Off Trail Hikes I Have Done

Above: a dryad in a hollow tree along the Narrows manway. 

 Off Trail Hikes I Have Done

Dana Koogler

Wednesday Nov. 14, 2023

  I got a message from a buddy yesterday that got me thinking about all the off trail hikes I have done.    I also got to thinking about my position regarding off trail hiking.  I am all for it, but it is certainly not everyone's idea of a good time.     I decided I'd blog about some of my experiences.  

I am also stating here my position on sharing this sort of information.    

         I do not keep GPS tracks for off trail hikes EVER.   I would not post that kind of information on the internet.   I would not share that sort of information with anyone ever. 

I do use GPS coordinates and route planning for attempts.  We use them in the field, but I won't be forthcoming with that to anybody.  The reason being 1. It could be inaccurate. 2. It could be accurate and still get someone in trouble. 3. I made the trip and planned it, executed it without having a GPS track from others so I am not going to rob the person of the work and the challenge.

4.  It is part of the "If you don't know, you don't go" mind set.  Some off trail routes are traditionally marked by cairns. These are little rock piles set up to take you from one point to the next.  I leave those and appreciate those.    I don't remove that kind.  I also don't make them myself or leave flagging.   I will use survey tape now and then and then come back and "clean my route" as I return.   I use it minimally.  One such example would be bushwhacking to the base of Flat Creek Falls.  Having screwed up in the past while solo bushwhacking I learned from it. I marked this one critical spot that is hard to see on the return.  One the way back the neon orange tape gets removed and the place looks the same as before I arrived.  

   I began going off trail in 2002 to 2003 and it became an obsession.   I loved it.

I see the benefits of participating in this activity.  What has it done for me? 

It has blessed me to be able to see the rare,  unspoiled beauty and power of nature that few see.

It has made me a better navigator and wayfinder.   It makes you tougher.  Like Jeff Clark of Meanderthals motto "If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough!"  I'd say that's me in a nutshell.     It has forged bonds with friends like nothing else ever could.  It has created a stronger bond between me and my husband.   He is my partner in crime, my lover, my best friend.  

It has given me a passion for outdoors that nothing else did before or since.  It keeps life interesting for me. 

               I will however take people occasionally on return trips if the spirit moves me. 
I will also evaluate the ability of the person or people going on a trek and perhaps share the knowledge that will help them out.   For this reason I am listing what I have done.  I never mind someone asking me for assistance.  I ask folks for help when I need it or want it.   I ask with zero expectations.  If they help me that's great. If they don't ... no hard feelings.    It is rude to put upon others and have the attitude that you are entitled to have them help you.  

  Below is a list of Off Trail Stuff I've Done in a bulleted list. 

Many of these routes were done so long ago I may have lost photos from it or video footage.

It is often the case that the route is so bad I did not take photos at all or very little.   I've done a pile like that.   It is hard to remember to take photos while your butt is hanging off a cliff while crossing over a fallen tree. 

Great Smoky Mountains

• Porters Creek Manway/Dry Sluice Gap 
• False Gap Manway to abandoned shelter along the A.T. 
• Upper Ramsay's Cascade
• Mill Creek Falls 
• Ledbetter Ridge to Russell Field 
• Bull cave manway 
• Scott mountain manway 
• Flat Creek Falls to the base
• Climbed Mount Leconte from Grotto Falls to the summitt past Upper Grotto Falls, Twin Falls, and Dome Falls then down Alum Cave Bluff Trail
• Moore Springs manway 
• Big Branch manway off Baxter Creek trail 
• Hurricane Mountain manway
• Defeat Ridge to summit. Includes Thunderhead manway 
• Sam's Creek manway to Green Camp Gap
• Greenbrier pinnacle 
• Rich Mountain  manway 
• The Cat Stairs
• Greenbrier Pinnacle
• Injune Creek

• Rhododendron Creek manway

• Grandfather tree manway

• Wilson Falls from Mount Collins  to Elkmont 

• Chimney Tops  manway 

• Marks Creek manway 

• Blanket Mountain  manway
• Bear Pen Gap manway
• Buck Horn Gap manway

• Honey Cove manway

• Whistling Gap Manway

•  off trail to Panther Falls old  Slate mines Garner Falls

•  un-named manway into park from Wears Walley to Little Brier  Gap

• Grayback Falls via Walker Sisters manway

• Court House Rock/Quilliams Cave

• Smith Creek Manway

• Bent Arm manway

•  Little Laurel Branch Falls 

• The Abe Hole

• Gold Creek Falls

• Mannis Branch Falls

• Meigs Falls 

• Rush Branch Manway

• Mids Gap Manway

• Ash Hopper 

North Carolina

• Alarka Falls from top to base and back 
• Big Falls on Thompson River from top down and back. Then from bottom up on other trips.
• Winter Green Falls-- Gorges State Park
• Waterfall on Laurel Fork
• Waterfall on Tributary of Laurel Fork
• Falls of Wolf Creek near Balsam NC
• Rocky Bottom Gorge
• Bonas Defeat Gorge 
• Panthertown Falls 

Tennessee 

• Puncheon Camp Creek Twin Falls
• Rogers Creek Falls
• Bryan Fork Falls
• Sophia Falls 
• Phillips Creek Tunnels
• Cap Rock Window -Big South Fork 
• Rock Castle Gorge Waterfalls
• Fallingwater Falls from the base & the top
• Tallassee Creek Falls
• Rainbow Falls & Pit
• Blue Hole Branch Falls
• Four Mile Creek Falls
• Crystal Falls in New Harmony-- now off limits
• Simmons Branch Falls from base to top & back
• Fern Camp Falls  & arch from the top and the base

These are all the ones I can think of.  I expect more will come to me in the future. After you have done so much it all begins to run together.  Many of these were done multiple times.  

    Since I began this sort of thing many others have come along who have far exceeded these feats.

By the time I did some of them they were not as difficult because they'd been trod before.

  My Wish List of Manways & Off Trail Hikes at Present

• Paddle & bushwhack to Garner Falls, Slate Mines & Panther Creek Falls
• Shop Creek to the Falls & X-Ray Betty
• Tabcat Creek Manway to Maynard Branch Falls
• Bunker Hill Branch Falls
• Parsons Branch Falls from lake 
• Davis Creek Manway to Big Trees
• Repeat trip Marks Creek Manway to Falls
• Noisy Creek Manway to Jenny Falls
• The Cat Stairs to Greenbrier Pinnacle and back down
• Repeat Mill Creek Falls & Sugar Cove Falls

Below are some of the manways I am aware of, but have never attempted

• Ground Hog Ridge Manway
• Sam's Creek Manway to the A.T.
• Bone Valley Manway
• Ekaneetlee Trace--If you are interested in off trail hiking here is a link to John Quillen's latest Cityview column about his experiences on the Ekaneetlee Manway.  He's crazier than I am by far, but he's a swell guy and a talented author. 
• Dalton Branch Manway
• Forney Creek to Forney Ridge Manway
• Old Black Manway past Ramsey's Cascade to the A.T.
• manway into the back of White Oak Sinks from Scott Mountain Trail
• Breakneck Ridge manway
• Wooly Tops manway
• Cannon Creek 
• Lowes Creek
• Polls Gap
• Collins Creek Manway

Below are some videos of various trips I've taken off trail and some photos of the best places.

Below: Wilson Falls was the trip of a lifetime. 

Below is Puncheon Camp Creek Twin Falls-- another long sought after location with no trail

Below:  Rogers Creek Falls is nearby Puncheon Camp Creek Twin Falls and is a similar off trail challenge. It was a roped climb to reach these.  I put the music "Misery and Happiness" on this video because I likened my relationship to Rogers Creek Falls as a girl with a bad boyfriend. Love/hate.  I encountered a group of guys who were frustrated with multiple attempts to find Rogers Creek Falls and said they considered it a Unicorn! 

Below is a video of Mill Creek Cascade. We have made multiple trips to this one because we love it.  The big trees, beautiful forest, navigation challenge, physical challenge are something else!

  

Below is a photo of Upper Ramsey's Cascade

Below is Upper Grotto Falls

Below are a couple photos taken on Defeat Ridge Manway.  It involved so much belly crawling for us that I took very few photos. Additionally it is not a "pretty" or scenic manway. It is a Prove You're a Real Man challenge.  I have lost a lot of hide involving myself in these sorts of things. Consequently I'm a "real man" as I'm ever gonna be and no longer feel the need to prove anything to anybody. 

Above: my partner and friend Dan Heimsoth on the manway before shit got real.

Above:  The photo above shows where we emerged on the summit of Thunderhead Mountain.  You cannot even see the opening cause there really isn't one.   We were so claustrophobic by the time we got out of that mess we were doing high kicks in tutus!  

Below are a couple shots from Sam's Creek Manway-- the lower portion

Above: old metal bridge across Sam's Creek.  

Below:  a pretty water hole along Sam's Creek Manway

Below is a photo of a tree carved with Mids Gap for the manway

Below is a marker for the Chimney Tops manway. It is gone now 

Below:  a view of Chimney Tops from the manway.   We went from Sugarland Mountain to Chimney Tops by way of a narrow strip of land that bridges them.  

Below is a video of Panther Creek Falls that can be reached by a bushwhack or a combination paddle/bushwhack.  We took kayaks and then bushwhacked because it was more fun for us. This trip was incredibly pretty.

Below is my favorite photo from that bushwhack. I dreamed this scene precognitively before we ever did this. It was a recurring dream that was a good one!

Below: another wonderful scene from the kayak portion of the trip.  The slopes along Abrams Creek on fire from the sunset and Autumn colors.

Below is a video from a bushwhack to Little Laurel Branch Cascade. It is near Ramsey's Cascade, but few ever come up to see it. It is a bit of work.

Below is a photo of Flat Creek Falls taken from its base which has no route to the base and no official trail to the top part either. This visit was in Fall and it was still flowing great.

Below is a video of Flat Creek Falls from its top to its base 

Below is a movie I made of Alarka Falls from its headwaters source springs all the way to the base.

Below is the only photo I have of Marks Creek Falls.  It is a challenge to see. 

Below are photos from The Cat Stairs 

I have very few photos taken on this because it is such a navigation and physical exertion challenge.  I did find a have a couple.  They do little to illustrate the difficulty. It was fun though. I have done this three times. I even broke my own rule and did it in the snow for a friend! 

Below:  The Barnes sisters' graves. Mike Povia told me you ain't nothing if you ain't been to the Barnes Sisters graves and the old Barnes place.  

Above: ruins of the old Barne's Place.   

Below: It is a long way down here. You are climbing the Cat Stairs hand over hand.  

Below: coming to the top of the ridge you go through a hole in the rhododendron to emerge atop Greenbrier Pinnacle.   A lot of crawling involved.  

  There is a younger generation of hikers coming along who haven't done these yet.  I don't want them to be deprived of the opportunity to challenge themselves. I also want to spread the misery around evenly.  Everyone can suffer!  👿😁

Gold Creek Falls Off Trail 2020

Off trail in the Smokies today

Gold Creek Falls Off Trail 

 Tues. Dec. 29, 2020

Gold Creek Falls Pix 

   After Christmas we wanted to do something close to home.   I got in touch with one of my Facebook friends who I've known online for years.  He lives in the same area. We had talked on the phone and emailed, and PM'd, but never done anything together.  I wanted to remedy that.  Gary Free lives up at Top of the World off Foothills Parkway.   We met him up there to go snow hiking off trail to Gold Creek Falls.   It is a waterfall that is a short, difficult off trail hike.   We had been before about five years earlier.  For part of the hike you are on National Park public land, but the waterfall actually lies a short distance over on private property.  It is not a place I'd go often because it is private, but also because it is not the most spectacular waterfall in the area.  Thirdly it is a difficult one to reach.  

     Last time we went I had got up with a FB friend who indicated to me that if we were to park and follow the drainage down from  Emerine Gap  we would be able to make it to the falls, then return up a less steep drainage.  Kenny back that trip said no.  We would park there and just go down over the bluff and take our time. It was steep, but a much shorter distance.  We made it that day.  We ended up returning the same way we'd come.  It was so bad I cried.  I said I'd NEVER do it again.  Right there is where I messed up. Never say never.  The Universe is sure to make a liar out of you.   The original trip report from the first visit is here

It does a pretty good job of explaining the difficulty level and is extremely honest. I was recovering from Miller-Fisher syndrome. I am glad I took time back then to describe the difficulties I was going through as well as the progress of healing.

Below is a drawing of the map my buddy shared with me as a guide. 

The red lines go clockwise... down Emerine Gap drainage, up the old logging road , down to the falls, and back up the other drainage. If you click on the image it should enlarge showing a tiny blue tear drop that is the marker for the falls. 

    

  We met Gary at the parking area.  It was great to finally meet him.  Super nice guy and in life just as he presents himself.   Down to earth, likeable, funny. The only thing he did not share about himself is he is like a bull.  He is strong and can flat get the hiking DONE!  I swear he was trying not to make us feel bad.  He made the whole thing look like it was a piece of cake.    

       I had made up my mind today to take the originally suggested route and avoid the steep descent and climb back out of last go round.   We started down the drainage at Emerine Gap as suggested by my pal.  It turned out to be a no go.  It was a mess of tangled briars, downed trees and rhododendron.   The gully was a spring branch so staying in the actual creek was worse.  It was steeper, slicker than snot, and the soil was soft. slippery and squishy.   We all decided that was not going to cut it.   Next thing I knew Gary was up the bank and out on the ridge that flanked us.  Kenny and I finally managed to get round there atop the ridge.  It was tough, but was much better.  In short order we were down it and onto the old logging road.   

     We followed it downward because that is what we did before.  That was a mistake because while it was pretty and super easy and an actual trail for awhile..... it brought us out BELOW the falls.  Not only below the falls... but in terrain where you ain't gonna be able to easily fix that mistake.  You ain't going anywhere from here.    The only good thing about that was we did get to see a lovely lower cascade we'd have missed were it not for that.

Above and below: two shots of the pretty lower cascade.  It has a nice pool of water with it.

Above and below: two photos of the rhododendron and the rocks and the lack of a trail here

  It is worth mentioning that above this cascade and before you get to Gold Creek Falls proper there is a large, beautiful waterfall you can see from the old logging road.  During warm weather it should be possible to just stay in the creek and climb round there to it.  During snow and ice it was a bad idea, though not a true impossibility.   The falls I'm speaking of is actually larger, taller than Gold Creek Falls.  

    We did not want to wade the creek or slip and fall and injure ourselves this snowy, icy day so we doubled back to the logging road.  Back up it we climbed and in about 0.25 miles we came to a point where a trail .. an honest to god trail... veered off gently to the left.    The old road we were on is the haul road used by George Amerine to haul out iron ore for his bloomery forge business in West Miller's cove.   I learned this per my friend Boyd Hopkins.  I have seen the historical marker for Amerine's Forge at the corner of Old Walland Highway. I need to take a photo of it sometime.  George Amerine built his forge in 1845 and made pig iron.  It is said his bloomery forge hammered out 15 tons of crude iron a year from the ore. The hammer for pounding the ore was run by water power and I am guessing it was probably run by Hesse Creek in West Millers Cove.  He produced iron bars until 1856 stopping before the American Civil War.

   I had often heard the term "tougher than pig iron" but I never knew how the term pig iron came about until writing up this trip report.   The molds for the iron bars were formed in sand.  The shape of it reminded someone way back of a passel of piglets suckling the old mama sow.  Thus pig iron!

Below is an image.. not mine.. I found on the web of what iron molds looked like.

That's your history lesson for today.  I knew that mining was done along this area, but not a lot about it. Gold was mined here also, but I don't know much about it.

Seems I read that not a whole lot of gold was mined here.  

    Once we turned off onto that lovely little trail from the Amerine haul road.... we found ourselves in a veritable Shangri La.   We were concerned as to whether we'd actually be able to reach Gold Creek Falls because of the terrain and the creek crossings.  We needn't have worried.  We were surprised most pleasantly to find that someone has constructed bridges and made an actual trail up to see the falls.

We were thrilled!  We passed through massive boulders and some rhododendron but it was open and doable!  

     Before we knew it we stood before Gold Creek Falls!  It was quite a pretty and welcome sight today.   One of the bridges is directly in front of the falls providing many options for viewing the entire thing.   The stone work here was beautiful as was the engineering of the bridges.  

    

Flat Creek flowing on down toward West Miller's Cove

Across the bridge was a set of steps to get up to the next level

Huge boulder supporting bridge #2

A view of Gold Creek Falls from the far left.  

Gary crossing the bridge 

Bridge #2 and its anchoring chains and rock work.  Truly remarkable!

Gold Creek Falls from this angle is partly a jumble of boulders

Above: I am looking up at Gary who is taking photos from the bridge

Kenny has just crossed bridge #1.. beautifully put together

More scrambling around in the rhodo.. a glimpse of the creek from near Bridge #1

I can't help it that I like bridges.  :-) When you live with a member of the IUOE.. it rubs off on ya. 

Above and below: a regular landscape shot of Gold Creek Falls main drop and a silky shot of the water.  

Above was a second ladder to climb to get up to the next level. 

Above:  Once at the top of the falls the trail appeared to continue.  We followed it and thankfully it was more open and the terrain more forgiving... for awhile. 

 Gold Creek Falls did not disappoint. It was flowing great as compared to our first visit five years earlier.   We took time to enjoy it.  We were glad we followed the path and were able to come out a different way.   It was better for awhile and was an actual path that lead us easily back to the Amerine Haul Road we'd been on getting here.    Once we got to that we walked a ways and then the torture began.

We were going to have to climb back up that mountain the way we did before. It was super steep and difficult, but shorter and a sure thing.  

      Once again Gary made it look like it was nothing.  We all worked hard, but he sure showed it less.  I did not cry this time, but I did a piece of bellyaching.  

I just took my time and kept doing like before.  Set micro goals.  Getting from one tree to the next or one rock to the next.  Take a break and breathe.  I did not take anymore photos at this point.  There was nothing to see. It was exhausting.  I was also far more concerned about choosing a route that modified the original path at least a tiny bit.   I remembered that the reason I cried before was one spot that was only about 10 or 15 feet where there was nothing to hold onto.  A blade of grass, a twig etc. is not a hand hold that counts!  

    Today we fared better by listing to the right a little and side hilling it up a bit more.   Then once we were up within 50 feet of the top we angled slightly left. 

It did make the difference.  I was huffing and puffing once up to the top, but elated and relieved instead of upset and exhausted.   We came out at the grave marker of a little dog buried next to the parking area.  Little Shihtz.... Gary pointed it out. He said it must have been someone's pet shih tzu dog.  

Below is one last look at Gold Creek Falls.  It was worth the effort to see.

It was great meeting Gary. I was glad we were able to help him get to see the falls for his first time.  I told him I hoped he'd go with us again sometime.  We were glad to have succeeded and come out safely and in better form than last go round. 

   The stream that this falls is on is an almost continuous series of cascades and falls in a narrow, rugged gorge running from below the Top of the World Lake all the way down to West Millers Cove.  Gary mentioned that a fellow had fallen from one of the larger ones up closer to the lake some time back.  He had to be rescued and retrieved.  I can't remember for sure if he said the guy was just hurt or if he died.   I'll ask him.   He did say they came in to get him using the "old Morrow Road" that has some rental cabins back there.  I think I misheard him and the name is Demaro, not Morrow.  I didn't realize that til I looked at the map. 

       

Below is a video of the falls

I went back and re-did the math on the Porters Creek Manway vs. the climb up from Gold Creek Falls to the Foothills Parkway.   

I knew Porters Creek Manway was supposed to be a 65% grade which was not as bad as 71%.   I had to figure how that was possible.  The grade comparison is the last 200 yards of the manway ascending 1, 376 ft.  to arrive at Dry Sluice Gap.

The Gold Creek Falls climb out was far shorter but steeper.  The comparison was of the 100 ft final elevation gain over 34 ft which was 71% gradient.  

Gold Creek Falls 2016

Pinxter Azalea along Foothills Parkway yesterday

Gold Creek Falls

Sunday, April 17 2016

Dana & Kenny Koogler

Pictures are here starting with frame 618:

Gold Creek Pix

   Another one off the bucket list as of Sunday afternoon! I had long wanted to visit and see

the historic Gold Creek Falls in Blount County.  It is an off trail adventure and a tough one to reach regardless of how you approach it.  I had suspected there was a way to reach it from Foothills Parkway. It looked like a beast, but perhaps could be done.  I reached out to a friend who will remain nameless and shared my idea, and asked his opinion.  He agreed with me and shared some useful information with me.   Sunday we completed it.  

        Straight down from where we stood atop the parkway to the falls was 750 ft. 

The route we took was a modification of my pal's suggested route.  Six hundred feet elevation loss in 0.20 miles.  Extremely steep.  Hanging onto roots, rhodo, trees, whatever we could grab.  But we did it.  I did a lot of butt sliding on the way down.  Never saw any snakes thank the Lord. 

Did see a few pretty wildflowers.  The day was bright and clear and a little cooler to start with.

               We went down a gully or two.  We were fortunate enough to find an old logging road for part of the trek.  It helped make it considerably easier.  Finally we reached the creek level. 

We had been able to hear it from the parkway.  Water levels were on the low side. We need rain.

We made this far. Now we bushwhacked thru rhodo and over rocks and around all sorts of logs and obstacles to reach the falls.   It was a deep gorge with little sunlight reaching it in most places.

It was pretty and wild and very quiet.

Mountain bellwort blooms in this sort of dry, piney woods.

Also Catesby's trillium which has now aged to pink.


Vernal iris likes dry pine woods.
Below is a view of a slide area just before reaching the falls.  Once here we had 65 ft to go!
When you are off trail 65 feet might take awhile. This wasn't too bad of a crawl.  Under some rhodo across some rocks.

Above: Crawling through rhododendron, over rocks, crossing and recrossing the creek. 
 
   

Above: First time seeing Gold Creek Falls.  

     

Gold Creek Falls at last.   22 ft high. The upper drop is hidden by rhodo, logs and boulders.
We climbed up to a vantage point that let us see it clearly.  Glad we brought some rope along.

Above: Upper portion of Gold Creek Falls 

A unique vantage point near the falls that shows what a hole you're down in.   Neat rock formations.

Above: Down in a hole for sure

Gold Creek Falls upper drop is five or six feet high.


       We sat down and rested. Took lots of photos. Kenny climbed up above the falls to decide if we wanted to try to continue up the stream where there are supposed to be more cascades? Also he wanted to see if he could find us an alternate way back out.   He came back saying no way he was doing that.  We'd just reverse course.

           Below is a video that shows the various parts of the falls.
It really is pretty.

            I was dreading the climb back up out of that big hole.  The grade was so steep.
I told Kenny in advance of starting up that he'd just have to remember to be patient with me.
I had a ton of anxiety about it.   I sat down and ate something sweet before starting and made sure my bladder was empy and I had plenty to drink.   I didn't want any distractions while trying to climb up that mountainside and watch out for snakes at the same time.  I broke the return trip down to segments in my mind.  1. back along the creek. 2. cross the creek.  3.  up the first gully to the old road 4. up the next gully 5. up the steepest slope. 6. across the flatter part of the mountain to the jeep.
It is worth mentioning that my balance and my brain's processing of my changes in body position is improving!  Kenny noticed it and so did I.  I still have a little bit of lag time in processing a change in body position sometimes, but the last time it was real noticeable to me was for a brief minute or two on Saturday.

         I just took my time. Rested frequently.  Set tiny goals on the way out. From this tree to that tree.
Rest.  On to the next rock. Rest.  Used the mountaineer step.  Did a lot of turning boots sideways.
Used the baskets on my trekker to dig in.  Halfway up I ate another cookie for some fast energy.
I don't like oreos, but I needed the sugar. I felt like gumby and I couldn't tell if it was from nerves, low blood sugar or exertion.  Maybe some of all of it.  Kenny was great in encouraging me.
We laughed and joked on the way up. I just kept my focus on what was the immediate thing I needed to get through.   I did not permit myself to look ahead much or assess how much was left.

       I only had one real upset spell on the way out and that was momentary.  It was a slope at the very steepest, worst part with little to grab. I was shaky now and it was from exertion for sure. I had sewing machine legs and gumby arms.  I was wishing we had picked the route back up that was suggested to us.  It would have been more gradual.   Once through that part I could see the last 70 feet to the flatter part of the mountain.  It gave me renewed energy and we pushed on.
I got up top and collapsed in the grass to rest.   Thankfully we made it down and back safe!  Success!
It took awhile for it to sink in that we did it!  We're a good team.   I can tell that while I am still struggling with my fitness level and my brain's healing that progress is being made!

Two tough waterfalls to find and reach in one weekend is pretty satisfying.  What a good weekend this had turned out to be!



 
   Here is the view on the drive home from one of the overlooks on Foothills Parkway. This is closer to the Walland end and looking toward the Smokies.

***Edited to Add:  I sat down and figured up the grade percent on this trip.  71%.  Way worse than the Porters Creek Manway, but shorter by far. So glad I did not know that fact prior to going.***
         

**Edited to add--On Friday January 22, 2021 I set out to write up the trip report for visit #2 to Gold Creek Falls.  I found this blog entry damaged having many missing images.  I have repaired it using the original photos from five years ago. 

The only exception being I could not locate the image I took of a slide area we came down.   Link to the trip report from Gold Creek Falls Trip #2  here.

Note to self: always include a link in the search boxes of the EXACT title of the blog entry.