I wanted to get in a pretty Spring wildflower hike on a nice, sunny day. I suggested Burgan Creek Falls since it should have some wildflowers. It was only 1.8 miles round trip. I figured that ought to be plenty manageable even with my tired old knees. Kenny has been pretty stern reminding me not to overdo it. I know when he is serious and when not to trifle with him. This was one of those times when he meant business. He agreed upon it and we set out on Saturday late morning.
We pulled into Tapoco around 11:45 a.m. He wanted to go have lunch at the tavern prior to hiking.
He did not have to persuade me. We had the good fortune to be there on another water release day! The Cheoah River was roaring after last nights rain and the water release! We drove Hwy 129 over... the Tail of the Dragon. Traffic wasn't bad, but the road was still slick and wet.
We decided to sit indoors since it was airish. We were treated to the beautiful Saint Patrick's Day decorations they'd put out. It was lovely! Kenny had a beer, but I do not drink alcohol so I had a sweet tea with lemon. I call it the house wine of the South. We ordered a meat lovers pizza. It is so yummy! I'd say it is the best pizza ever. Freshly made and piping hot.
They had some of the prettiest Easter flowers popping up. The planters outside were full of boxwoods and pansies. I wasn't going to plant flowers this Spring, but that has changed my mind.
Below: Looking at the bar and there is a door way to additional seating beyond it.
Below: Meat Lovers Pizza has arrived
Below: The gift shop and lobby of the lodge.
Below: beautiful daffodils out at the entrance to the lodge.
At the beginning of this blog entry is a link to a piece written by Marshall McClung. He grew up back in the Atoah Creek community near Burgan Creek Falls. He wrote about the way things were way back when! He is a well respected, very interesting historian. He is also a retired forester, SAR person, and an author. I plan to order some of his books. Mountain People. Mountain Places.
Once we got a bite of lunch we rolled out toward Atoah Gap to hike to the falls. I was using my own directions as a test to see how they held up. They were spot on! The drive out to the trailhead is beautiful in Spring especially. Redbud trees, sarvis berry, cherry blossoms, peach trees in bloom, daffodils in people's yards. The grass is greening up. The skies today were blue and pretty.
The scenery out in the backroads of Graham County is hard to beat. We found our parking spot with no trouble. Today we began and ended our hike to the sound of thunderous gun fire! The Atoah Shooting Range is within sight of the spot where we parked though on the opposite side of the road.
I knew the hike would be up and up to start with. I struggled through it, but at last made it to the gap at the top. I carefully started down the slope toward Burgan Creek. It is worth mentioning that the former stream crossing is no more. Flood damage has messed it up. Marshall and Hoot moved the crossing upstream and it is way better. You ford the stream on a nice flat log like a bridge! You don't have to get your feet wet at all.
Once across the stream we were in a rhodo tunnel. Today we did less back and forth across the stream than in the past. You cross a creek exactly three times one way. Two of the creek crossings are fairly shallow rock hops. I did not get my feet wet all day.
I had to really take my time. The hike to the falls is mostly uphill. There were wildflowers blooming, but not a lot. Loads of hepaticas in bloom in shades of white, lavender, blue, and pink.
I saw yellow violets and dwarf cinquefoil. I also saw a few dutchman's britches just getting started. Trilliums were up and in bud, but no blooms yet.
The forest has some large trees! It is very open and easy to see which way you need to go. It is flagged the entire way. Our final approach to the base of the falls was from the left bank heading upstream. About the time I was really tired the falls came into view! It was all worth it then.
It was gushing today. It was the most water we've seen on it in all our trips. Conditions were not great for photography with the sun shining down into my face and my lens.
I had to get creative and use a tree to shield me from the sun to get a decent shot of the falls.
Below: The beautiful Burgan Creek Falls sits in the head of a hollow.
Below: a different angle using the tree as a shield
Below: First Dutchmans Britches of this Spring. They looked like they had been frost nipped.
Below: Slope covered in white polka dots from hepaticas
Below: closer view of the hepaticas
Below: a mossy field of large rocks. I can't say boulder field for they are not that large.
Below: a shot of the full falls up close
Below: pink hepaticas
Below: Looking up into the bare trees. Some tall, tall timber. Lots of buckeye and poplar.
Below: My big tall muscular fool of a husband. 💓💪😘 You can see how nice and flat and open the trail is here!
Above: a pretty spot along the hike with moss all over the tree trunks.
Below: a close up shot of a mossy log near the falls.
We enjoyed the falls and stuck around awhile. It was wonderful to be out today. The exertion of getting there had me shaking all over like I had low blood sugar a couple times. My back is doing much of the compensating for the lack of shock absorbers in my knees. Unless you have ever lived through this it is impossible to imagine how bad it feels. We began a slow trudge back toward the trailhead and the jeep. It was a little easier since it was mostly downhill. Uphill has been easier for me in some ways, but today it was all tough. I stopped many times on the hike out to prevent myself from going sprawling forward. Thank goodness for my sweet husband and for my trekking poles.
I sat down at one point and cried for about 15 seconds then felt foolish and got up and going again.
Back at the jeep I was feeling very sorry for myself, but still glad I was able to do it. It is still better than sitting around at home. I was so wrung out from the ordeal, and a little bummed out.
About that time the phone rang. It was Jared, our son, calling with good news. They were on a family outing at Dollywood and having a fantastic time! Good things are happening for them now. It had Kenny and I both ecstatic for them. God is great all the time. He is blessing us for all the years of struggle. Our grandchildren and family are restored to the proper order of life. Kenny told me he wanted to drive home via the Skyway as he anticipated heavy traffic on the Dragon now that the day had warmed up and the roads dried off. I did not argue.
I fixed myself a nest to relax and nap on the way home. I rested, but did not nap. My mind was whirling trying to figure a way out of my current mess. My entire Spring wildflower season has been knocked on its ear. Facing the reality of physical limits at present coupled with Kenny's work commitments is not easy. I had to come up with another plan to cheer myself up and get in a better head space. It has been very humbling.
My new plan came to me on the ride home:
I will do more Spring Wildflower Drives. They will include short, simple jaunts from the vehicle that won't over tax my strength.
I will drive the Cherohala Skyway for one and use it as part of hybrid trillium research for this season. I can hike Jeffrey Hell which is easy and short.
Once I got home I had an email from a nice lady named Krista Robb who is the outdoor activities director for Fontana Village. She was enjoying my blog and recommended we get up with her and come over for a stay. I wrote her back and told her I'd take her up on it! So there is that to look forward to! I told her I'd help her with info or whatever she needed. It made me feel positive about the future.
I heard from my orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday and he will call me within a week to set up a surgery date. I am considering having both knees done simultaneously if he will agree. One recovery period instead of two. I can use my recovery and therapy time to audit my old blog, work on the frame work for the new one, and my country stores blogs, auto tours, and excellent picnic locations! I will play the sympathy card to get my family to participate!
Later in the week I spoke with several friends who have told me they'd like to get together. I am going to do it too. I found out that there have been people who did not want to go hiking with me because they thought I'd hike them to death. Now that I'm hobbling around they know I won't so they are willing to go with me! Who knew?
Below is a video of Burgan Creek Falls from today.
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Thanks for reading and commenting. I enjoy hearing from those who read & make use of my blog. I have made some wonderful friendships through emails from readers. I respond to all comments and emails. I appreciate folks reaching out to let me know when my blog entries are not functioning correctly or if the situation somewhere has changed. Many Blessings to you! Dana 🐝
above: Spring Beauties
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for reading and commenting. I enjoy hearing from those who read & make use of my blog. I have made some wonderful friendships through emails from readers. I respond to all comments and emails. I appreciate folks reaching out to let me know when my blog entries are not functioning correctly or if the situation somewhere has changed. Many Blessings to you!
Dana 🐝