Hepatica blooming along the Melrose Falls trail in Columbus, NC
The Kevin Adams 100 Waterfall Challenge-Bernie's Falls & Melrose Falls
I mentioned to a buddy that I was going hiking to work on the completion of my Kevin Adams 100 Waterfall Challenge. He asked me "Who is Kevin Adams?".
It never occurred to me before that folks might not know who he was! He is certainly well known in photography and waterfall circles. So before I get any further into this trip report let me catch up anyone who might not know.
Kevin Adams is the author of North Carolina Waterfalls. His book is in its third publication. He is a North Carolinian born and raised. He got interested in hiking and waterfalls at a young age. He later got a camera as a gift and it became his other hobby. It is a hobby he has parlayed into a career. He is an author, photographer, specialist in waterfall and night photography, inventor of photography gear, and teacher of photography. He is the husband to Patricia Adams. They live on a farm in Waynesville. I had the good fortune to meet him in person, and to become friends with him. It has enriched my life in many ways. One such way is that when he decided it was time to give back he really gave back to the world!
Below is a photo of Kevin taken on our Waterfall Keepers Spring wildflower hike in April 2022 I believe. It was a hike to High Falls on the Tuckaseegee River.
He founded Waterfall Keepers of North Carolina. It is a non profit that is a service organization designed to help clean up roadsides, waterfalls, trails, that lead to waterfalls. Places that receive heavy human impact because of visits to waterfalls get attention to help keep them up. Junior Waterfall Keeper program helps engage children in waterfalls and outdoors hopefully making them better stewards of our world. The organization also provides guided hikes for members.
It provides low cost waterfall therapy or shinrin yoku thanks to Dr. Mark Ellison who founded and runs Pinnacle Forest Therapy. I have been a happy participant in this event. Waterfall Keepers has a library of waterfall history of North Carolina as well as oral histories. The first such oral history is that of another friend Mr. Bernie Boyer for whom Bernie's Falls is named! Below is a video Kevin and Waterfall Keepers of North Carolina made interviewing Mr. Bernie. I put him right up there in the same category of waterfallers as Chucky Joe Huger and Jim Bob Tinsley.
Below is a photo of Mr. Bernie Boyer taken on a hike to Rocky Bottom Gorge and the waterfalls on Wolf Creek near Hemlock Lodge all in the same day! In this photo I see Bernie, my husband Kenny in the red cap, and I know that shoulder is friend Harry Jones.
Below is a photo of me with a group of friends at a hike to one of the waterfalls near Clayton, Georgia I think.
Back row left to right: Skip Pudney, Kelvin Taylor
Front row left to right Cathy Howell-Boyette, Dana Koogler, Kenny Koogler
I am a member of Carolina Mountain Club and completed their 100 Waterfall Challenge several years back. One day I sat down and printed out the challenge list for Kevin Adams 100. I got out all my notebooks, photos, and blog entries and filled it out. I lacked about thirty waterfalls of being done with this second challenge! Why not finish it?! Wally was working on it so I couldn't let him get it finished and me not do it! So now you know who Kevin is, what he does, and about the challenge lists.
Four Waterfalls Left to Go
- Bernie's Falls--Nantahala National Forest, NC
- Melrose Falls-- Columbus, NC
- Hickory Branch Falls--Pisgah National Forest, NC
- Crab Orchard Falls--Valle Crucis Conference Center, NC
Friday evening I checked into the hotel. I learned that their indoor pool was closed for maintenance. I cannot get a break with regards to the use of a heated, indoor pool this Winter. I went to dinner. I went and got snacks for the next day and topped off my tank at Ingles. I worked out in the gym, showered and got ready for the next day.
Bernie's Falls Hike
Bernie's Falls is named for Bernie Boyer. It is a sixty foot waterfall that is located on Miser Creek . It is one of the more difficult hikes. There are old logging roads that lead to it most of the way. I met up with Wally at my hotel and we carpooled to Brevard where we met Bernie at the Wal-Mart parking lot. We piled his gear in after our greetings heading west to the trailhead. It is off Tanassee Gap Road. I had printed off Chris Armenti's Hike WNC directions and brought Kevin's book and the map. Wally had been before so that helped a bunch. I found my GPS under the passenger seat and took a few moments to help Bernie learn how to use it.
The hike was pleasant starting off cold and sunny, but quickly warming up into the fifties. We had a few creek crossings, but my boots held up great and I stayed dry despite stepping in the water. Wally briefly and dramatically lost a hiking pole at the crossing of Parker Creek. Bernie was on the spot with the save!
We arrived at the famed walnut tree used as a landmark for where to turn as well as where the other trail comes in. There are two approaches to this hike. One is about the same as the other distance wise and difficulty.
Below: Profile view of Bernie's Falls with Wally in there against the bluff.
We were hiking along by a stream when I asked Bernie to let me see the GPS.
I told Wally I thought we had passed the falls, and indeed we had. We doubled back about quarter mile or less. We found our second creek ford and wound our way through the rhodo now without a trail. The hike takes you right to the brink of the falls. In order to reach the base you have to angle right and work your way down under the bluff on a steep path. Today the grotto where Bernie's Falls lay was getting zero sun and the rock behind the falls was a sheet of glaze ice.
There we found it this beautiful, powerful waterfall! It was worth the hike. We could get a good view of it, but after discussion we opted NOT to chance going behind the falls in order to see it from the front. Wally had brought a rope, but there was no anchor point. One slip from there would injure or kill you. It wasn't worth it. We would have to bring Kenny and Debbie back anyway. We would save that for another trip. We enjoyed the falls and Wally started up the hill ahead of us. He tied off the rope to a tree and tossed it down to us. I was first climbing up the bank. I got the rope, but instead of pulling taut it kept winding out. Wally got some "blackmail" video and photos of me toiling bravely up the bank with the rope. We good naturedly kid one another about anything and everything. He claimed his arthritis kept him from throwing the rope far enough down, but I thought that was an awfully convenient excuse. 😅
The Interdimensional Vortex Strikes Again!
Our plan originally was to get down to the sunny spot on the far side of Bernie's Falls and eat lunch. It was chilly once we stopped exerting ourselves so we chose to hike back a ways then stop to eat. Wally found a perfect sitting spot on a log in the sun. It was glorious. As we sat there chatting and eating here came a couple on electric bikes! We visited with them some. The man was born and raised in the area. I asked him how to get to John Neal Falls and he told us. It sounded very simple. I plugged in the waypoint for those falls which we planned to visit next.
Once we got going again Wally remarked he was too tired to attempt Double Branch Falls based on the description of it. It was not as pretty as John Neal Falls, but was twice as hard to access. We'd skip it today. We got back to Parker Creek. We crossed. The dude said to turn right on the main road (logging grade) and it would take us to the base of the falls. Once we crossed the stream there was a path immediately heading right. Was this it? We finally decided no. We'd best stick to the guy's directions as he was a local.
We passed the spot where we came down from Tanassee Gap Road.
We continued following the logging grade. It was an easy walk. At one point the stream below sounded awfully loud. I checked the GPS and it appeared we might have passed John Neal Falls. I asked if we should go back and climb down to the creek? We all agreed to continue to follow the directions given. We figured the trail swung wide and then switch back in the direction of the creek. We kept going when the logging road played out. We could hear a waterfall. Finally we got a glimpse of the top of it. It was what I call a "two butt waterfall". The standing room to view this one from the base was very limited, but we had a good view of it. Wally got to comparing photos of Double Branch vs. John Neal Falls. It was clear to us we were not at John Neal, but Double Branch! Wally pointed out to me the descent on the far side of the creek that Chris Armenti described. It was a nearly vertical cliff with a few sketchy rotten logs for holds!
We were at the wrong waterfall, but the good news was we had discovered a far safer, better way to reach Double Branch Falls. The last time this happened to me was many years ago mistaking Gragg Prong Falls for Lost Cove Falls. We all know what a debacle that was. ( No route to the base, but by golly we made one!)
We had a good laugh over this. It was a pleasant, and crazy surprise. We were all pretty well spent and still had to make it back to the jeep. We enjoyed the waterfall and the pretty green pool below it. It looked the color of peridot.
Below: Double Branch Falls. This photo doesn't show it well, but the expectation previously given was to down climb that right side (facing the falls)
Below is a video of Double Branch Falls
Finally we trudged back. It seemed like this hike was uphill both ways. A fact which also had us tickled. We were all in fine spirits thoroughly enjoying the woods, waterfalls and each other's company.
We made a brief stop over at Camp Living Waters so Bernie could see the falls there. At last we headed back to Brevard and parted company until the next day.
Back at the hotel I was so wrung out and cold, exhausted, dirty, hungry, and thirsty I hardly knew what to do first. My feet were achy. I needed to get the sweat off me or I'd stay chilled. Finally I got myself sorted out and redressed. I forced myself to walk across the street to McDonald's for a quick dinner.
I wanted sleep more than anything so I was in bed asleep by eight p.m. Kenny called at 8:30. I answered the phone like an angry tiger. He caught me at just that right moment of sleep where if wakened I am confused and grumpy. I came to my senses in a minute or so, and talked to him rationally.
Sunday Morning-- Melrose Falls Hike
The Melrose Falls trail is an easy 0.70 miles one way with little up or downhill. It is beautiful and has lots of interesting rock formations along the way including caves. Wildflowers appear along the trail in Spring. The trail is easy to follow, but the terrain and overlooks of the falls are unimproved and children should be closely controlled. I guess dogs are permitted on leashes since we saw plenty of them. All friendly and all leashed and happy.
I was not terribly concerned with photography today. It felt so good to be out that I opted to just enjoy myself and only snapped a few pix and a little video.
Below is a video of Melrose Falls
HERE HERE HERE HERE
Once we'd seen Melrose Falls we ambled back to the vehicle to move on to our next destination. We headed over toward White Oak Mountain to see Shunkawauken Falls and the overlook at the mountain's summit.
I had only seen this waterfall once previously and it was not impressive since it had little water on it. It will never be a favorite because it is a roadside falls with poor visibility and not much parking. It is a large falls though. It did not take long to go see it. I wanted to get on the road before late since I had a 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive home. I had to resume child care duties the very next day.
Below: The view from the White Oak Mountain summit.
We checked these out quickly and then I said my good-byes to Wally and Paul.
I rode back north to the hotel with Bernie and Debi to save fuel and because it made more sense. Wally & Paul were returning to Simpsonville and Greenville respectively. I visited with my new friends a little in the parking area. Then we said our goodbyes and headed toward home. It was a great weekend. I had excellent traveling mercies. On the way home I had been dreading the roadwork on I -40 West. I figured it would be backed up for miles. I was blessed to avoid all that. Instead all the roadwork backups I encountered this weekend were on the opposite side of which direction I was heading. When I was driving east the west side was backed up for miles and vice versa. I stopped one time on the drive home at East Canton. I had a splitting headache. I went in and used their restroom. I did not want to be stuck in backed up construction traffic needing to pee. I got a bottle of water, some advil, some hot coffee, and some snacks. I knew part of my headache was coming from tension. Part was coming from needing water and the final bit was needing to eat. I hadn't eaten nearly enough today nor had I drunk enough water. The cashier was very cordial and remarked that she did not think the traffic was backed up since she'd been on shift since morning and no one was fussing about it.
She was correct and soon my headache was all gone. It seemed like in no time at all I was pulling off the interstate at Kodak. I was home about 3:30 pm. It was great to get to spend the rest of the day with Kenny. He had to leave out the very next morning to go work in the Tallulah Gorge for three days. Such is the nature of his work.
I am down to Hickory Branch Falls and Crab Orchard Falls. I hope to batch those together with Flattop Lookout Tower in March. I can thus complete my waterfall list and knock out another tower getting me down to four left! I will keep after it and finish both the waterfall and tower list this year!
Below is a video of Shunkawauken Falls and White Oak Mountain Overlook
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