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

Western North Carolina Weekend Camping with The Storeys

Kathy Storey gazing into the woods at a wet weather falls near Courthouse Falls

Western North Carolina Weekend Camping with The Storeys

11-7-2019 thru 11-9-2019

Dana & Kenny Koogler

Wally and Kathy Storey

Pix are here

   This is another abbreviated trip report because I have let things lapse to the point I must catch up.  It is also very hard to remember details after this many months.   Trying to get caught up so I can focus on getting back to writing the quality blogs I used to write.

       We planned a get away weekend to Adventure Village to hike and visit with the Storeys.     Wally was going to try to finish up the final falls on a list he'd been working on.  His last trip was to Sidepocket Falls.  It is a tough little hike and navigating to find the falls looked to be a challenge.   It was not one he wanted to tackle solo.   We felt the same way before hand and even more so after completing it.  

           We met up at Adventure Village.  We brought our camper and thanks to the cold weather they rented a cabin.   The first day we went out to try some short hikes.  We went to Roy Taylor Falls and a couple others.  It began to rain on us in earnest after we got to Roy Taylor Falls. Kenny and Kathy had enough of it and went back to the vehicle.  Wally and I were determined to see it so on we went in the rain!   It was comparatively short hike and bushwhack.  The falls was really pretty.  I was glad we went. 

 Roy Taylor Falls




Above is another roadside falls we visited. I don't remember the name of it.

   
            We went back to the camper and got dry and warm. We visited and planned for the next day.  Kathy has bad knees so Sidepocket was not a hike she planned on attempting. 

   The next morning started off cold.  We met up after breakfast and the three of us set off to Gorges State Park to find Sidepocket Falls.     We were close to the park so it didn't take long to arrive.   We followed Kevin Adam's directions and the couldn't have been any better.   We had far less problem locating the falls than we thought we would.  The hike is a bushwhack that gets harder as you go.
It is diving off a trail into the woods and down over a ridge to try to find a falls along the massive Horse Pasture River.   Kevin mentions in his book it is a place they train green berets.  Especially round Windy Falls.   We originally thought that since it wasn't that far up to Stairway Falls we'd go from Sidepocket up to it.
The plan was abandoned after seeing the brutality of it. 

     We were pleased to have found it and it was warming up a bit today.
We were treated to glorious blue skies, sunshine and Autumn colors in the gorge.
Sidepocket is a low, rumbling falls that is tricky to photograph.


Sidepocket Falls in the gloom of the gorge.


Astonishing Autumn colors in the gorge in the sunshine



Another look at Sidepocket Falls.  Sunlight and shadow are a harsh contrast down in this hole.

Above is about the best shot I took of Sidepocket Falls

 

Sidepocket Falls closer up.

   We turned and began our trudge back up the ridge through the brush.  It was tough for me.   I figured once I got to the top and back on the trail I'd be played out.  I believed that would be it for me today.  Once we got back up on the trail and done with the climb I found I had a second wind.  We made it down to see Rainbow Falls.   I did not have enough gumption left to go see Stairway Falls today.   Wally had done it! He finished his list!  Good man!

Rainbow Falls was running great today!

   We made the trek back to the parking area.  Though it was Fall I was burning up.   Started off cold, but got real warm.    We went back to the camper and got cleaned up.  We  had a good supper.  I don't remember what I fixed, but I'll never forget Kathy's chili.  Best chili I ever ate! I need to learn to fix it like that.  I could have made a meal on just chili and corn bread!  That woman can cook!

       The next day we got up and had breakfast and went to see Courthouse Falls and Cody Falls.  It had been a long while since I was at Courthouse Falls.  I had never seen Cody Falls and that is sad since it is 100 feet downstream!

Both were beautiful, easy hikes!

 Courthouse Falls and video is here

 Blue skies above Courthouse Falls

 Sun peering over the ridge at Courthouse Falls

 Massive fallen tree at Courthouse Falls

 Cody Falls and video of the falls here

Bottom of Cody Falls



Clear stream at Cody Falls

  Courthouse Creek flows onward

 Next we went to Headwaters State Forest.  We found and visited East Fork Falls, Graveley Falls and considered Reece Place falls.  We decided against that one because we had such sketchy directions. 

 East Fork Falls is an easy hike video of falls here 

 Side shot of the top of East Fork Falls

 First look at Graveley Falls from the bank.

 Graveley Falls once I have climbed down the bank. Video here

Sunny trail in Headwaters State Forest.  I really like this place!  I look forward to finding the other features in this new public land.

     We headed back to Brevard and stopped at Pisgah Fish Camp for a late lunch/early supper. It was delicious! 

         We had a grand time with this couple.  Grateful for friends.  They are super fun to be with.   Look forward to next time!

   

   

Camping Cabin with Gabe

Cabin Camping With Gabriel

October 20, 2019

Dana, Kenny & Gabe Koogler

Pix are here 

   One of the trip reports I am WAY behind on.   It has been so long I don't recall now why we chose to rent a cabin instead of take the camper.   We took our grandson Gabriel to Adventure Village in Cherryfield, NC.  It is about eight miles west of Brevard.  We stay there frequently.   

       Gabe loved the camping cabin.  We took his four wheeler and let him drive in on the grounds.  He enjoyed that.   He loved the little cabin and climbed up and down the ladder to the loft too many times to count.  He slept up there like a big boy.  I slept with him some just when I had trouble sleeping.  He's a good snuggle buddy.   It was very comfortable.  Way nicer than I'd expected. 

    We let him go swimming. The pool was still open.   He liked Tanner's dog, but the dog was not too sure about him.   We took him to the O.P. Taylor toy store in Brevard.   We went to Hendersonville out to eat and went thrifting.   He liked that.  He saw a cement truck crew pouring cement and that was neat.

         We went to Corn Mill Shoals one evening and he loved Camp Living Waters.    He did good on the ride over and back. He slept almost the whole way home.     He has talked about it ever since.  We plan to go do it all again this month!  

Gabe and Papaw at Corn Mill Shoals waterfall.

Coytee

Autumn wreath made for my "other son"... Andy 

Coytee

9/18/2019

Kenny & Dana Koogler

 We had to ride out to Axley Chapel for something back in September.   I don't recall what for since so much time has passed, but it is not important.  Our good friend and Kenny's co worker Andy Milsap lives out there and we were going to his house for something.   I rode along and took my camera.  It was a beautiful late Summer evening and I wanted to ride down past the house and go check out Coytee for myself.  Our son Jared used to swim at Coytee when he was in high school.

I had heard it was really pretty and a good hiking trail and swimming hole.  

        We headed out there and it is indeed a very pretty place.  Quiet.  Rural.

Not a lot to tell, but I wanted to make an entry with the photos of that evening. 

Below is a short video of the sounds of evening there on the bridge over the lake.