2020-05-17 Green River Narrows with Dillon

The Green River Narrows

with Dillon and Blizzy

Polk County, North Carolina

Sunday, May 17th, 2020

Dillon and Blizzy present the Green River Narrows

Our original plan for Sunday was a return visit to Cavern Falls.  Unfortunately someone messed with our plans and posted a big "Area Temporarily Closed" sign at the Gamelands access road to the Cavern Falls area.

So instead of heading into an area where we would likely encounter no other humans we were forced to change our plans.

Dillon had never been to the Green River Narrows so we did a nice long hike around an area of the Green River Gamelands that was open for hiking.

GPS Track from our Hike  
(the Narrows is the area to the far left of the track)

Click here for interactive link

Here are a few photos from our adventure:

Blizzy

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Pulliam Creek Falls

Blizzy at Pulliam Creek Falls

Dillon and Blizzy along the Green River Narrows

 Dillon and Blizzy along the Green River Narrows

 The Green River Narrows

 Dillon and Blizzy along the Green River Narrows

RIP Jerry Beckwith!

Kayakers scoping out the Narrows

Dillon and Blizzy

Dillon on the climb out of the Narrows

The bright sun was out most of the day and we encountered way more humans than we would have if someone didn't mess with our original plan!    However, it still turned out to be a very enjoyable day!

My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157714407777543

2020-05-16 Big Falls on the Thompson

Big Falls on the Thompson River

with the Professor

Transylvania County, NC

May 16th, 2020

Big Falls Selfie with the Professor

It has been way too long since Scott (aka The Professor) and I have been able to get together for a hike.  We decided that a return visit to Big Falls was in order!

We also made a visit to Simon Falls and High Falls.

Here are a few photos form our adventure.

Big Falls on the Thompson River

Me and the Professor at Big Falls

 Big Falls on the Thompson River

The Professor at Big Falls

 Me at Big Falls

Cool Cliff and low flow waterfall near Big Falls

The Professor at Big Falls

Half Falls on the Thompson River

 High Falls on the Thompson River

High Falls on the Thompson River

The Professor at High Falls

GPS Track from our hike

Click here for interactive link

My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157714369661697

2020-05-12 Hazel Creek Cascades Marathon Hike

Hazel Creek Cascades Marathon Hike

with Jenni Johnson

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Swain County, North Carolina

Tuesday, May 12th, 2020

Hazel Creek Cascades with Jenni

My friend Jenni is working on the North Carolina 500 Waterfall Challenge.  It is highly probable that she will become the first and only Deaf person to complete this challenge!

Many of the waterfalls on the 500 list are rather easy and can be crossed off the list by a simple drive to the mountains.  However, some of them put new meaning to the word challenge!   Hazel Creek Cascades is one of those waterfalls.  There is no easy way to get to this one!

Most people get to Hazel Creek Cascades via a multi day backpacking trip and/or a monster shuttle hike!  Jenni's plan was literally a Marathon of a day hike  (26.4 miles and 5,224 feet total ascent according to my GPS app!).

Here is the GPS track and some of the photos from our hike!

GPS Track from our Hike

Click here for interactive link

Roadside view from The Road to Nowhere

Two went in!  The Tunnel to Nowhere!

 Jenni at Campsite #71

 Sad looking Black Snake

Jenni Crossing Forney Creek

 Jonas Creek Falls

 Jenni cross Jonas Creek

 Trillium

Almost There!

Hazel Creek Cascades (Lower Drop)

Jenni at Hazel Creek Cascades (Middle Drop)

 Hazel Creek Cascades (Upper Drop)

  Hazel Creek Cascades (Upper Drop)

Cascade on Hazel Creek Headwaters

Jenni crossing Jonas Creek

Group of Horses at Campsite #70

Inside the Tunnel to Nowhere!

Two came out!  After 26.4 miles of hiking

My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157714352780342

2020-05-09 Waterfalls of Hamlin Creek

The Waterfalls of Hamlin Creek

(aka West Fork of Wattacoo Creek)

Ashmore Heritage Preserve /

Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area

Greenville County, SC

Saturday, May 9th, 2020

Selfie with Jennifer Loow by her favorite waterfall of the day.

My buddy Darrin (aka the Salmon) Hamlin volunteers to maintain the Mountain Bridge Passage Trail, which connects the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area and the Ashmore Heritage Preserve.  In addition, several of the bridges along this trail were constructed by his son's boy scout troops.  As a result, one of the waterfalls along the trail is named Hamlin Falls.

Since the trail meanders around the West Fork of Wattacoo Creek, we have unofficially renamed this creek Hamlin Creek.  Jennifer Loow and I decided to head off trail and see what was upstream from Hamlin Falls.

We also made it to Ashmore Falls and found a Pitcher Plant paradise (albiet a bit past peak) upstream from Ashmore Falls.  We did the hike as a short shuttle, however the parking areas are close enough together that a shuttle is really not necessary.

Here is the GPS Track from our adventure.

GPS Track from our Adventure

Click here for interactive link

And here are some of the photos:

Lake Wattacoo

Ashmore Falls

Me at Ashmore Falls

(photo by Jennifer Loow)

 Jennifer finds Pitcher Plant Paradise

 Pitcher Plants

Tree Hugger

Photo by Jennifer Loow

 Jennifer at Hamlin Falls

 Hamlin Falls

Jennifer heading up Hamlin Creek

 Me by one of the many waterfalls along Hamlin Creek

Jennifer by a cool cave along Hamlin Creek

Leading the way to another waterfall along Hamlin Creek

(photo by Jennifer Loow)

 Jennifer by my favorite waterfall of the day

 Enjoying the moment

(photo by Jennifer Loow)

 Jennifer enjoying her favorite waterfall of the day.

We saw no humans during the off trail portions of our hike.  Even with the bright sun, it was still a near perfect day until we got back on the trails.    When we finished up, the Ashmore Heritage Preserved was swarming with humans and Persimmon Ridge Road was overflowing with vehicles.


My complete set of photos is posted here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8146392@N05/albums/72157714312058988