Autumn Camping Trip--Finishing my CMC Waterfall 100

  Stiff Gentian is one of the late Fall wildflowers

Autumn Camping Trip--Finishing my CMC Waterfall 100 

Dana & Kenny Koogler

Wally Storey 

Nov. 9 -11, 2018

Pictures are here beginning with frame 75
South Carolina Waterfalls 

  I was determined to finish my Carolina Mountain Club Waterfall 100 Challenge this year.

We usually take a Fall camping trip so I planned to get up with friend Wally Storey and finish my hikes. Kenny and I were celebrating our 34th Wedding Anniversary Nov. 10th also.   That is pretty good.... finish my waterfall list and celebrate 34 years of marriage at once. Getting to spend time with a buddy was also great.    We were planning to have a celebratory dinner at Scoggin's Steak House in Rutherfordton.    It all went to plan.  The only part that was a bit rough was that on Saturday 

we had rain for our hike to Confusion Falls.   A seven mile plus hike on a rainy day doesn't sound too fun, but it turned out to be fun despite the weather.    One thing for sure... when you wear rain gear you are going to be wet one way or another.   If you wear the gear to keep the rain off and exert yourself you will still get wet under your rain gear from perspiration.   

    We stayed at a campground just the other side of Chimney Rock.   We  arrived Friday evening and 

set up.  It was a nice quiet place.   We had time to drive back to Hickory and hike Bear Wallow Mountain Fire Tower.  I wanted to knock that off my lookout tower list while in the vicinity.  It was an easy hike and we enjoyed it.   

Above: Bearwallow Mountain Lookout Tower on an overcast evening.
Below: the view toward the South off the mountain bald

below: the summit had a couple odd structures. This one looks like a sardine can.

Below: I named this the Tree of Woe.  Remember the original Conan the Barbarian movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger?  Thulsa Doom ties him out in the desert to die with the words "Contemplate this on the Tree of Woe".   We had a laugh over that.


   The hike was pleasant, easy enough, and we made it out to the vehicle just as it got dark. 
We hiked the access road up and back down the actual trail on the return trip.  I was pleased to complete one of the last remaining ten lookout towers on my challenge list.  It was nice, but it won't ever be a favorite.     The neatest thing on the way back was seeing a gothic looking house through the trees.  It appears like an abandoned old house, but it is occupied.   Apparently it is either refurbished and occupied or new construction.  Very odd these days to see a house with a steeply pitched slate roof!

 
        The plan for the next day was to hike to meet our friend Wally Storey and hike to Moonshine and Confusion Falls at Asbury Hills Methodist Retreat.    We timed this visit to coincide with the open access dates for hikers, but also you have to notify them if it is on a weekend so you have a gate code.  The weather forecast was a gloomy one calling for cold and rainy almost all day.  We were determined to go no matter what.  We met Wally in the morning and we all donned our rain gear and set out after brief greetings.   He had been before which was helpful. These falls are not on official camp trails and require some way finding skill.   I had done a fair amount of studying up on the route, but it is not a hike I'd have attempted solo.   We were so glad to get to spend some time with Wally and catch up on the news it really made the day go by fast.   The scenery and trails at the Methodist camp are outstanding.  I would definitely like a chance to return and do more hiking there. I knew there were other falls along the way, but none of us felt like tackling the side trips to those with the rain coming down as it was.   

   The Autumn colors were real pretty in the forest.   Though the signs were pretty clear, I can see how someone could get lost trying to go to these falls.  There are a couple points on that ridge where you might think it was the spot to head down!  We found Moonshine Falls with no real trouble.   It was every bit as pretty as I'd imagined and more.   It had a lot of water coming over of course thanks to the rain.   Matthews Creek crossing on the cable was not bad and I was mighty glad we did not have to ford the stream without it!   Coming back over was a little trickier and we could tell the stream level had risen a fair amount. 

    We found the trek past Moonshine Falls to see Confusion Falls was shorter than we'd thought it would be.   It was well worth the extra few tenths of a mile to see the two falls below Moonshine.

 Moonshine Falls

 Confusion Falls twin cascades

An un-named falls between Moonshine Falls and Confusion Falls.

Kenny says there are a couple other nice falls below these.   Any return trips and we'll go see them and photograph them all provided it is not raining cats and dogs.

    The hike back was relaxed and uneventful.  We got back to the vehicles just in time for the rain to stop!  A camp worker who was a guide came by the vehicles to congratulate us on being so hard core!   He shared lots of interesting stories of things he had encountered on the grounds.  He asked if we saw any bears?  We informed him we had not.  According to him it is a wonder since they seemed to be plentiful.      We made plans to meet Wally the next day to finish my last hike and to hit up one he needed on his list. 

    Saturday morning dawned much prettier.   We met Wally in Rutherfordton at Scoggins and carpooled from there.    We headed out to hike to Pot Rock Falls in South Mountains Gamelands first.    We figured we'd hit that up first and then complete my last one.. High Shoals Falls. That area is always a pleasure to go hiking. It is mountains away from the mountains.  The country is pastoral and very pretty.   We encountered some hunters at South Mountains Game Lands who were very cordial.   We completed our hike to Pot Rock Falls and it was easy.   The morning was sunny, temperatures perfect and the Fall colors were very nice.   Pot Rock Falls is a smaller, but scenic falls that gets its name from the scooped out form of the rocks thanks to water flowing over them.

 Pot Rock Falls

 Upper cascade at Pot Rock Falls

 Sun peeping through the forest canopy.

Pretty streams and trails in South Mountains Game Lands

     We headed next to South Mountain State Park to finish my final waterfall hike.  I was with Wally when he completed his list and it was great to be with my buddy to finish this myself!   It has been a worthwhile pursuit.   I like challenge lists. 

     South Mountains State Park will easily be a favorite of mine.  It is such a pretty place with gorgeous scenery and Autumn colors.  I expect it would be pretty ANY season.  It was like a post card in its perfection.   It is a busy place with lots of fellow hikers, but the atmosphere was very happy and relaxed.   The hike to High Shoals Falls can be done as a loop and that is how we hiked it.
Clockwise loop for us.   There is something to see the entire way to the falls and beyond.  The scenery on the downhill portion of the loop is not as spectacular, but it was all nice.   It was not too hard at all.
Below : High Shoals Falls.. I am done!
 

 Above and below:  Fiery Fall colors along Jacobs Fork Creek

    We had a great day and we carpooled back to Rutherfordton.  We planned to have a celebratory dinner there for our anniversary and completing my list.   Wally had to get going so he did not join us.   We had a great meal and headed back to the camper tired and happy.

    Sunday we slept in and headed back toward Asheville. We stopped and went shopping on the way home.    It was a really nice weekend.   A goal completed at last.  Much needed change of pace.


Below a video of Moonshine and Confusion Falls

Below is a video of High Shoals falls

Chau Ram Camping Trip

Close up view of a Yellow Fringed Orchid growing near Long Creek Falls

Chau Ram Camping Trip

Kenny & Dana Koogler

Thursday August 2 thru Sunday August 5, 2018

Pix are here starting with frame 40 

   We finally got a chance to get away for a long weekend just us as a couple.  It was much needed.

I had a serious jones to get to work on my waterfall 100 list as I had only five left.  I had originally 

believed I could complete all four of the South Carolina waterfalls in a weekend.  It could be done, but  something else we both needed was some rest. Uninterrupted sleep at night comes at a premium

when you have a toddler.   We had checked around on the South Carolina Facebook group and gotten

a good tip on a spot for RV camping.  We took the new Küg-Mobile and down the road we went.

It was suggested we try Chau Ram County Park for RV camping.   We had been there in the past

for a day hike, but that was our only experience with that park.   

    I slept nearly the entire three hour drive down to the campground. I was not much company for Kenny, but the extra rest did me a world of good.  We arrived and weren't shocked to find that on a

Thursday afternoon the place wasn't packed.  We made the fourth camping group in the park.

We got set up and as late as it was we doubted we'd get any hiking done today.  We went to a fifth

wheel camper and it has been an adjustment for both of us.  We don't know where anything is. 

Lots of things we don't know how they work.  It will be awhile before this camper feels like home

away from home.    It was a rainy afternoon so we drove down to Westminster and

the nearby town of Seneca to see what was around. Walhalla, Westminster and Seneca  have all

grown up a lot since we were last in the area. All are big enough now to where you can find what you need.  Last time we were through there it was difficult to find gas stations, places to eat, or anything!

We rented some redbox movies and did some shopping in Seneca.   

          We planned to tackle Long Creek Falls the next day to clear one falls from my list of three.

We also planned to visit Brasstown Falls and drive down to Toccoa Falls.   Long Creek Falls is only
a 3.2 mile round trip hike rated as moderate.  I was using Waterfalls of Upstate SC for my guide info.
It seemed very straight forward and easy to understand.   The rain from the night before had stopped, and the morning was beautiful.  It was about seventy degrees and clearing.   We were going to have a good day.   I'd had this nagging feeling about Long Creek Falls that perhaps I'd been there before ,but
did not recall it?  I told Kenny and he laughed. He said he had the same feeling and wondered if when
we got there to see it .. all of the memory would come rushing back to us?   We passed the trailhead
for Oppossum Falls on the way.   I knew for sure we'd visited that one and Sid's Falls on the very same day.    New Years about 2008 or so. 

Above: yellow fringed orchid looking healthy and newly bloomed.

     The distant mountains looked beautiful and blue with wispy clouds surrounding them.
We passed a cluster of yellow fringed orchids. Kenny stopped to let me take pictures.  They were
the first ones I'd seen this season.   I also saw rattlesnake orchids, lots of cranefly orchids and later
Carolina lilies today! 

Close up of Cranefly orchid

Distant mountains of the Upstate.  

Pair of Carolina lilies--first ones of the season for me. First time ever seeing them in SC.

   We drove to the end of the road and parked.  The road sign for the trail continuation was snapped off at the ground!  I found it only by taking a close look into the weedy ditch where the remaining signs stood.    Lots of sundrops bloomed around the parking area. Pale pink frilly Joe Pye weed

was just getting started blooming in the area.    We loaded up our gear and headed down the trail.

The first problem came when we encountered an intersection not at 1/2 mile, but in about 1/10th of a mile! The left hand side had flagging tape tied off, but we guessed our best and kept with the right

side.   The ground was very soft and muddy in places.  Our directions mentioned a trail sign twenty-

five feet past the intersection.   We didn't see one.  No matter. We kept going.  We came to a spot

where the road had obviously been maintained within the last month or so.  Red dirt was torn

up and pushed into a berm and the trail seemed to disappear.   We began looking around.  

I found that on the right side the path could be picked up again while Kenny went left here.

Both side trails ended up the same place.. at an info kiosk.  We'd finally come to the intersection

mentioned in the book... at the big dirt berm.  Twenty five feet beyond it sure enough was a sign.

We hung to the right as the book indicated.  Now we were having serious doubts about the accuracy

of the directions.  We soon saw a spot where it was possible to head down and left toward the river.

We managed to avoid that spot for someone had placed a huge rock arrow on the ground indicating to keep right and continue.   

Above: Stone arrow point the way.  We obeyed this one.

     We came to another spot where it was possible to go down and left.  The distance we were to have hiked out was getting close to right.   We saw another small arrow pointing to keep going. Downed trees barred the way here.   I walked out about another 1/10th mile in an attempt to make sure we weren't wasting our time.  I did not see any more spots to go downward or left.   We headed down

down the steep, slick, muddy slope toward the sound of water.   I began to get the feeling we were

messing up bad.   We got to the bottom and I could see that the water was just the muddy roiling

Chattooga River.  Kenny was ahead of me and told me to wait a minute. He thought he saw something.  I had a brief moment of hope that perhaps we'd come to the intersection of Long Creek with the Chattooga and could at least go back the proper way?  Nope.  Here he came again.

Back up the slope we struggled.  I was very downhearted.  My heel began to hurt like crazy. I was 

so out of shape I fretted that I did not know if I'd have the energy to go down and back up even one more time after this?    We finally got back to the trail from our foolish mistake.  We should have

minded the arrow.   I lay down on the ground and rested.  I had a snack and a drink. I cooled off.

While we rested I asked Kenny if he had a phone signal? He said yes a good one.  I asked him to pull up Rich Stevenson's NCwaterfalls.com index and look up Long Creek Falls.

    Kenny did pull up the site and read the directions to me.   Rich's directions were spot on.

Why I had not printed them off and brought them to start with is a mystery to me.  I guess I trusted

the directions in the two guides I had.  I shouldn't have bothered with the books. They are bulky

and in this case misleading.   Rich is a real person and knows how to give directions in a most

excellent fashion.    We pressed on another 0.3 miles or so and the trail ended and the only

way to continue was down!  It was a much easier task to go down a trail and back up it than

a slippery, super steep bank holding onto trees and roots.    Long Creek Falls was there and we

found it at last.   It was murky and muddy from all the rain.  It was not as bad as the Chattooga,

but pretty bad.  We also could not get close to it because Long Creek as well as the Chattooga were at flood stage.   A slip while wading flooded Long Creek up to get a closer view of the falls could easily have meant getting washed into the Chattooga and drowning.    

Above: Not a very good looking Long Creek Falls.   

Above: a very flooded and muddy Long Creek joins the Chattooga.   Standing here  so close to that

roaring river was spooky.   We were in Deliverance country for sure.  I did not tarry long. I was ready to leave.      We went back up the trail and once again I sat down to rest.  It was humid as could be.

I was just tickled to have finally made it and be able to cross that one off my list. I could tell that

the visit to Riley Moore Falls over the next couple days was going to be a similar experience. It would be muddy and ugly  while we were in the area.  I had planned on swimming at Riley Moore Falls.  It was not going to happen.  I figured since the visit to the falls would be perfunctory let's just

go ahead and do it today. Get it over with and checked off the list.   
Above: blazing star bloomed all along the road to Riley Moore Falls
   Kenny questioned whether I'd be ok with hiking an additional couple miles. I told him I thought so.
My heel was hurting some, but I figured if I took my time I'd be alright.   We  headed in the direction of Riley Moore Falls.  I saw some pretty blazing star blooming along the road.    We parked and there was only two other cars there aside from us.   We read that the road was probably passable for high clearance, four-wheel drive vehicles.  Kenny chanced it with the truck.  It was in good shape and we were able to knock off quite a bit of the hike by parking closer.   It was a small consolation for the fact the falls were as muddy as I'd imagined.   Two other groups were down there.  We gave one man and wife a ride back up to their vehicles with us.    I want to go back and revisit this falls again if we
are in the area. I'd love to see it when it is clear and pretty.  I was disappointed about not getting to go swimming.  The Chauga River was brown and murky and running very swiftly. 

Muddy Riley Moore Falls. Only 15 feet high, but 100 feet wide.  I hope to return to see it when the water is clear.  It is a nice area.

     It was hot and we were tired and not in the mood to fool with anything more today.
We headed back to the camper to get cleaned up and relax.    I was thrilled to be able to say now
I had only three waterfalls left on my list!  We would get Lee Falls hiked tomorrow, and possibly
some of the other falls if we were up for it.

    We slept until 9 am the next morning so we were 10-10:30 am leaving to go hike.
We enjoyed the drive out to Tamassee Knob area to hike Lee Falls.    It was supposed to be a 3.2 mile hike rated as difficult.     Today I had read Rich's directions ahead of time and shared them with Kenny.   We had the book only as a back up source of info.  It closely paralleled Rich's directions though his were still spot on.    He didn't miss a trick in pointing out potential spots to get mixed up.
I hoped the hike today would be less confusing and a little easier on me.   I do better when the hike
has the climb up on the front end when I am fresher.   We saw only one or two cars in the parking area for Lee Falls. 

    We crossed the four fields one after another.  We made all the fords of the creeks with dry boots.
We were able thanks to Rich's directions to avoid making wrong turns.    We were surprised that today's hike was indeed easier and simpler than Long Creek Falls.   The forest was beautiful and smelled fresh and green.   The deep shade of the forest was much appreciated for its coolness
on a sunny Summer day.    We got to the part of the hike where the trail steepens and the climb through the boulders begins.   We knew according to Rich that it shouldn't be much further to the falls.  We encountered the first two hikers of the day.  Two fellows of retirement age sat eating lunch by the trail.  They asked us for assistance in navigating saying they'd tried to proceed straight ahead only to be turned back.  It was apparent to us that the trail forded the stream and went around a blown down tree that now blocked the way.   We told them we'd give a holler and let them know if it was correct or not.  We didn't go another 50 yards until I got a glimpse of the falls glistening through the trees. I hooted out for the men below us to know it was the way. 

   Lee falls stood before us white and beautiful surrounded by a dramatic cliff face and the deep
greens of Summer.   It was flowing thunderously.    Worth every bit of the effort required to get there.
We shared the experience with the two gentlemen who caught up to us.  We also saw a group of three
hikers who arrived just after we did.   Everyone was very laid back and thrilled to get to enjoy the sight of this majestic falls.   We climbed around getting different views of it.  It will forever be a favorite of mine.   It was a real highlight of our trip.   I was now down to two falls left!
I told Kenny "Lord help me if you ever get a list of things you want to work on!" He burst out
laughing at the irony.  You know I'd HAVE to go along because of how much he has put up with off me!   

Lee Falls in all its glory.  It looks very lush and tropical. 

     We took our time and ate lunch at the falls. We were the final ones to leave the area.
The hike back was fun and I got in the creek and splashed around to cool off.  I waded the creek in my boots not caring how wet I got or how muddy.   The creek felt marvelously cool and refreshing.
It made the hike out so much more pleasant.   We encountered one other hiker on his way in as we got near our halfway back point.

Above:  painting on a building in the historic district of Westminster
    The hike back through the fields was a treat for the senses.   I have always waded through deep grass in farm fields as a kid and later as an adult.   It doesn't bother me.  The sight of the fields framed
on all sides by deep green leafy trees and fence rows filled with vegetation.  The edges of the fields were bursting with bright yellow leafcup.   The spicy scent of the grasses as we trod them down.
It was a nice way to end the hike.   We were tired, happy and very muddy and sweaty.  We drove back to the camper for showers and a rest.   We both loved the roomy shower in the new camper.
We both slept soundly in the bed all of these things help make an RV grow to feel like home.

Old door on a building in the historic part of Westminster.
   I had gotten online and found a great looking restaurant in Seneca called the Copper River Grill.
We tried it for dinner. It was really good.    We went back to the camper and watched the new Tomb Raider movie with Alicia Vikander.  It was enjoyable.  We stopped in Westminster on the drive back to the camp ground and attended an old car show.  They had good music and some awesome old cars.
I am always a sucker for American Muscle Cars.  We had a fantastic Summer evening strolling around checking out the old cars.  Listening to oldies tunes.   The old buildings of historic
Westminster are amazing.  I felt like we'd gone back several decades.  We so needed a date night like this.   Soft Summer air cooling down with a nice breeze.   The sun starting to sink to dusk. Etta James singing Stormy Weather.   We finally made it back to the Chau Ram County Park.  We spent some time hiking on the grounds.   The Chauga and Ramsey Creek were both flooded and brown.
The setting is still pretty and we took full advantage of it.

   Video at the Car Show 

 GTO at the car show

 1971 Cuda --Westminster car show

 Loved the paint job on this old truck!

Thunderbird!  I loved this pimp mobile!

 Flooded Chauga River.. same river that Riley Moore Falls flows on.

Spurred butterfly pea.. these were the flower of the hour.  There were so many this weekend

they looked like lavender curtains in the forest!

    We had another good nights sleep.  All weekend long  the visitors to the Chau Ram County Park were sparse!  By Sunday morning we were the last ones!   The only thing we did not like about the campground?  The water stinks of sulfur and iron.  We used it to bathe and wash dishes, but drank bottled water and used bottled water for all else.   We plan to get one of those filtration systems

for the camper that will eliminate that problem in the future.   We couldn't help wondering why so few campers?  It could have been the forecast for the rainy weather.  It could also be that the 

smelly water keeps people from wanting to come back.  It won't keep us away.  It is a most convenient location and the facilities are very nice.   I did some reading before bed.

I read up on a couple magazine articles as to what can be done to make an RV feel more homey.

I read Dan Brown's novel Origin.    Another uninterrupted nights sleep!  

   Sunday we had to check out by noon.  We decided we'd hike to Brasstown Falls and Little Brasstown Falls and let it go at that.   The drive out to the trailhead was particularly pretty.

Lots of old buildings including a mill I'd like to go back and photograph on a subsequent trip.

We found one vehicle at the trailhead. A fellow and his dog were camped near Little Brasstown Falls.

Super nice guy who greeted us and advised us on the best way to ford the stream to see the falls.

In the previous two trips here we had NEVER visited Little Brasstown Falls.  It was really running great today and was clear and pretty for the most part. 

Below: Little Brasstown Falls

 Below: Brasstown cascade and veil..

We remembered hiking to Brasstown Falls.  Who could forget all those tree roots and exposed edge with drop offs?   The mist from the cascades and veil was so strong it made photography darn near impossible.   I did not bother with tripods and such.  The falls were murky as was the plunge pool.

We still enjoyed the hike and came away soaked from the spray!   

   Back at the camper we packed to leave. We were going to be about forty-five minutes late leaving.

Seeing as how we were the last ones there as campers we did not figure they'd fuss at us.   Kenny admitted he was dreading the three hour drive home.  I told him I'd be better company this time since I was rested and would be awake.   I also suggested we break up the drive home by making a few stops.    We did stop in Clayton Georgia to eat at The Wicked Pig for lunch.  Wonderful barbecue.

I loved their Lake Burton sauce.   Clayton is a nice little town.  We stopped a bit further up the road in Franklin and shopped and stretched our legs.   We found a new bedspread and sheet set for the camper.   We found some wash clothes and a piece of wall art for the camper and a door mat.

All things to make it our own.  These were good souvenirs from this trip and very useful.

All in all we had a good time and a much needed respite from our daily routine. 

The plan for the final two waterfalls?  We will  make another camping trip to the Hickory/Hendersonville area of North Carolina.  We'll drive down toward Caesar's Head and hike to Moonshine Falls.   We'll meet up with our friend Wally and hike to High Shoals Falls in the Morganton area and celebrate my completing the list with a meal at Scoggins Steakhouse in Rutherfordton.      I'd also like to hike to the Bearwallow Mountain tower site while in the area.

Lots to look forward to.

  I have a running list of things for myself to improve my blogging.  One of those things is to use

our Go Pro camera far more to make videos of a higher quality.  I think it is working out well. 

Easy to use and the video footage is far superior to my camera.   

Below is a video of Lee Falls.

Western NC Hiking With A Friend Working on Finishing our CMC Waterfall 100's

Gentian 

Working on Finishing Our CMC Waterfall 100's

Oct. 20 & 21st , 2018

Dana Koogler

Wally Storey

  During the time Kenny's job was going on in Augusta, Georgia I decided to do some 

fun stuff for myself with a friend.  I knew Wally had one more falls to complete his 

Carolina Mountain Club Waterfall 100 Challenge.  It was a potentially long hike too.

Bearcamp aka Hilliard Falls.   12 miles round trip or a boat access trip with a 3 mile round trip hike.   I did not particularly want to do either of those, but had figured out that by using my four-wheel drive jeep to drive Musterground Road we could do it easily.  It reduced the hike to
4.4 miles round trip.   I did not take a lot of photos on the repeat trip with Wally as I had just been there two weeks prior.   

   We set a time to meet at the Bad Creek Trail head parking lot.   I arrived about ten minutes late thanks to traffic delays.   I had driven over and on the way had come down with body aches.  By the time I got out of the vehicle to greet Wally I felt terrible.  I had started chilling until my teeth chattered.   He asked me if I was ok and I explained what was going on. I popped a couple advil tablets and determined that illness or not we were going to at least finish his last
hike on the list today.   

    We hadn't gotten far down the trail until I began to feel a lot better.  The cool, fresh air seemed to help me.   The exercise and conversation was also a nice distraction.  I could feel myself improving.  In about 20 minutes I felt completely better.   We enjoyed the forest and the quiet and the pretty scenery. It was great seeing Wally and spending time with an excellent friend.      It was really a satisfying feeling when we made it to the falls! He was done with his list!   Yay!   The falls had a little more water today than previously!

 Hilliard Falls

Looking downstream at the brink of the lower cascade

     The hike back was easy enough and went by quickly.   I still felt fine. We encountered one lone backpacker today.    He was not sure where he was going to stop.  He wasn't having a very good time.  He was moving too fast and making himself miserable.   We made it back to the jeep in good time.  We had decided to stop by the un-named falls Kenny and I found so Wally could see it.   We did this which did not take a long time.   

Above-- a neat rock grotto near the un-named falls.

 Un-named Falls

Lowest portion of un-named falls.

     We got back to the parking area and Wally's car.   I felt so much better and of course got all wound up and wanting to go do other stuff. More hiking.  Yet we sat and talked and I reasoned that if I over did it and ended up so sick the next day we couldn't hike I'd be angry with myself.   I felt the wisest decision was to go check into our cabins. Get cleaned up and go have dinner and rest.   Just visit with one another and relax.   I felt so good right now, but I had not forgotten how truly terrible I felt on arriving.   I never did get sick again thank the Lord.   I don't know what was going on with me.

   We checked into our cabins at Adventure Village. I thought we'd have cabins next door to each other, but instead mine was at the front of the campground and Wally's was all the way to the back.
I had some Mexican fellow as a neighbor. He was quiet enough, but not real friendly. 

    Wally drove this time when we went to eat supper. He even treated me to dinner!  He suggested we try the Pisgah Fish Camp.  He said it was good and he and Cathy had eaten there many times before.  I had never tried it.  I was sure glad we did.  I had oysters and they were outstanding.  It is a nice place to get a good hot meal for a fair price.  I can't wait to take Kenny back there.   We had a lovely dinner with good conversation and lots of laughs.  Lucky to have such a fine friend. 

     We went on back to our respective cabins and it wasn't long til I was asleep.  I laid everything out for the next days hike before going to sleep.  I considered sleeping in the loft, but did not want a concussion so I stayed downstairs.  

Shuck Ridge Falls 

   Saturday dawned cold and frosty!   It was supposed to warm up to about sixty degrees my afternoon.  We got breakfast and packed up our stuff. I packed us each a lunch.   We jumped in my jeep and set off to the trail head for Shuck Ridge Falls.  It is a long hike and Wally had done it before, but it had been many years earlier.  I had seen photos of it and it sure looked pretty in other folks photos.  I was looking forward to seeing it for myself.   I had heard it was a tough hike. It really wasn't bad at all from the direction we came in.  My original thought was to shorten it up by coming down off the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Brenda Wiley has hiked to it multiple ways.  She warned me that while that would be about half the distance it would be very difficult and nothing good to see on the hike in or out.    I was very glad to have listened.   

      The hike in was gradual, easy and the trail simple to understand directions. I had Rich's directions printed off from NC Waterfalls.com.  The photos included help you know you're on the right track.

I don't know when I've enjoyed a hike more.  It truly was beautiful and the Davidson River is one gorgeous cascade and clear tranquil pool after another.  Any repeat trips I'd go there in a hot second.

I want to return and enjoy each and every one of those cascades and pools. I also want to visit Right Fork Falls.   My hiking pole messed up on the way in.  I tried fixing it. Wally tried fixing it.  Finally I gave up and took Wally's suggestion. I left it at the intersection of the trail we'd take on the return hike.  I hung it on the trail carsonite stake since I figured if I could not see it I'd forget it.  He told me 

it was a bad idea, but I laughed about it. I said the thing was messed up and if someone stole it they were getting what they deserved!  

     We didn't go too much further til we encountered the falls below the Farlow Gap Trail that Rich mentioned.  We turned aside to see it. It was worth the short side trip. It is covered in some down fall, but still pretty and the water volume made it attractive.  It was an easy scramble down to see it.

        We ambled on and the trail grew steeper and climbed the ridge.  The sun was really out and the day warmed up great.  I shed a jacket.   The Autumn colors were so pretty. It was one of those perfect golden Autumn days I will remember always.   Blue skies, warm sunshine, golden leaves, fresh air. 

We dropped down the other side of the ridge through a campsite and before we knew it we were there!  We were crossing the stream above Shuck Ridge Falls.  The stream was hypnotically beautiful.  It seemed even clearer and bluer than the Davidson River if that is possible.  You could really see all the various colored stones and pebbles in the stream.  Too pretty for words.

Wally at the small falls. 

          We crossed and began working our way to the left.  I then saw what everyone had been trying to explain.   Shuck Ridge Falls is not a huge waterfall. It is about 25 feet high, but getting to the base is not easy.   One spot in the middle of the descent is very slick and covered in loamy soil with not much to hold onto.   I felt I would fare better with a rope to help control the climb down.  Wally obliged me by tying off a climbing rope.  It was much appreciated.   He was very patient with me.

Once we got past that middle part the rest was a piece of cake.    At last there we stood at the base of beautiful Shuck Ridge Falls!  It was even prettier than the photos could show. No substitute for being there and seeing for yourself.  

Falls below Farlow Gap Trail 

        Shuck Ridge Falls in all its glory. Photos don't do it justice.

  We sat and talked and ate lunch on the boulders at the base of the falls. We spent plenty of time there, but at last had to start the return hike.   We gathered the rope on the way up.  Up is always easier than down.   Once back across the stream and hiking back we encountered a lone runner. She was accompanied by her dog.   She was going up the trail to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We stopped and looked at the climb she was facing. We were very glad we did not have to deal with that.  We'd have been worn out with that long slog to the top.  

     We continued back toward the trail intersection. Our plan was to hike the loop to see different stuff. It had been many years since I saw Toms Spring Falls.  I was looking forward to it.  I'm not sorry we did this, but on any return trips I'll skip this part.  The trail is kinda pretty in places, but there is not much to see until you get to the bottom and the falls.  We encountered lots of hikers on this section of the trail.  Trail maintenance was being done with heavy equipment making the trail ugly.

It seemed like a looooong time til we got to the bottom and Toms' Spring Falls.  It was quite impressive today. Much moreso than the previous time I saw it. More water today.

Toms Spring Falls is massive!  

          We were worn out when we got back to the jeep.  I had forgotten Wally had to drive back home this evening.  I hated that, but he had some place to be the next day.   I thanked him for his company and I look forward to the next adventure.   He's a super nice friend.  We parted company.

      I headed back toward Brevard and on to Lake Toxaway.  I decided as tired and sweaty and dirty as I was I'd get a frozen pizza at the store and fix it in the oven at the cabin.  Thankfully I remembered that the oven is difficult to light and use. I also had no means to light it.   I opted instead to go for fast food at the drive through.  It tasted good since I was very tired and hungry.  I headed back to the cabin and got cleaned up and was asleep by 8 pm.  I was worn out.   

   The next day I packed up and headed home.  I had my waterfall list down to five left!

Wally had also helped me plan how I could finish them up.  I can knock out the four in South Carolina in one weekend. I can get that last one... High Shoals Falls at South Mountain State Park.

Wally wants to go if he can and revisit that. We will also hit up Pothole Falls nearby.  We can stop and eat dinner in Rutherfordton at Scoggins Steak House. Yum!!

        Also we can hike to Bearwallow Mountain and the fire tower site. I need that one to finish up my fire tower spots on the list.  I've only got ten left.  I think the funniest one will be Rendezvous mountain fire tower site.  Kenny can't pronounce it correctly, but his way is hilarious and stupid.

      

October Camping Trip with Kenny

Ladies Tresses Orchids growing along the Blue Ridge Parkway

October  Camping Trip with Kenny

Oct. 19, 2018  

Dana & Kenny Koogler 

   Kenny's job in Augusta did run over by a week, but the last few days everything fell into

place.  It wrapped up so we could leave and head back to Tennessee.  We stored the camper

at the trailer park, and made reservations to go on a camping trip the next weekend.  We 

would go down and get the camper and pull it back as far as Lake Toxaway and start our

vacation. Kenny had only taken a day or two off in five weeks! He was ready for a break. 

The drive home from Beech Island wore me out.  I don't like driving on busy interstate at 

night.   It makes me very nervous. Having Kenny behind me driving is like being pushed up 

the interstate as he drives like a NASCAR racer.   I am a slower, more careful driver.

I gotta say when we got to the rest area on the ride home he suggested we stop in Arden

and get a hotel for the night. I was doing high kicks in a tutu!  

      We went back in a week after Kenny had retrieved the rest of the equipment from down the road.

We made that long drive down there to get the camper, but it went smoothly and we made it back to 

the campground at Lake Toxaway. The first day of our trip was mainly travel.    We stayed at a 

place called River Bend RV Park. It was great!  Very friendly owners and hosts.  They run an 

awesome campground and we could not believe we hadn't stayed there before!  We will definitely be

coming back. 

 Above a view of the grounds
Below is the Kügler Haus mobile unit.

   One of the goals for the camping trip was just to be together and relax.  Another goal was to get some exercise and see some Autumn colors.  Lastly I wanted to work on completing my CMC Waterfall 100.   I had not done much with it this past year.   We arrived late the first night so we

just went to bed.  The next day we got up and got oriented and paid the campground owner.

We then set out to hike.  We visited the Blue Ridge Parkway. Wolf Mountain Overlook and 

hiked to Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields.  We got an early start because Graveyard Fields can be

very crowded and hard to find parking.   Wolf Ridge Overlook was pretty as was the whole parkway.

Saw a few Autumn wildflowers at the overlook.   

 View from the Blue Ridge Parkway near

A splash of Fall color 

   The hike to Upper Falls at Graveyard Fields is a short, easy one.   It is such a pretty area, but we avoid it almost always just because of the crowds.  It was crowded today as well and we encountered lots of other hikers. It was a Friday morning so it was not quite as impossible to cope with.   

Upper Falls is never going to be a favorite waterfall, but it was neat. 

 View of the stream at Graveyard Fields

 Fly fisherman casting near the bridge.  Look how clear the water is!

 Lower sliding portion of Upper Falls

Upper Falls proper.  It was a beautiful sight today neath those blue blue skies! 

         We visited with other hikers and their pets at the falls.  We had a snack and headed back toward the truck.   I had been waiting to see the new Kingsmen movie with Kenny. We had movie tickets to go to Hendersonville that evening to watch it together!  We had a nice date night and dinner to wrap up our day.  It was good! The cineplex in Hendersonville was very cool.  We also saw more of the town than ever before. It is a neat little town and we like it more and more!

 Day Two- Hilliard Falls 

     Saturday was our long day for hiking. We were going to try to drive my jeep all the way out

Musterground Road. I had figured out that if  we could make it out to a certain point on that road the hike to Hilliard Falls would be about four miles round trip as opposed to 12 miles!  Thanks Rich for

your awesome website and great directions.   I had printed the directions from Rich's website. 

They were spot on.  My jeep handled it like a boss and we were able to avoid the extra long hike.  

I told Kenny that if this worked I was going to set up a trip with our friend Wally. He needed this last falls to complete his Waterfall 100.   The hike was beautiful. The forest colors were pretty. It was good exercise and so quiet. We only saw two other hikers all day!  They had hiked in from the long way.  We offered to have them wait on us at the jeep and give them a lift back out, but they opted to 

go on as planned.  Foothills Trail is very scenic.

Hilliard Falls! We made it! That gets me down to six falls left! 

 Lower cascade of Hilliard Falls

A different view looking down the lower cascade.  I loved the sunshine on the water.  

  We sat and had lunch at the campsite below Hilliard Falls.   We then headed back on that long uphill trudge to the trailhead.  It was tough, but shorter than I expected.  About the time I believed we had quite a lot of uphill remaining I then corrected myself and realized we were done with the serious uphill!   The rest was level or only gradual ups and downs.   We started back out toward the main road driving slowly thanks to all the rocks, downed trees and pot holes.    I spotted a waterfall not mentioned anywhere on a side stream. We stopped and walked up to it to check it out. It was rather pretty!  I think Wally dubbed it Koogler Falls, but it really doesn't have a name.

     

Pretty cascading falls near Musterground Road.

          We made it back to the campground and got cleaned up and had dinner.  We were tired, but happy.   I now knew I could make the trip back over with my friend and see to it he got finished his list!

  Day Three--Assorted Falls 

  We did not have a big agenda once I knocked out the two list falls I'd wanted to see. 

Rather we had  a long list of maybes.   We started off going to Gorges State Park.  We hiked to Bearwallow Falls at the overlook. It was neat.  The views and the visitor center were pleasing.

We then moved on to other area falls. I had this nagging doubt as to whether I'd visited D.E.W. Falls in the past? I believed I had on the day we visited Johns Jump Falls, Slippery Witch and White Owl Falls.  I just couldn't recall it though. I told Kenny I wanted to go since it was so short. I figured if I HAD been before it might jog my memory.  We stopped by the trailhead for that falls on the drive back out to the main road.   We hiked to DEW falls and I am so glad, because I do not believe I had previously been!  That ended up taking another one off my list.   It is so pretty. I was really glad we visited this falls just because it was too pretty to miss. It would be a fun easy hike to bring kids back to play in the water.  

 Bearwallow Falls

Autumn colors at Gorges State Park

D.E.W. Falls in Autumn.  

         

 I liked this little clearing we walked through to reach DEW Falls.

And in keeping with my quirky Dana Bee tradition... the chair at DEW Falls.  Not a skillet, but it was

the best I could do on short notice.   This must be the time out chair for ..somebody.

Let the Bellyaching Begin! 

    We went on down the road and turned on Rt 215 to try to find some of the various lesser visited waterfalls along it.   Big Bearwallow Falls was a short roadside bushwhack.   I figured it would be a piece of cake.   I figured the rest of the falls would all be easy since while bushwhacks or creek hops were short.  I never learn.   We struggled down the steep bank toward Big Bearwallow Falls. We found it.  It was pretty and I'm not sorry we went.  The climb back up that mah was bad though. I was sweltering hot by the time we got up there. I had gotten jabbed with sticks and smacked in the eye by a sapling.   I was whining and complaining. I said I was DONE! Time to go home to the camper.

We were invited to a chili supper and football game watching party. I did not want to go with a black eye.   

Big Bearcamp Falls

    Kenny comforted me and was very sweet.  He talked me into a better mood on the way home.  

I was not interested in bushwhacking a long way to the other two falls in the area, but he convinced me to be a sport and stop at Lemon Falls. It is such a short hop over the bank. I was glad we stopped. 

I had lost all but one photo of this waterfall from a previous trip.   He found us a MUCH easier route to the base than what Cathy and I had used.  It was pretty and I enjoyed the stop.

 12 foot high Lemon Falls.

 Being down over the embankment and hidden in rhodo make it impossible to see from the road.

 Clear sparkly water at the base of Lemon Falls

Mica flecks in the water are like golden fairy glamor.

         We went back to the camper. I got in better spirits. Rested. Cooked chili.  Made cornbread.

Got a shower and got fixed up.  We spent the evening watching the UT Vols get whupped by Alabama's Crimson Tide.   The camera pan through the crowd of UT fans just screamed Mud Dogs from The Water Boy movie.  It was a fun evening and a good way to wrap up a camping trip. Making new friends.  Relaxing.   Better to go home still wishing for more than leaving wishing you had never come!  This way makes sure we'll be back!    

Below is a video of Hilliard Falls set to music by Enio Morricone.. Gabriel's Oboe