above Impatiens pallida blooming in the Pisgah National Forest, NC
Grandfather Mountain Camping Trip
**Edited to Add Notes to Self-- This blog falls under the category of cursory trip reports. That's what happens when you wait too long to write it up. **
We originally booked this camping trip for two reasons. Firstly our friend Wally Storey was going to make his 500th waterfall hike. Secondly we love the area and it had been many years between visits. We booked a stay at Grandfather Mountain Campground and made plans to do some hikes and some shopping in and around Boone.
We arrived and got set up and it was really nice. The weather was perfect. It was 70 degrees, sunny and the campground was beautiful. The stream flowing past is filled along its banks with sunflowers. We didn't do a lot on Friday. We checked out some antique stores, went shopping. I bought some art supplies and did some painting.
We planned to hike on Saturday to Lost Cove Falls both upper and lower. I think we planned some additional exploring off the Blue Ridge Parkway on the open sections.
We had hiked Lost Cove both upper and lower falls in the past at least twice. It is a short hike at only 1.5 miles or so round trip. We thought this would be easy. Oh how wrong we were.
We are 20 years old. Helene has wreaked havoc with the slopes and the falls. We made it there and back, but it was quite a different ordeal. We added to the effort by making a turn off a little too soon. We did find an upper, upper cascade on the stream though. It was kinda pretty, but nothing great.
We hoofed it back to the trail and continued a bit further until we found the real turn off to the right that lead down to Lost Cove Falls. It is a steep slope, not child friendly, not old lady friendly, and has ropes for parts of it. I had forgotten all of that. I edited out all that stuff and just remembered it being such a pretty waterfall the other visits.
above: an interesting feature of Lost Cove Falls. The majority of its volume goes down this little swirl hole and disappears!
Despite the ropes and steep terrain it was worth the work to reach Lost Cove Falls.
Below is a video of it that better shows it off.
Lower Little Lost Cove Falls -- Don't Do It
We were using Kevin Adam's directions which were spot on. The changes to the terrain did not really matter as far as way finding. It was just tougher. Nothing for it. We had to do a fair amount of working around fallen trees especially in this "off trail" part. We worked our way following the path of least resistance. We tried to stay with the little bits of flagged, roped routes we found. It didn't make much difference. I had forgotten how incredibly steep the slope was here. Kenny was wonderful being my cheerleader and helping me break the trek down into smaller more manageable goals. Sometimes just getting fifty feet from one tree to the next is good since its progress. We finally made it to the base and it was a big let down as the debris and the lack of water flowing made it a massive effort for little pay off. It won't be back to this one.
Above: about the best view you could get of Lower Lost Cove Falls.
Below is an example of all the debris.
Below is a video clip that shows what it was like.
The struggle back uphill was daunting, but with Kenny's help and encouragement I made it.
It had grown much warmer from when we started so we made our way to the stream and soaked our shirts with cold water before beginning the climb back out. It helped a bunch.
We were mighty glad to see the actual trail and despite my complaining it popped up faster than we imagined! Whew! The forest was so green and pretty and smelled nice. The trek back to the vehicle was uphill, but gradual so that was a mercy. We could here people down in the woods to our left on the hike back out. Never did see them. There had been one truck at the parking spot when we set out.
Perhaps that was who we heard? Stranger still was getting back to the end of the spur road that leads to Lost Cove Falls to find an old black Ford ranger parked in the middle of the road with a scotch under one wheel! We wondered if we'd even be able to leave? Thankfully we were able to squeak past him.
The tailgate was down as if something was unloaded and he left it parked here. We could here activity below this area in the woods. Kenny was not happy about it, but remarked perhaps the person had engine failure and walked out to get help.
above: we passed a large natural area on the roadside that had all three colors of jewelweed growing together! orange, pale yellow and bright yellow! I'd never seen that before.
Below are some yellow composites that were also growing alongside them.
We were supposed to hike with Wally and Company to Chestnut Cove Branch Falls the next day.
After today's ordeal we were so sore and stiff we let him know we had overdone it and would NOT be joining them sadly. He was very understanding. The next day we visited Howard's Knob Park for the view and Payne Branch Park. We did easy walks. We went antiquing in Boone at The Front Porch. We were going into the big shop in downtown Boone, but could not find parking. We decided there was nothing we wanted to look at that was worth putting up with this snarl of traffic.
The Rocking Horse Antique Gallery in Crossville has ruined me for all other antique shops. It has set a standard that is hard for other businesses to meet. The Front Porch was nice though. I am not a clutter bug and won't just buy something to say I bought it. I have to have a use for it. We already inherited a lot of these type antiques from family so we don't need duplicates. I did see a Barbie Camper Van that was exactly like the one I had as a little girl!
Howard's Knob Park
Above: view from the Sky Bridge out over Boone.
Below: Looking down from the platform you can see padlocks attached to the fence. No doubt signs of couples "love forever". I'm going to be sick.
Below: the curve of the sky bridge.
Below is a short video of the beautiful view
Payne Branch Park
Below: massive boulder along the path
Below: a close up of the ripples in the stream
We enjoyed Payne Branch Park. We got some exercise and worked out some of the stiffness and soreness from the previous day.
We had a good camping trip and Monday morning we headed home. Our souvenir of the trip was a couple shrubs from Mountaineer Garden and Landscaping. We got a Kodiak Jet Black Dervilla which is a cultivated bush honeysuckle. We also got a Firelight Tidbit Hydrangea bush. I got Crystal a Giddy Goose for her classroom. She and her students named it Jolene! I'll have to get a photo of Jolene to share. She had been wanting one and the landscaping place had a good deal on them.
All in all it was a nice get away trip.
Below is a video of Payne Branch that is short and sweet.
