021

Selfie with Darrin by an off trail waterfall along Matthews Creek

Darrin had the day off on Friday, so we got together for a hike into the Mountain Bridge Wilderness area of South Carolina.

Here are a few photos from our adventure.

Waterslide along Matthews Creek

Impressive Waterfall along Matthews Creek

I still had some time left when we finished up, so I decided to check out the old Ghost Camp (Camp Spearhead) which is now owned by Naturaland Trust.

Ghost Camp

Holiday Lake

Ghost Camp

My complete set of photos is posted here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157718032499776

 

2021-01-18 The Pinnacle and Gina Falls

The Pinnacle and Gina Falls

Pinnacle Park near Sylva, NC

Monday, January 18th, 2021

 

 

Group Photo on the Pinnacle

 

I celebrated Martin Luther King Day by joining The Professor Scott Burns, Buchanan, and Saul on a hike up to The Pinnacle, a prominent peak high above Sylva, North Carolina.

 

I wasn't expecting there to be much snow, but a surprise storm left a few inches of fresh snow on the ground!

 

I arrived a good 45 minutes early, so I started my day with a short warm up hike along the Bridge Trail.  I enjoyed the peaceful tranquility of the cool winter morning.  While I was not the first up the main trail, I was the first human to leave footprints in the snow along the Bridge Trail that morning.

 

Fresh frosting of snow along the Bridge Trail

 

Once the Professor, Buchanan, and Saul arrived we hit the trail up to the Pinnacle.  Captain John was also planning on joining us, but was running late and said he would catch up. 

 

 

Split Rock

 

 

Selfie with the gang at Split Rock

L to R: Me, Saul, Buchanan, Scott (aka The Professor)

The trail climbs almost 2,000 feet in elevation over the first three miles and the snow was getting deeper and deeper the higher we got.  

 

Along the Trail to the Pinnacle

The final stretch to the Pinnacle

My first visit to the Pinnacle did not disappoint!

 

 

Panorama from The Pinnacle

Peace from the Professor at the Pinnacle

Captain John did eventually arrive and joined us for some good times hanging out on The Pinnacle!

Hanging out with Captain John on the Pinnacle

Captain John

After hanging out for a while on the Pinnacle we started the hike back down the mountain.  There was still plenty of time to squeeze in the short but steep bushwhack/scramble down to Gina Falls.  The lighting wasn't great but the snow and ice added a few beauty points to this waterfall!

 

Gina Falls on Ice

 

On the scramble back up to the main trail, Buchanan and the Professor spotted a cave that they wanted to check out!

The Professor and Buchanan 

Cave Selfie with Captain John, Buchanan, and The Professor

According to my GPS track, the total hike distance (including the bushwhack to Gina Falls) was about 7.7 miles with over 2,200 feet of elevation gain.    

GPS Track from our Hike

Click here for Interactive Link

It was wonderful winter day with some great friends.

My complete set of photos is posted here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157717978678206

2021-01-16 Tower Falls, Jumping Off Rock, Mossy Cove Falls

Tower Falls, Jumping Off Rock, Mossy Cove Falls
with The Professor Scott Burns
Jocassee Gorges / Duke Wildlife Management areas.
Laurel Fork Heritage Preserve
Pickens County, South Carolina
Saturday, January 16th, 2021

 

Hanging out with The Professor at Tower Falls

 

It's been over a month since I last met up with my good friend Scott Burns  (aka The Professor).  We decided to remedy that situation by spending the day exploring around the Jocassee Gorges SC Wildlife Management areas of Pickens County, SC

We started out with Tower Falls on Laurel Branch (Not to be confused with Laurel Creek or Laurel Fork Creek which are also in the same general area).  

 

Tower Falls (Can you spot The Professor in this photo?)

Tower Falls

 

Hanging out at Tower Falls

The Professor enjoying a Pisgah Pale Ale at Tower Falls

 

After our hike to Tower Falls, we continued driving down Horsepasture Road to Jumping Off Rock.  I was surprised to learn that Scott had never been here before.  Despite being a popular roadside attraction, we lucked out by having the Jumping Off Rock to ourselves for a good half hour.

 

The Professor at Jumping Off Rock

Jumping Off Rock Selfie with The Professor

The Professor at Jumping Off Rock

The Professor at Jumping Off Rock

The Professor on Jumping Off Rock

 

 

We had time for one more short but difficult bushwhack down to Mossy Cove Falls located on an unnamed tributary stream to Side-of-Mountain Creek.   

 

 The Professor in the Upper Cave of Mossy Cove Falls

 

Mossy Cove Falls

The Professor in the Lower Cave of Mossy Cove Falls

The Professor in the Lower Cave of Mossy Cove Falls

We saw no other humans on our hikes, but quite a lot of vehicle traffic along Horsepasture Road.  It was a another awesome day in the Carolina mountains!

 

My Complete set of photos is posted here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157717965929838