Max Patch with Gabe

Little Falls Branch at the foot of Max Patch

Max Patch with Gabe

 Sunday 12/29/2019

Kenny, Dana & Gabriel Koogler

Pix are here start with this frame then advance to the right

     Another one of the long overdue blog entries from the end of 2019. 

A condensed version and the best I can do with not recalling all the details.

    Sunday after Christmas we decided to take our grandson Gabe to the mountains. He'd been asking to see waterfalls.   We were all still recovering from some awful respiratory illness. Said to be Type A flu, but now wondering if we all had the corona virus prior to knowing it even existed.   We were having to do something that required minimal exertion.   We were building our stamina up after that fiasco the day after Christmas.   

     We had long been talking about taking Gabe to Max Patch and to see the waterfalls over there.  We figured now was as good a time as any to see it through.   The day was warm for December so we packed a picnic and took off for Max Patch.    It takes about an hour and fifteen minutes on the interstate to get there.    We arrived and the creeks were flowing very nicely.

    Above: Papaw and Gabe.. standing on the rocks

   We pulled up to the trailhead for Little Fall Branch Falls a quarter mile one way hike on almost level terrain.   Lots of people here today, but not crowded. We arrived to find a large group just before the falls. They were gone before we got done visiting and exploring the waterfall.  Gabe fussed when he thought he had to walk, but when I told him I needed someone to show me how to get over the logs and find the path... he was all about it.  He is bossy like his Papaw and wants to tell people what to do.   

Below: People enjoying the waterfall with their dog who was so pretty and fuzzy! 

Above: Little Fall Branch Falls



Above: Gabe throws a good sized rock into the creek


Coming back down the trail from the waterfall with his camo britches

Above:  Gabriel age 3 is in his seventh Heaven in the woods and outdoors! He is the cutest little fellow.

   We went down to the picnic area next to eat a bite of lunch.   We got our tummies full and let Gabe play.  Important to keep those little legs stretched and burn off some energy after a car ride.   The folks from up at the falls were also picnicking there!   Finally we picked up all our belongings. We had another stop to make an a good bit more driving to do in the country. 

Below: Papaw is toting out stuff.  Gabe eats a cookie for dessert.

Below another family at the picnic grounds with their dog

Below: The creek flows past the picnic tables.  Fun to play in when it is hot.

    We headed up the mountain ever so slowly.   Once we got to the pond just past Max Patch summit we stopped so Gabe could get out again.  We have passed this spot many times over the years and not til today did we stop and check it out. 

Gabe gets ready to throw rocks into the pond!

Below the pond is shimmering in the low light

Below: Gabe is all boy. 

Reknowned Rock Thrower

If you look closely you can see the big splash from the rock!

Running back to the jeep

   Once we got done with the pond visit.. Kenny let Gabe sit on his lap and "drive" on our way to Wasp and Wolf Creek Falls.   It helped a lot to keep him happy.   He liked the spots where we had to drive through mud holes and the creek.     We didn't see another soul all evening long.  We had the falls to ourselves.  We pulled up to the campsite. We walked down over the bank and around the corner to a view of the falls. 

above: first view of Wolf Creek Falls

but if you walk down a few steps further you get this vantage point of the falls

My how different they look from here!  

 Gabriel loved the falls and the little rock outcrop near it.  He was thrilled to finally see some waterfalls today and this was a big one!

Above: Silky shot of the water flowing out of the plunge pool area and on down the stream

    We enjoyed the falls.  We headed back to the vehicle.  We let Gabe "drive" til we got back to Round Mountain Road. We buckled him into his seat belt and continued on to Del Rio and round to Newport.   We stopped for a quick bite of supper and hit the interstate and headed home.   We were all exhausted and went straight to bed once we were home.   What a fun day, but we were wiped out!

It felt good to be together. It felt good to finally keep our word about doing something with this sweet little man.   He finally got to see his waterfalls.

below is a short video of Little Fall Branch Falls and the pond 

Finally a video of Wolf Creek Falls