2021-02-14 Green River Gamelands - Team Waterfall Valentines Day Adventure

Team Waterfall Valentines Day Adventure
Green River Gamelands
Polk County, NC
Sunday, February 14th, 2021

 

 

Pace Yourself Falls

 

Trying to keep the group small, Andy invited just a couple of people on an exploratory adventure into the Green River Gamelands of North Carolina.  Nobody was able to commit, so he invited a few others.  Eventually all the maybes turned to yes's and we ended up with this crew!

 

Badger Selfie at the Start

 

 

I was a bit uncomfortable about the group size, so a few of us decided to split off into a smaller group.

 

I've been asked to keep the location of these waterfalls a secret, but here are some photos from an amazing day of discovery in the Green River Gamelands of North Carolina.

 

 

Lower Waterfall on Pace Yourself Creek

The Professor

Jen Loving on the Green Moss

 

Brandi by a nice cascade on Pace Yourself Creek

The Badger - Thomas Mabry

Nice Waterfall on Pace Yourself Creek

 

Captain John

First Wildflower sighting of the Season

Pace Yourself Falls

 

Jen and Me by a huge tree at Pace Yourself Cliffs

Brandi at Pace Yourself Falls

Pace Yourself Fall Selfie

Brandi, Jen, and Me at Pace Yourself Falls

 

Turtle Rock Falls
 

My complete set of photos is posted here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157718334546166

2021-02-16 Table Rock State Park in the Fog

Table Rock State Park

Pickens County, SC

Friday, February 12th, 2021

 

My favorite photo of the day

 

I had a delightful day hiking around Table Rock State Park.  There were no distant views to be had, but fortunately I just love hiking in the fog!   

 

One went in!

Carrick Creek Falls

Heading up Governors Rock

High up on the Fog on Table Rock

 

My complete set of photos is posted here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157718317591008 

2021-02-01 Step Around Adventure with Captain John

Step Around Adventure with The Captain

Gorges State Park

Transylvania County, NC

Auger Fork Falls, Maple Spring Branch Falls,

Four Foot Falls, Step Around Falls, Double Drop Falls 

February 1st, 2021 

with Captain John Podlewski

 

Step Around Falls on the Toxaway River
 

When the Captain and I realized that neither of us has ever been to Step Around Falls, we decided to remedy the situation!  In hindsight, an adventure that requires wading across the Toxaway River four times is probably not the wisest choice for a cold day in February.

 

Captain John Crossing the Toxaway River

 

 

We started at the Gorges State Park Frozen Creek and hiked in on the Auger Hole Trail.  Captain John had never been to Auger Fork Falls and Maple Spring Branch Falls, so we did the short side scramble path down to these two impressive waterfalls on the hike in.

Auger Fork Falls

Maple Spring Branch Falls

Selfie with Captain John at Auger Fork Falls

 

We pretty much followed the directions in Kevin Adam's "North Carolina Waterfalls - Third Edition" to get to Step Around Falls.   Along the way we too a little time to enjoy "Four Foot Falls" and to let John recover from his unintentional Polar Plunge during his no so smooth crossing of the Toxaway River.  I sure wish I would have gotten it on video!

"Four Foot Falls" on the Toxaway River

The Captain presents Step Around Falls

Step Around Falls

Captain John starting the climb up

 

On the hike out, we took the short scramble from the main trail to check out Double Drop Falls on Auger Fork Creek.

 Double Drop Falls on Auger Fork Creek

 

Double Drop Cave

 

The total hike was about 8.4 miles according to my GPS.  This adventure should only be attempted to those familiar with bushwhacking, off trail navigation, and waist deep river crossings with strong currents!

GPS Track from our Adventure

Click here for Interactive Link

 

 

It was a beautiful day for a hike and great to catch up with Captain John for the day.

 

My complete set of photos is posted here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157718211847071

 

 

 

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2021-01-26 Beech Bottom Falls, Sassafras Mtn, Foothills/Palmetto Trail Loop

Beech Bottom Falls (aka Pinnacle Falls)

Sassafras Mountain, Foothills/Palmetto Trail Loop

Pickens County, SC  

(plus one small step into Transylvania County, NC) 

Tuesday, January 26th, 2021

Beech Bottom Falls

The last time I visited the summit of Sassafras Mountain there was no observation platform, Beech Bottom Falls was known as Pinnacle Falls, and I was able to stop and share a few beers with friends at Bob's Place afterwards!

Memories from my last visit to Bob's Place before it burnt the ground

and when it was safe to gather in larger groups!

 

Since that time, a shiny new observation platform has been constructed on the summit of Sassafras Mountain, Pinnacle Falls was mysteriously changed to Beech Bottom Falls, a new trail and viewing platform was built to Beech Bottom Falls, and sadly Bob's Place burnt to the ground.

 

One went in!

 

I started my day of Solo hiking by checking out the new trail to Beech Bottom Falls.  The trail is well constructed and a relatively easy hike to the new viewing platform.   I loved the woodwork on several new bridges along the trail.  

 I loved the woodwork on the bridges along the trail

The view from the platform is nice, but nowhere near as good as from the base.  Unfortunately, getting to the base requires a bit of trespassing which I did not do on this day.

 

 Sign?  What Sign?

 Beech Bottom Falls

Bat Cave

Loved the woodwork on the new bridge

After Beech Bottom Falls, I continued up the Mountain.   There were no other vehicles in the parking area and I had the summit of Sassafras Mountain to myself!  The fog obstructed any views, but I still enjoyed being the highest person in South Carolina for a little while.

 

Selfie at the tallest mountain in South Carolina

Making me the highest person in South Carolina at that moment in time!

On the SC side of the new Sassafras Mountain Observation Platform

 

The new Sassafras Mountain Observation Platform

Foggy Views from Sassafras Mountain

 

After checking out the new observation platform, I started my main hike of the day.  I didn't really have a definitive plan and ended up doing about a 16 mile loop utilizing sections of the Foothills Trail, Palmetto Trail, and other well maintained forest service roads.  

 

I seem to have accidentally deleted my track, but did get a screenshot of it before it mysteriously disappeared.

 

GPS Track from my hike

 

I was a very enjoyable and peaceful hike.  I just love hiking in the fog!

 

Decisions

Cantrell Campsite along the Foothills Trail

Typical scene along the trail

View from Sassafras Mountain at the end of my hike

 

My complete set of photos is posted here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157718148519692