I really like wildflowers and have done lots of wildflower looking over the years.
Once in awhile I'd notice a type of trillium that stood out and was different from the rest.
Sometimes it would be a few in an area. Other times it was a single specimen. I began to ask around and read and learned that there is a fair amount of funny business in the mating game for trilliums. They come up with some interesting offspring now and then!
I finally broke down and purchased a copy of the book Trilliums authored by Fred &
Roberta Case. It is an excellent and authoritative book on the subject. I did not expect it would ever help me solve the mystery of some of the types of hybrids I'd encountered. It did in at least one instance!
Seen above is a trillium hybrid I found near Derrick Knob along the Appalachian Trail.
I knew it was a mix, but I now know this trillium is a hybrid of Trillium flexipes ..the Bent Trillium and Trillium erectum.. the Wake Robin. It has produced a picotee pattern.
Very pretty. What is more.... it was not the only one!
Swarm of hybrids of the same sort! I found a total of five plants all producing the same pattern! I am keen to get back up to Derrick Knob to see if these produce the same sort of pattern year after year? I also want to look about for Trillium flexipes to see if the parents are in the vicinity?
Hybrid trillium found back in Mill Creek in the Smoky Mountains. It was a singleton.
No others around. I guessed it was a blending between the red and white forms of T. erectum. I don't really know except to say its a mix and it is very pretty.
It did not produce this pattern on a subsequent trip.
The trillium hybrid seen here was located on Max Patch near the A.T.
It is particularly beautiful. I do not know what the parents were.
I liked the pattern and the unique colors. It has cream, green and maroon!
I have not made a repeat trip back to see if this one reproduces the same pattern
consistently.
The hybrid trillium pictured above is one of my all time favorites. It is absolute perfection in its markings and the subtlety of its tones. Pale cream and pinks, deeper maroons.
I found this growing at a roadside pull off in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is another I need to go back to study and see if it reproduces a consistent color pattern. I hope so!
Interestingly enough I found the parents of this baby right by it. It is a product of
red and white wakerobin.. T. erectum.
White Trillium erectum parent
Red T. erectum parent
The above trillium is a hybrid found at Maryville College Woods. It is a product of
T. cuneatum's bronze form and T. luteum. It has reproduced the same color and pattern for a couple years, but the coloration is not always as bold from one year to the next.
There were other hybrids in the colony but this plant is the most noteworthy.
Candy striped Trillium grandiflorum. Seen this year at Tackett Creek, Campbell County,
Tennessee. There were a number of these in the colony with exactly the same pattern.
I believe it to be the hybrid between two parent plants. T. grandiflorum and T. grandiflorum var. roseum. All were seen in the same colony.
It appears they've had some beautiful mixed offspring! It will be interesting to go back to see if they produce the same mixed patterns next season!
I had been wanting to get back up to Tackett Creek to ride again. We had been early last Spring. It was beautiful! I had seen all sorts of flowers in bud, but not blooming. I just knew if we could get up there again in Spring I'd find all sorts of pretty things. I anticipated wildflowers and finding and photographing waterfalls! We had talked to friends who declined going this weekend, but at the last minute changed their minds and said they'd go. I had been on the fence about whether I wanted to hike or go riding? I finally decided while Kenny was in the frame of mind to go we'd go ahead even if it was just the two of us. I knew we'd be ok.
I was going to write a trip report.. a real one about this day. I was glad to finally meet Jody. I found that the day did not turn out as planned. Another friend brought a different woman this time and she was not his original woman... who is our friend. That set the tone for tension right shot out of the bag. I was uneasy all day and trying to make the best of it. It did not help that the ideas of the ride leader and his motivations were widely different from mine. I am about the experience and getting out to see what's around me and enjoy it. He wanted to cover a lot of ground. It is not that one person is right and the other is wrong. It is just a difference in people. That's Life.
I found myself very sad at seeing many beautiful things but feeling I was not welcome or free to take my time and photograph things. I did not want to make waves and cause problems, but I felt utter disappointment. I was seeing marvelous wildflowers and only got to really photograph a fraction of what was there.
I have put the photos in a gallery. I am just too sad over how this all went to write on it and I don't want to put something in writing that is going to be hurtful.
It will be the last time I do this kind of trip. Kenny and I are like this. He prefers riding. I prefer hiking. We compromise. He doesn't mind me taking pictures and checking things out. He kinda likes that too and we work it out. I didn't appreciate the tension. I did not appreciate the length of the ride which had me desperate for it to be over and feeling trapped. Kenny and I go riding, but we stop and get off and hike some too!
I will go riding again with my spouse and the few other friends we have who also like to get out and see things. I won't go do this again with the limitations of this trip. It was a learning experience.
I had wanted to get out to exercise and hunt Spring wildflowers. I'd had Twentymile on my mind. It had been a long time since I was down that way to hike. I figured the creek would be really pretty today with all that water from rain we've had. I also know this: If a trail is good for one kind of orchid......... it is a good place to find other orchids! I learned if you hike a trail in a given season, and find it has orchids it would be wise to hike it again during a different growth season. You may find other types of orchids! I have found lily-leaf twayblade in this area in the Summer. I gambled on it and turned out to be right!
I woke early enough to go, but moving slow and feeling poorly. I knew if I did not go I'd be sorry. I finally gave myself permission to not get such an early start, but just move slow and steady and go on even if it was at a snails pace. I managed to get out the door around 9:30 and drove down to Twentymile without any problems. The traffic on the way there was not bad. I had to drive from my house near Walland out to Foothills Parkway and down Highway 129.. the Tail of the Dragon to reach the trail head.
I always want a bumper sticker that says "Some of us LIVE HERE!" for this trip.
I use that dreadful road as an access from Point A to Point B. I grow weary of the crotch rocket riders. Today must have been a Mini Cooper Convention because I saw one after another after another..........At least they were courteous.
I stopped on the way to photograph and visit two waterfalls on un-named side streams. They were really pretty. I've never seen them have that much water on them to make them worth a stop before. Pulling in the ranger station I saw two rangers and their vehicles and that was it! Today was going to be a pretty day and I was glad I made myself get out to hike. The creek was so pretty and the wildflowers so abundant I thought I'd be dark getting the hike done. I kept stopping to photograph everything!
Trailside geraniums
Twentymile Creek is a significant stream.
Showy Orchis is the first type of native orchid I found today.
The stream flowed past with a roar. The sky was clear and the sun shining. The breeze was cool and light. The forest a bright green and the trails easy and smooth for the most part. I did see evidence of past damage. I encountered a couple blown down trees , but nothing that interfered with my hike today. I went up Twentymile Trail then continued on the Twentymile LOOP Trail. I was having a great time. I had all kinds of expectations of good things. I was seeing lots of gorgeous scenery and wildflowers. Vasey's trilliums beginning to bloom with their deep burgundy. I saw purple wild geraniums, buttercups and trilliums of bright yellow, pink and white catesby's trilliums by the score. I saw lots of different kinds of ferns today. I saw wood ferns, cinnamon ferns, Christmas ferns, and lots of green moss.
I came to the first trail junction and turned and was fine. I came to the second one and had to do a double take. I finally sat down and compared the hiking guide and map to reality. It took me a few minutes to adjust my thinking and even then I had some recalculating to do later! I had it in my mind that I had hiked Twentymile Loop Trail before? Looking at the map and the description in the guidebook I began to doubt it.
I knew I was turned onto the right trail. Yet the description of it was all wrong.
It hit me then. I was doing it backwards of how it was described in the guidebook.
I figured it was too late to worry about it and that ultimately it was not going to matter.
Knowing I was in the right trail I continued on my way.
I had read the guidebook description starting with the end and working backwards.
Theoretically it should be right. It seemed odd. According to the book I was starting out near the high point on the hike? I went up and up and up to a gap. The trail was not as I had imagined. It was a pretty trail but it was dry pine-oak forest and much of it was down through a holler just below the shoulder of the mountain ridges. It was beautiful and this part of the hike was very intimate and quiet. It lacks the roar of streams and instead you just see occasional side streams coming down off the ridge. I got to the first gap. I went further and came to a second higher gap. The backwards description was coming out to be right. My psychological gyroscopics were righting themselves.
Once I got the description and the terrain lined up mentally I felt better about life.
It the occurred to me that if that was correct that I had already knocked out the hardest part of the hike first! The rest would be all down hill or level! Woo Hoo!!
I really felt good now and cruised. The trail winds on and on for 2.9 miles beginning to end up over a couple mountain gaps, through a holler and comes out at the next trail junction. I really like this trail and would do it again. I did find yellow lady slippers today as I had suspected I would, but they were not in bloom. I should have guessed. It has been a slow season due to the cold and wet. Yet they were healthy and thriving and will bloom this year. I don't know that I'll hike all the way back there to see them and try to guess when they'll be peak.
I liked the parts of this hike where the trail was small and winding. I liked looking off at the valley below me. At one point a spring branch flowed down and turned the entire bottom land to a seepage spring far below me. I savored the last of the yellow trilliums of this year. Trillium cuneatum bloomed here and there. Mostly past bloom, but some lingered on. I saw lots of beautiful early meadow rue in peak bloom. This inconspicous little flower is a favorite of mine.
Partial view from a mountain gap.
A pretty section of the trail
I saw lots of carpets of dwarf crested iris today.
Early Meadow Rue. It reminds me of a flappers outfit!
I took my time and sat down and rested once to eat a small snack. I'd only had slimfast for breakfast. It doesn't stay with you that long. I made sure to drink plenty of water. I sat on a log that had fallen across the trail. I opened a plastic bag of mango slices and dropped them all into my day pack. At least they did not go on the ground. I picked them up and ate them anyway. No harm done. I felt better after a brief rest so on I went.
I was doing a pretty fair job of guessing where I was in relation to the end of this section of trail. I figured at the point where I snacked I was a little more than half way to the next intersection. I planned to stop and eat lunch in the hemlock grove.
I didn't have to hike very far until I heard the roar of Twentymile Creek again. I wondered to myself if it would be bridged? I sure hoped so. I stopped once to filter water.
I was thrilled to see that Twentymile Creek was indeed bridged. Hallelujah!
It was wide and pretty deep, but would have been passable even without the bridge.
It would have been one of those thigh deep wades today.
I got to the hemlock grove and it was so pretty! Before me were lots of pink lady slipper orchids! My third type of orchid today. I saw about forty plants. Only about 1/2 of them were bloomed out. Pink lady slippers are so nice!
Pink Lady Slippers
Cypripedium acaule
I sat down and had lunch on a stump surrounded by pink lady slippers and beautiful forest. Pink and white catesby trilliums were there in abundance also. I always pack something sweet, something salty, something nutritious and protein, and something fresh.
I had eaten the fresh today.. the mango. I was fixing to eat the sammidge. I wanted something salty to go with it. I got out a baggie of chips and was munching on them.
I stopped and inspected them. " I do not recall packing Doritos today. I also found a baggie with 2 oreos. I sat there and ate one a piece of one. "I don't remember packing these oreos either." I did not recall packing them because I DID NOT pack them. They had been in there for more than a week! Ugh. The Doritos were good. The oreos were not. It did not stop me from eating them knowing they'd been in there. I am officially a crazy old lady. I sat there laughing at myself. I am glad I am not so fussy.
I took pictures and picked up my lunch stuff and go ready to move on.
I guessed I only had half mile or so to the trail junction. It would be some uphill getting there. I heard a soft rustle of wings in the woods and looked up to see a hawk! I was lucky enough to get his photo. I had also seen squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys, and lots of butterflies today. No bears or snakes though. Bummer.
Some type of hawk. I think he might be a redtail.
I had not gone much past my hawk friend when I could see a trail junction ahead of me. It was uphill but just barely. I didn't even break a sweat for that one. I stopped and looked around at the trail intersection. I had been here before. Today I completed a new trail for me! I can now add Twentymile Loop trail to the ones finished! The trail changed now to the wide open, level, graded path like I began on. It was all level or downhill from here. I cruised. I had only 3 miles to go to the jeep. Easy breezy. I did stop to take some photos on the way back, but not as many as when I began. The creek here is a series of one cascade after another. Many are very scenic and followed by deep pools.
The Twentymile Trail by comparison to the loop trail is more wide open in every way.
The wildflowers on the way out were largely a repeat of things I'd seen. Still pretty, but I did not feel compelled to photograph all of them. I did see wood betony and get a picture of that. Sweet shrub was in peak bloom today. Violets, iris and foam flowers were the ones that scented the woods today at times. Very sweet smelling.
The air was fresh and clean and smelled good all the way.
I finally came to the spur trail for Twentymile Cascades.. the biggest two falls on this stream. I had visited here a couple times before. I've never seen this much water coming over the falls. Some of the debris that used to choke the falls is now gone!
Upper Cascade on Twentymile Creek
Lower Drop of Twentymile Cascade. I think its the prettier of the two.
I enjoyed the falls for awhile. I continued on toward the parking area. I got back at 3:30. It had taken me 4 1/2 hrs to hike 7.6 miles. It was a very leisurely pace with plenty of time for checking things out and pictures. I got back to the jeep and saw that there was only one other vehicle in the parking area besides me. I never saw another soul besides those rangers when I pulled in. Not another hiker all day.
My quiet and tranquility was not to last. I had to face the afternoon drive back home on the Dragon. I am used to driving on mountain roads and it doesn't bother me. What does bother me is the rudeness and risk taking of some of the other drivers. I just tried not to let it get me distressed. I was very glad to finally make it back to the peace and quiet of Foothills Parkway and head to the house. Glad to be rid of all the motorcycle noise and fast cars.
The view from the parkway was worth a stop today as it often is.
View from Foothills Parkway. I love where I live.
I wanted to get out to hike, but not drive a long way. I had learned of an upper falls back in Honey Cove. I was intrigued so I decided today with all the rain we'd had over the weekend would be a great day to hike Spruce Flats and Honey Cove.
I'd done both hikes many times, but I had never gone very far down either manway.
I loaded the GPS coordinates and gathered my gear and set out.
I arrived at Tremont about 12:30 and of course there were lots of cars in the parking lot of the Institute. I grabbed my backpack and hit the trail. It had turned out to be a real pretty day. Some cloud cover in blue skies. Breezy and 75 degrees! The leaves are all on the trees finally. Spring! Glorious Spring!
I only saw eight people on the trail today. All of them were hiking out as I was hiking in. I was surprised not to see more folks out, but I suppose all those vehicles were employees and campers at Tremont. I had not gone far til I had to stop to take pictures. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Wisters coralroot orchid blooming by the trail. It is a very inconspicuous and rather rare orchid to find. I'd seen it before, but not in the Smokies. I also found one flowered cancerroot in bloom along the trail here in great quantities! I've only seen it one other place. It is parasitic and lacks chlorophyll.
Wister's coralroot just beginning to open.
One flowered cancerroot. Takes its nutrition from the plants around it.
I also saw in this spot some type of lip fern growing out on the cliff. I did get a photo of it and it was quite pretty, but the picture was blurry. It was hard to stay still while on that steep bank. I really did not want to fall today. I also saw yellow trilliums, dwarf crested iris, and star chickweed. The Spring wildflowers at this elevation are already past peak, but still pretty.
I hiked a little further til I came to some of the nice views from the Buckeye Trail.
The trail winding on. It has been repaired from past damage and looked great today!
Pretty view off into the Yonder!
I came to a small side stream that crossed the trail and for the first time ever the stream and the trail were one here for a short distance! We've REALLY had a lot of rain! I looked around here for copperheads, but never did see any. I did see little brown jugs and the first vaseys trillium of the season! I continued along and came to the foot log that has been cut into steps. I always like that. Who ever invented those is really clever. I could hear and see the river below me raging past! Before long I was at Spruce Flats Falls. It was roaring along today.
Spruce Flats Falls-- the main attraction. There are more falls above this and below it is one more. The manway hike begins by fording the stream here. You can see that for all the water flow today fording was still no problem.
I stopped to take photos of Spruce Flats Falls and realized I had lost my polarizer. I also realized I failed to bring the GPS with me. I was disgusted with myself, but was having a good time and not going to let it ruin my mood. I knew I'd left the GPS on the desk, but I also knew I had never gotten here with my polarizer. It did not make the trip with me today. It may turn up in the truck or the RZR, but I think it is gone. No matter. I have a backup I'll try and if that is not satisfactory I'll order another one.
The falls was beautiful today. I always like coming here. It is such an easy hike and so rewarding. I had brought my water shoes, but I had already made up my mind with the way the river was flowing that I was not going to use them. I wanted to leave my boots on for traction and protection and just plow on through. I would put the water shoes on back at the jeep when I was ready to drive home.
Honey Cove Falls-- this falls is about 30 ft high and very pretty. I did find a small upper cascade, but I knew from looking at it that it was not the real Upper Honey Cove Falls.
That is further up and is supposed to be a wet weather falls.
I had always stopped here at this point along the Honey Cove Manway. The path appears to end, but it doesn't. It keeps going and is fairly easy to follow. I went back there quite a ways. I'd guess 1/2 mile and then decided I was taking a foolish risk. I had no GPS coordinates to guide me and I had no idea where this manway ended up?? I guessed it would come out at Buckhorn Gap. I later learned from the map that it does make a left and go out to Buckhorn Gap, but you can keep going on it! There are many possible destinations by following this manway!
I headed back and found a yellow lady slipper, but the bloom was frozen and stunted. It will live to bloom another year, but this year's bloom is done for. I stopped to climb down over the bank to see Upper Spruce Flats Falls.
Upper Spruce Flats Falls.. a partial view
I headed back toward the start of the Honey Cove Manway. I took a turn in the direction of Spruce Flats. I followed the old railroad grade onward. It had lots of downed trees and brush on it in places. Some spots along it were wide open!
Spruce Flats Manway is part of the old railroad bed.
Spruce Flats
Lots and lots of foam flowers along the old manway. They smelled so great!
I saw lots of foam flowers, purple phacelia along the way. I also began seeing lots of pioneer junk. Metal parts of old trains, culverts, bottles, cans, shoe soles, and broken glass. I also saw a couple metal pans hung up.
Pioneer Junk
I followed the path out to the river and sat down on the bank and ate a snack and rested. The river was really chugging past with a high flow today.
Middle Prong
I reversed my trek. I then took a small side trip out toward Marks Creek. I followed another unofficial path. I did not know if this was a continuation of the Spruce Flats Manway or if it had another name? I learned upon getting home and by looking at the 1931 Smokies map that I had completed an unfinished leg of a previous off trail adventure. It ties in with my Blanket Mtn Manway, Marks Creek Manway trips.
I made it back to the vehicle very tired but happy. It was a beautiful hike.
Saturday morning we woke and gathered our things up. We packed and dropped off the key. Grabbed some breakfast in town and hit the trail. We planned
to visit Rainbow Falls & Cave today. I knew there was another waterfall further back called Blue Hole Branch Falls. I figured it would be a pretty drive to Overton County and should be a nice, short adventure before having to head home. We were keeping our grandson Michael tonight and Sunday.
Well, I can't tell you a lot about the particulars on this blog because photos = evidence and telling some of what we did could be considered an admission of guilt. We went back to see the falls and cave. We found the road re-surfaced in gravel. We found the gate had been moved to right by Cub Cemetery. We also found the area had been logged heavily and it appears to be an on-going operation. It was rather depressing to see. Whoever did this had no concern for the environment at all and is only worried about making them some Ca$h. They have left a big old mess and pushed logs over into Blue Hole Branch Falls. We managed to find Blue Hole Branch Falls without any trouble. It had rained so much the previous days that you could hear it roaring off in the distance. It was an impressive waterfall that flows and drops into a cave. We found our way down the bank and approached it counter-clockwise.
Kenny ahead of me moving toward Blue Hole Branch Falls.
Looking up from inside the passage to Blue Hole Branch
First glimpse of the falls
Out of the passage and onto a narrow ledge to see the falls from here
Blue Hole Branch Falls drops into a cave.
We found the waterfall raging and still pretty despite the logging debris pushed into it.
Once through the right hand passage through the rocks we had to turn and hang on to climb on a narrow ledge to view the falls from here. We found a better way down and a better viewing spot for the falls. It was a neat place. Glad we finally got to see it.
Next we turned around and headed a short distance back toward Rainbow Falls and Cave. I don't know where it got this name as I have been here several times and I have yet to see a rainbow here. It is a pit cave, but not like Never Sink or South Pittsburg Pit or the Dorton Knob Smoke Hole. It is eroded and has exposed all but the last 30 feet of the 110 foot waterfall. The cave opening appears to be down and to the right. It is very cool. I love the layers of rock here. You can carefully walk down into the pit part of the way and can easily see the bottom. During times of little rain fall this dries up to a trickle.
Today it had the most water I've ever seen on it!
Rainbow Falls and Cave
Plenty of wildflowers around the falls today.
It was a beautiful day to be out. I know we'll go back. I found out there is more!
How cool is that? Also have to take John and Sharon to see this.
Above is a short , very cool video of Rainbow Falls Cave. The music is The Lazarus Pit.
A Lazarus Pit is supposed to bring people back to life or heal them. Love it!
I've said before that something calls me to come to certain places and when I listen good things happen. Lost Cane is one of those places. I had asked about the trail heading into it from several people. The first man said he did not like it that it was really rough, the trail was confusing, it was overgrown, and that he did not feel safe there.
Talking with a few others they echoed the sentiments that the trail was very rough and overgrown and it was a place they just weren't keen on going. One weekend while I had to work Kenny, Buck and Dan Mullins gathered their stuff up and went riding. Kenny pointed out the trail into Lost Cane to Buck and said it was rough and that was like waving a red flag in front of a bull. "LET'S GO!" was his response and that was the end of that.
They found the trail to be challenging, but they came home having had a great time and done a ton of exploring! Covered lots and lots of new ground. I benefited
from their trip even though I was not able to attend. I was hunting for a cave in the area and being drawn ever onward. Finally this past Friday I answered the call to whatever I was being led to find. The timing could not have been better.
We got us a room reserved at the local No Tell Motel and headed out for a day and a half of exploring and adventure. We parked at Sharon & John's Woo Hoo Holler and hit out from there. We went up another trail and did some morrel hunting. We succeeded in finding a nice mess or two of mushrooms! It was great fun. The weather was rainy and cold,but we put on our rain gear and went on just the same. We enjoyed the scenery and stopped for me to take lots of wildflower photos. We also explored a ridge top trail we found and it was very pretty.
We stopped off by the first waterfall that emerges from a cave and goes back in the ground. It was flowing great today. No water was coming out of that hole up on the cliff. I guess it is a cave? The river was flooding today making that trail unrideable. Never saw the Obey that murky and brown before nor with that much water in it! Thinking on this made me decide it would take a Noah's Ark type flood
to cause water to flow from that hole up on the cliff. If it is not running today I had to wonder if it ever does?
Wild Columbine along the road
The slopes are covered in wildflowers and new Spring growth far as the eye can see!
Waves of trilliums in the woods
Stinging Nettle Falls emerges from the ground and falls right back into the ground.
We were pleased to find the creeks running so well. We spotted lots of wet weather waterfalls and cascades.
Bills Creek is running great today.
Pretty cascade on Bills Creek
We tore around the plateau on gravel roads and dirt tracks up through the forest.
We had a goal in mind, but had to fight the urge to explore every side path and trail. Fought to keep from revisiting every pretty place we'd already seen and once at a place had to remind ourselves to keep going. We were not in a hurry, but had to motivate reasonably to make it.Kenny & I are one hell of a team when it comes to exploring. I could not be any more fortunate to have married this wild-eyed Southern boy. No one else would have put up with nor been able to match the wanderlust that consumes me.
The path up the mountain always seems longer than it should. We wound through woods deep and dark. Some places the canopy opened and let in the sun trying to shine.
Great boulders towered and loomed up in the woods to our right. They hung draped with every manner of green, growing vegetation and flower. Purple phacelia crowned one rock making the entire top bluish purple! Blue phlox, yellow trilliums, white trilliums sprouted up all around. We made one turn and there in the deep black-green forest I spotted something out of place. Bright yellow dots! Everywhere were bright yellow blotches like they were suspended in air. I realized the yellow spots were kerria shrub! That means only one thing..... an old home site. The kerria shrub had persisted long after the home was abandoned and deteriorated. It had grown huge and was so pretty. The rocks of the foundation lay just before it.
Kerria shrub in the forest lingers on after the home is gone.
Old foundation to a house long gone.
We passed up the old home site and had not gone far til we passed an enormous boulder about 25 feet high on the left. It was pock marked and you could almost touch it from the RZR. I did not recall seeing it before, but Kenny did. It had been night when we were there the last time so no wonder! We rounded a corner and I spotted our turn. "Here it is!" I hollered to Kenny. He just grinned and looked at me and away we went. Down into the guts of the mountain wondering what we'd find?
It was not long til I began to hear water running. I looked around the forest and through the trees spotted a shimmering white stream coming down off the side of the mountain! It was where I imagined there would be a waterfall and there was not one, but two! The second one was a total surprise. We stopped and went over to the closer one.
It was quite pretty and dropped about fifteen feet over a rock ledge down into a gorge.
Second growth trees stood like pale green soda straws all around us. Down below the stream splashed and flowed for a short ways. I could hear the second falls in the distance, but could not see it from here. Jack-in-the pulpit grew here along with trilliums and other beautiful wildflowers.
Waterfall #1 Lost Cane
Jack in the Pulpit growing on the bank
We could have climbed down from the side of the first waterfall and made our way downstream to where the second one dropped in. It came from a different stream of water coming down off the mountain at a right angle to the other falls. It was also quite pretty. It must stay at least moist all year long owing to the green algae growing on the rock. The rock is either being formed from plant matter solidifying or being discolored by the algae. It was slick and would have torn the bank up so we went down to the base of the hill and were able to easily walk over to see the second falls. It was not huge. Perhaps 20 feet high and had a fin of rock at the base over to one side.
Waterfall #2 Lost Cane
We did not linger too long at this second falls. We had a fair amount of territory to cover. I'd be interested on any repeat trips in coming back up to this spot and climbing up above this first falls to see if there are more cascades above here?
We continued down the trail and it was rough in some patches, but nothing to shout about. We also encountered some downed trees. The worst spot was a thick patch of rose bushes that crowded the trail to the point of leaving only a few inches uncovered.
We pushed through that. The other potentially bad place was a downed tree that formed a sort of bridge across the trail. I wondered if we'd be able to continue, but we did manage to get under it without any problem. The RZR's lower profile helped with that. I doubt the Rhino would have made it under.
We began to see massive rocks and could hear the stream below us now on the right.
I saw one cascade and could hear another. I hollered for us to stop. I had to check this out. Kenny was right there with me wanting to see. The boulders were room sized.
The terrain was mossy and green and leafy. It was just beautiful. We could tell the one drop off had a waterfall. We could also see another cascade emerging from the bank at a right angle to the first one. We climbed down and then things got interesting. No way to go up the creek on the right hand side. The massive boulder blocked any progress and all the water was diverted to the far left. Kenny made it round there first and I could tell by the look on his face this was going to be great!
Massive boulder blocking the stream on the right. I wondered why the stream flow seemed so small down here on this side and so big above it? I was to find out!
We worked our way across the stream and up the bank. Kenny indicated to me a hole that appeared to lead to the waterfall ahead of us. "You can crawl in here if you want to try it?!" he said. Now most wives would not be too pleased if their hubby told them to crawl in a hole, but this man knows me and knows how crazy I am. I got his point. It was a shortcut. He knew from the looks of it he was NOT going to fit but that I might be able to squeeze through. We raced to see who would make it to the waterfall first??
He took the One if by sea route... I took the land route through the hole.
Someone asked me wasn't I worried about snakes? Simple answer is yes.. and no.
It had been cold and I was not terribly concerned. I did put my hood up to avoid having a bat down the back of my neck and I kept my eyes open looking around before I plowed through there. I did not tarry, but made quick work of getting through. Lucky for me I did fit and the tunnel went in and up and popped me out in front of the falls! I have photos of this, but what shows it better is the short video clip below.
When I emerged at the top of this hole and looked around Kenny was only 1/2 way to the falls! ha! I won! I also looked back at the hole and knew that I'd never have tried to crawl through it from this end. It looked tiny!
Kenny's bridge building route
Tiny opening to that shortcut tunnel
Here was our reward for making it.. the third and biggest waterfall on Lost Cane Creek.
A nice 50 footer!
We checked out the waterfall and the big rocks directly in front of us coming down the creek. Very cool. Far to the right on the bank was another nice sized waterfall.. about a 25 footer shooting right out of the bank. It was coming out of a cave, flowing down and re-entering the earth in a swallet. Part of the flow went into the swallet while part of the water went in the direction of that big boulder which blocked the creek completely on that side. It appeared that pretty much all the flow from this falls goes back into the ground in two spots! The rock here was carved into arches and potholes and all sorts of neat forms.
Waterfall #4 Lost Cane--out of a cave.. into a swallet.
I was absolutely overcome with excitement at finding and seeing all these beautiful things. It was time for a little trail romance.Yeah. I love my friends, but I love my man more and he comes with some benefits so I was glad for the privacy today hey hey.
After our little romantic escapade we found a simpler route back up the bank to the RZR.
It was a rocky hill climb, but it was way quicker.
Back on the trail and heading ever down the mountain through its heart.
We spotted more rugged trail. One path lead off to the side avoiding a rocky dirt ditch.
But what fun would that be? I told Kenny this trail was like a freaking rollercoaster ride!
I was elated. He responded "Why do you think we loved it so much when me, Dan and Buck came down here?". He was grinning ear to ear.
In all this excitement of waterfalls and beauty and Freak Nasty.... I somehow missed the mark in hunting the cave and the cave drawings. I think I know where we went wrong. We passed a foot path heading up the left bank into the rocky cliffs. It was either that spot or down closer to the end there was a big dirt berm that appeared to have an old road going up to it. I am betting it was a cave entrance. It was just down out of view behind that bank of dirt. That can only mean one thing.. repeat trips til the cave is found!
The Dirt Ditch-- the photo from the bottom does not do it justice.
We no more got down the dirt ditch than Kenny exclaimed "More waterfalls!"
and indeed we did stop and find more! We were able to stroll up to two more waterfalls in what had become a repeating pattern. One waterfall coming directly down the stream. A second waterfall entering the creek from a side stream at a right angle. The fifth waterfall was the one on the creek. The sixth was the one coming in from the left. It was about fifteen feet high and flowed over some ridged rocks and dropped into a swallet across the creek. Below all this jumble of boulders and beautiful cascades was a cave and a rock overhang. I could hear water running down in the small cave entrances.
I walked over and stood before the sixth falls. It was situated in a green leafy amphitheater. The ridge above was letting the sun peek over. The hill above the falls was dotted with wildflowers. I stood with one waterfall before me and another behind me. Surrounded by all consuming beauty. I was on total sensory overload and filled with joy.
I found myself misty-eyed as I sometimes get when I am in such situations. I composed myself and just gave thanks for the experience. Kenny said "You're in Heaven!" and I had to agree. I always think days like this make up for some of the not so good ones.
Waterfall #6 Lost Cane Creek.. out of a spring and into a swallet.
The Green 'amphitheater' behind and above the sixth falls.
The fifth waterfall was interesting. It was about 20 ft high and cascaded down through a jumble of boulders. It had a part that was over ridged rock with horizontal lines in it.
Waterfall #5 seen from in front of it.
Waterfall #5 seen from the left. That gives a better look at the ridged rock lines in it.
We wandered around here a bit and checked out the cave, the creek, the wildflowers and boulders. Finally we loaded up again and headed down the trail. We did not find anymore waterfalls from that point, but the trip remained beautiful, wild and interesting.
Now we began the trip through the land of dry creek beds. We'd see or hear the stream for a little while and then it was gone again. We did not get out to examine every place the stream appeared and disappeared. Had we done so we'd have been all night getting through there!
The terrain was flattening out. I could tell at one point we had not only lost most of our elevation, but we were down in the depths of the Cane. All those times looking at the topo map where the lines made concentric shapes getting smaller and smaller... toward the middle. We were there now. Down in the flat. We did see native bamboo. We also saw lots of brambles, some downed trees again. It is pretty clear this place doesn't see much traffic or many humans period. Everything is quiet except for any noise we might be making. Moss covers most surfaces. We found a small sink hole. A rock mound out in the center was completely moss covered. The fields down here and forests were a feast for the eyes. Wildflowers! Everywhere in this bottomland. Loamy, rocky soil and wildflowers. We saw evidence of wild hogs in the form of digging, but mostly their scat.
Grapevines hung thick as a man's arm from the trees. Lost Cane was like a combination of Eden and Saigon. You'd be a long way from help down in here if anything went wrong. I knew all this but even so I did not feel uncomfortable at all. I mention this because I will be going some place in the future where that is not the case. The spirit of place here is good.
Down in the depths of Lost Cane. Much is covered with moss and vines.
A smorgasboard of wildflowers!
Kenny found this spot in the woods that was completely carpeted by Virginia bluebells and wood poppies. Phlox and yellow trilliums were also thick here.
We made our way along once again. We found a downed tree that was going to have to be cleared. It didn't take long with the chainsaw and two pairs of hands. We had it gone and were back on track in about five minutes. We finally came to the point where we turned right and headed uphill. Kenny was sure this was the place we needed to turn to go up to the cave. I stopped and looked back over my shoulder. I disagreed with him as soon as I took that backward glance. The so called signs for the cave were warnings that Tennessee's caves were closed to entry. They were on two adjacent trees we had just passed. The signs were up facing in the direction to get the attention of anyone going UP the creek. Not turning right and going up the hill. He took another look and realized I was probably right.
We went ahead anyway to see where this trail went?? It went uphill and I knew from the terrain and distance we were almost certainly too far down the mountain to be anywhere near that cave. I've got it in my mind where it lies and this just seemed wrong.
It was a fun, rocky, steep hill climb that was a challenge to go up and come down. Glad we checked it out. It petered out and you could tell beyond a point it was not traveled.
We came back down and thought about our options how to finish the trip?
We could do as Kenny had wanted and go down and turn around and go back out the way we came in. Back UP the mountain. That was going to be a long way out.
A glance at the time and we knew two things 1. we'd have to boogie to get out of there and 2. we'd not have any extra time to stop on the way out and look for things we'd missed. I felt the temptation to stop would be overwhelming to me on the way back that way. I convinced him it would be closer and smarter to go out the bottom. We'd have more time and be closer to the truck when we emerged back out on the road.
Kenny's main concern leaving this direction was how rough it was going through that creek bed and with me along! Now that I wanted to finish the journey this way he was all about it.
Downed tree over the trail.
Rocky dry creek bed. This is only a small sample of the miles of this we had to ride.
The dry creek bed is hard. Buck and Kenny and C.D. are experienced riders and found it fun and challenging. It takes time. It may be the shorter of two distances between points, but it is not going to be the fastest or easiest. I wanted to be able to say I'd done the entire trail from begining to end even the bad stuff. So on we went.
Kenny handled it great and was glad we chose this route instead of back up the mountain.
That would have taken forever. The jarring and bouncing and grinding down the dry creek was something else awhile. Every so often down this trail we'd seen pipe. Black pvc pipe like someone had tried to pipe water. Kenny made me put the camera up and get my parts INSIDE the RZR for the rest of the trip since it was hairy.
We finally made it out and were real glad of it. It was an awesome adventure.
We had a little daylight left so though we were damp, cold and hungry that did not stop us from a few side excursions on the way out. Then back up the road to Woo Hoo to load up and head to the motel. We were glad to get in where it was warm and get some dinner in town. The No Tell Motel is actually the Jordan Motel and while it lacks some fancier things more modern hotels have it is inexpensive, clean and relatively comfortable.
It is the only game in town so we know we'll be back again.
We got some sleep and prepared for the next day's adventure!
Good Night!
