Back to Skinner Mountain

First bloodroot flower of the season 

Back to Skinner Mountain 

Sunday March 19, 2017

Dana & Kenny Koogler 

Pictures are here starting with frame 467
 Skinner Mountain Pix Spring 2017

  We got home at a decent hour on Saturday evening. Even after eating dinner out it was only around 6:45 p.m. when we got home.  Kenny was particularly tired from work on Friday so I told him to sleep on it before making any final decisions as to what we would do Sunday. 

We had planned on going to Jamestown to explore, go four wheeling and visit friends. 

He woke on Sunday and felt froggy so we got up and headed out. I knew how this was going to turn out. It never matters how much we say we need to wrap things up at a decent time and get home.. if we are with John and Sharon it won't happen. Why? Because we get to talking and having fun and don't want to leave.    

      We got over to Fentress County by 10 a.m.. We stopped at John and Sharon's house to say hi to John before we hit the trail.   Sharon was in North Carolina and not to be back until later.

John was in the house relaxing.  We greeted him and Otey the pup and we went on our way.

We thought we'd go into Buffalo Cove and try to find Garrett Falls.  Several years ago we went up to see Deer Gap falls from way down in Buffalo Cove. It was novel because we had never come in that way.  On the way up the trail we got to a spot that was deep and rocky. I remember saying we needed to go down in there to explore because I knew something was there.   Turned out to be correct because I later learned from Tennessee Landforms that there is another falls back there we have not seen yet!    

      We got down in the cove and found the intersection of Buffalo Creek and Garrett Creek.. a tributary stream.  We started up from there.  The terrain was steep, rocky, and slippery in places.   It was not long until I began to have trouble with my right knee.  I was protecting it with each step. It was taking me forever on account of that.  I felt like I was one false step away from seriously injuring the knee.  Kenny and I talked it over and decided we'd best tackle this another day.  I was not wanting to end up with knee surgery or off my feet.  We were also not focused because we were trying to cram way too much into the day.    We headed back over toward Skinner Mountain. I was so in hopes some wildflowers would be in bloom.  

Below are a few photos of what the terrain in Buffalo Cove was like.  

Open woods, but no trail here and rocky ground. Holes in between rocks! Kenny stepped in one that was rather spooky.

W e started trying to go up the stream bed. It was very rocky and slick.  Then we'd come to places that would force us to go around and get up on the bluff. then back down! 

Looking back up the bluff before I had to climb up again here.  Up and down we went.  In a very short span we were all over the board.  Pretty view of that glorious blue sky and sunshine!  Sun spot on the photo, but I kinda like how it looks. It is like a mini rainbow.

The un-named creek has some interesting features. That water chute looks small here, but it is about twenty feet high.  I am way up on the bank for this shot.   

Onward to Skinner Mountain

One nice thing that helped us hurry up and changed plans toward Skinner Mountain and exploring?  We tagged the RZR to be road legal on secondary roads.  No more loading it up and moving on short trips. We can just go from one point to another without any worries of getting a ticket.  It really saves time and energy.  The road up to Skinner Mountain is always rough, but today was the worst I've ever seen it.  Deep ruts cut into it from water erosion.  We decided to hold off on eating lunch until we got down in Lost Cane.  Once we arrived there we stopped and had a quit bite of something before taking off exploring.  I knew I was still going to have to be careful of that right knee. We started seeing water flowing down the trail right after making the left turn to head down.  Despite this the first three waterfalls barely had a trickle coming over.   It had rained the night before, but it didn't help out with that.  The fourth and fifth falls were flowing though!  The fifth waterfall comes out of a cave and re-enters the ground in two swallets.  It was the most water we'd ever seen shooting out of it!    We were seeing a few Spring wildflowers now.  Today was the earliest we've ever been down in Lost Cane.  The forest was still pretty bare.    Once I got to the edge of the sinkhole I could start to see trout lilies!

  Below is a video of clips strung together from that day.  It shows some of the various features we saw.  I am trying to learn how the trim and split tools work on movie maker. I am learning, but it is a slow process.  I get angry and have to set it aside then come back to it once I've cooled off.  Try try again! 

Here is a glimpse of one of the prettiest patches of wildflowers on the slopes today.

 Here is my short cut hole.  I used this to beat Kenny getting to the waterfalls the first time we came down in this place. Race to be First.. thru the rabbit hole

 Waterfall #5 above.. it runs year round.  It is a cave spring.

Waterfall #4-- It only flows when we have rain heavy and recent. It rained hard last night.  Usually when the river trail is too high to ford these are a good place to go visit.

      We enjoyed the dirt ditch climb...and time down in the sinkhole.  It was glorious. It was the most sunlight I have ever seen down in there!  It is usually dim.   By the time I got to the bottom my legs especially my right knee were like jello. Very shaky.  Having a rope today helped.
We climbed back out which is always easier than going down.  We headed on down the trail. We could see very quickly that below this part of the sinkhole there was no more water flowing.
We pushed onward toward waterfalls #6 and #7. Falls #7 was running, but six was dry as a chip.
Waterfall #7 is another spring fed falls and runs year round.  The flow from it enters a swallet.

 Huge mossy boulder on the way to the waterfall.

Waterfall #7 looking good today.

Some botrychium .. grape fern species.. down in Lost Cane.

Spring beauties in bloom. 

toothwort just opening

  Today it was good to be in Lost Cane, but having seen how marvelous and abundant the wildflower display down there can be... all this visit did was whet my appetite for more. Hope I get to go back and see them at peak.  I also love how the area is so wild and wooly and looks like a Southeast Asian jungle in warmer weather.   I love knowing that there are people who fear Lost Cane and won't go down there.  I hope they keep on feeling that way and stay out! 

       Back to Frank's Flume

   

      We wanted to visit Frank's Flume today since we bet it would look really cool with lots of water coming out.  It flows year round, but it does vary depending on rain fall amounts.  We headed that way and it was open, but rough going in places.  The trail is narrow and there is always lots of vegetation to fly back in your face.   We started seeing mossy green rocks and logs. We passed the old shack falling down.  We could hear water flowing.  Soon the trail and the stream were one and the same.  

           The trail is on the right and the stream is on the left.  Water coming down both.  See the pipe in the stream?  That goes way far back in the holler.  It was a water source for someone at a point in time. We do not know anymore than that.  Below is a video of Frank's Flume. It shows the swallet where it disappears, the flume itself, and the stream below it and above it.  We have seen water in the creek above the flume before, but not like this.  Today was the first time seeing it go all the way back the holler further than we could see.  I plan to follow it back for I am feeling that pull I get when something is waiting on me.  First time I've heard from my muse in a spell.  I'm following the call even if I get back there and all she tells me is that she was trying to find out if I could still hear her. 

       We enjoyed exploring back in that holler a bit.  We checked out several particularly pretty places along the stream.  Small cascades and rills coming down. I saw a few wildflowers beginning to bloom as well, but less than in other areas.  I can hardly wait to go back to see what is waiting for me to find it.  I had no idea when I first heeded the call of this siren just what lay in store for  me.. for us both.  Friendship, joy, sorrow, beauty, laughter, and life. A new chapter of life was waiting me.  It is not enough for me to see my own life turn out well. It blesses me to see other people's dreams come true also.  

    We headed up the hill on that wild trail that takes us out.  We wanted to go down Bill's Creek next. 
See how things looked back in there.  We'd make a big loop out of today.  I just told Kenny I did not want to go on any snipe hunts today. I was not in the mood for that stuff.  We didn't, but then things did not go exactly smooth either.  Once up on the trail leading out we found lots of downed trees. 
Downed recently enough they were not going anywhere unless they were cleared by us.  Kenny did most of the work, but I got out and helped him a little. Mostly I just prowled around.  Good thing too because I found an access point to the side holler I wanted to explore next. No time for that today, but that is next trip to be sure.  We also spotted an old house site.  It has a big chunk of the dry stone wall foundation and the tater hole still there.  It also has fencing still around it.  I checked the quad map once I got home to see if it showed up on the map. It doesn't.  That tells me it is REALLY old.  A lot of times when you look at maps a current house or old home site will be indicated by a tiny black tick mark.  Looks like this one is so old it is unknown and unseen by most.   Once all the trees were cleared to where we could exit we finally made it to the main trail and out to Manson Road.  

        

 Nice cluster of bloodroot blooming in the sink of Frank's Flume

 This is where all that water goes.  No water at all flows from the area of Frank's Flume into the other hollow of Little Saigon. 

 Massive sycamore tree with lots of beautiful moss on the trunk. Several of these down here.

         Frank's Flume at high volume flow. 


      We did not mess around long on our way through Bill's Creek. We were running out of day light.
We were supposed to meet up with John and Sharon for supper.  The area was not very pretty as it was dead and wintery still. Kenny slowed down once to leave Sharon a voice mail as to where we were and what time we'd arrive.  He also stopped briefly to eyeball a spot he thinks is a trail he has been hunting.   We wished we had time to check it out more fully.  No time for Big Piney today either. Bummer.   We did stop before the end of Bill's Creek for Kenny to look about some things in one final spot.  I got out and waded through the weeds and up to 55 Gallon Drum Falls. I thought it might be flowing better today, but it was about the same. Still pretty.

         
Drum Falls.  The essence of Fentress County, Tennessee.  A testament to people's ingenuity.
Folks round here come up with all sorts of ways to get water for homes. I expect that is what went on here.
*edited to add- Fentress County is one of the poorer counties in the state. I've had people fuss about the photo of the drum left in the falls calling it litter.   I do not believe for a minute that is what went on here.  The area has numerous places rigged up as springs where folks go get water containers filled and take them home because they do not have running water. Don't judge!

        We made it back to the cabin and Sharon was home from North Carolina.  We visited some and finally decided on a quick, easy supper in town.  She was exhausted from her long drive.  We just went to Pizza Hut and had salad and pizza. It was wonderful.  I was so hungry. I think we all were.
We always get to visiting with them and cannot tear ourselves away.  We ended up having a marvelous, much needed time with good friends. I talked to Cathy on the way home too!  Great to hear from her.   So much catching up to do.  By the time we got home we were so tired we brushed our teeth and went straight to bed.  I had leaves and sticks in my hair. That meant I sat in Pizza Hut with all that mess in my wig! hahaha! No one there would be surprised or think it odd.  They are used to seeing me muddy and dirty, but happy.   Looking so forward to the next visit.

**Edited to Add**
The following Monday night I was studying the maps of the area where we went riding and hiking.  I was looking particularly the best way to get into that side holler on foot. In doing so....... I found the trail Kenny has been looking for!  Now that we have a little better understanding of the lay of the land it made more sense to us.  We hope it is there in reality. Satellite images seem to indicate it is real!


Here is a final video of 55 Gallon Drum Falls in the waning evening light.  We did make it out before sunset.  Hard to tear ourselves away.

Rock Castle Gorge, Mountainview Arch & Falls, & Christian Tunnel

Hepatica blooming in December near Rainbow Falls and Pit

Visit to Friends in Jamestown for Fun & Birthdays

Friday Dec. 11 -Monday Dec. 14, 2015

Dana & Kenny Koogler

Sharon McGee, John Ungerer

Klaas & Betty DeJong

Pictures are here: 

Rockcastle Gorge Trip Pix

    We had scheduled a trip for a pre-Christmas get away.  Kenny wanted to use up some remaining vacation days before he lost them.   We made reservations to rent the studio cabin at Maple Hill RV Park & Cabins.    We would not have to haul the camper which would be less work for Kenny. 

We would do a combination of four-wheeling, visiting, and hiking.   I had a list of potential places

we wanted to see. Many of them included finally getting John & Sharon back to see places we had told them about, but as yet they had not visited.   

     I had an appointment Friday morning at 10:15 am for my doctor visit for a yearly physical.

I had already rescheduled it once because we had made plans to go out of town to play.    I was not about to do it a second time.    I took Michael to school and afterwards I came home and finished packing.    I made it to my doctor visit and got a good report on my health.   My blood work, vital signs and everything was great.  I am healthy.   I was home at about 11:45 or so.   We finished packing the truck and off we went.   We stopped for lunch on the way over.  It was about 2:30 pm when we arrived.  We checked in with Betty and Klaas at their house and visited.  John & Sharon showed up next and we all talked and laughed.     We got checked into the cabin and Betty reacquainted me with how that all went. We had only rented the cabin once before and I could not recall everything about it.    It was simple and easy.

          I wanted to try to squeeze in one activity this afternoon before the sun went down.  

We headed out to try to visit Magendanz Falls before sundown since it was not far off.   It was over in Allardt.    Sharon had said she wondered if we'd have enough daylight to do it?  I believed we would,but I don't accurately gauge the sunset in the central time zone in Winter.   It gets dark fast.

We pulled into the first spot we thought we might hike to the falls. It was a different spot than we had ever tried before.   Parking along here was not going to be a problem, but it was not great. 

Before us lay a huge thicket of briars, brambles, and scrubby undergrowth.    Kenny refused to go through it.  We went back to the power line we had approached before. We'd hike in from there and make a turn where the track from the first spot today came down to meet it.   We found the gate locked and chained.  Additionally it had fresh signage POSTED. NO TRESPASSING right on it.

It is a power line easement so I doubt they can legally do any of that, but it was not a good indication.

It was getting dark very fast.   Kenny said we'd have to do something else.  I suggested we go down the road and visit Mountain View Arch and Falls.   That is what we ended up doing.   I was feeling rather negative and expected to find access barred.  Thankfully it was not.

            We did find the very back part of the old abandoned golf course gated, but no matter.

It was a very short walk round there to where the arch was.  We pulled over and walked the old golf cart paths toward the arch.    It gave me a chance to see something that I had not noticed before.  I believed the water source for Mountain View Falls was a pond above it.   I believed it would never have much water on it because of the pond controlling the flow.   It turns out the falls comes from a stream and a spring.  We could hear it as we approached!   We found the arch with no trouble.

Today we would prove it was possible to reach it by way of the North corner of the arch instead of going further out and down the slope.   We had rope with us, but did not need it.   Plenty of rhodo and trees to hang on to.   Once we got down a certain distance we were in no danger of falling. We just walked under the arch and over to see the falls at the other end of it.     It was too dark down here to get decent photos.  

Looking back up through Mountain View Arch 100 x 30.   

 Mountain View Falls is 25 ft tall.    

         We did not linger too long because of the growing darkness.   We crawled back up the slot at the edge of the arch.  One tricky spot where a rope would have been nice, but we made it.  I got very dirty.   Back at the campground we visited with John & Sharon.   The cabin looked nice where it was decorated for Christmas!   We decided to get cleaned up and go to Mana Fresca  grand opening night to eat.   It was fantastic! Authentic Mexican food that is a great value and a fun dining experience.

The Garcia family runs it and they are extremely nice folks who have not lived in Fentress County long.  I'm sure it is a shock to move from Los Angeles to Jamestown.   I can't even imagine.

We lingered over dinner.  Finally we were weary and headed back to Maple Hill to turn in. 

We decided what we'd do in the morning and went to bed.  

Saturday

    We got up Saturday morning and Kenny fixed breakfast.    We packed lunches and met up with John & Sharon over at their property.  They have begun the house building.   They ran into problems with the block layers and suppliers and contractors creating stress. I felt bad in that I did not want them to feel obligated to go if they did not want to.  They ended up going anyway as it appeared after several attempts and phone calls there was nothing for it.    We visited Rainbow Falls & Pit Cave and then on up to Blue Hole Branch Falls beyond that.   It is a relatively short, easy hike and the rain
had them running.  Sometimes they dry up to where they are not flowing.   Today was fine.  It was warm and pretty outside.  Just right for hiking.  I figured a short hike and we'd head back so if there was any business open for a solution for their block supply problems......... there might be a way to work it out today.    

 Sharon and Kenny looking down into Rainbow Falls Pit. It is 110 ft tall.

 Kenny checking out Blue Hole Branch Falls.  I was pleased this was running.

Big smile on John's face despite a lumpy start to the day.  Making the best of things.
We're standing in the right side approach channel to Blue Hole Branch Falls. It is very cool.

 We hiked through briars and brambles back to see all this.  It was a rewarding hike. Worth the effort to see these things.    It felt very good to finally bring my friends here to enjoy these spots.
We went on back toward Jamestown and more efforts were made by phone to try to remedy the building supply situation to no avail.   Frustrating.   At last Kenny and I went on a short ride since we couldn't fix the situation and the day was wearing on.    We were right there at the base of Skinner Mountain.  The only thing either of us really cared about going to see was taking the "back way" in to Frank's Flume.    That would be just right to fit into the amount of time we had left for the day.
We passed Ricky Roysden along with several other dirt bikers on their way out as we were headed in!  We spoke to him briefly and they had to scoot.  He said a lot of the kids with him had a birthday party they were supposed to attend later.  

           Kenny did an awesome job of finding the other way down to Frank's Flume.
It was rough and parts of it really did not look like a trail.   I am trying to decide about leaving it in the Skinner Mountain Guide or taking it out.  I am leaning more in the direction of taking it out.
Even with Kenny's knowledge we missed a turn on it and the "trail" is practically non existent in places.  We were just running over saplings and to me that is just making a way... not riding a trail.
I kept insisting something was wrong when we stopped losing elevation and the conditions kept growing worse.  Kenny is like a beagle after a rabbit sometimes. He won't quit but keeps going despite the lack of results.  We did not go very far at all until he stopped and admitted I was right.
I asked him to just back up which he did.  To our right and heading down the hill we had gone past the turn.  I knew we had to go DOWN the slope to reach Frank's Flume.    We had a fun roller coaster type ride the rest of the way to the flume.    It was flowing , but not a lot different than last time.

 Frank's Flume

Old shed below Frank's Flume.

   I refused to go back the way we had come down.   I wanted to just go round and back up Lost Cane.
That is what we did.  On the way past Frank's Flume and back toward Lost Cane I noticed Kenny kept watching the woods to the right.  I asked him what he was looking for?  He said he was watching for a road to intersect on that side. He said he believed there should be one, but it was probably very over grown. I knew that Bill's Creek was near by and just on the other side of the ridge. Between the flume and just before the wooden shack we did see an old logging road coming in from the right!  It was extremely overgrown not being traveled in a long time.   He said he will come back and cut it out so we can use it.  We shall see.  :-) Today Lost Cane was open with no downed trees covering the trail.  Two of several waterfalls were flowing. #5 and #7 were running. They both come out of the ground and go right back in the ground.

             We ended our day dirty, muddy, briar scratched , tired and happy.  We wanted something quick for supper and were so dirty.  We enjoyed the balmy evening by grabbing a quick bite at Sonic.
Santa was there along with a tiny puppy, an elf, and a dancing Tater Tot.  Saturday frolic in Jamestown! Yippee!

                Sunday

Rock Castle Gorge

         
     

   Sunday morning we woke and I had a hankering for a biscuit and gravy breakfast from Hardees.My way of celebrating my wonderful cholesterol level at my doctor visit. The great news? I'm made like my Dad. My cholesterol ratios are such that it isn't a problem for me now and is not likely to be ever.   I'll live to be 100.   We had time constraints because unknown to John and Klaas we were planning a joint birthday party dinner for them.  It was Sharon and Betty's doings.  We were just along for the ride on that deal.   We had to be back, cleaned and dressed and ready for a birthday dinner at 6 pm Central time.     We decided to hit up Rock Castle Gorge to take Sharon and John down to see the falls in there. It was nearby and a relatively short adventure. Another motivation for me was that I had lost all my images of that except for one video.

          We met at Hardees and had a leisurely breakfast.  They followed us through town and we pulled over at a power line easement and parked and walked from there.   Something about it was different than before. I knew there had been some change, but after some hemming and hawing we figured out we WERE at the correct spot.   We later realized the dirt track was changed because of a nearby church purchasing land and the road was moved over a bit.  It was a short, easy hike to the rear of a housing development. It lies at the rim of Rock Castle Gorge.  We found a split in the bluff
and descended.   It was easier than I remembered and no ropes required.  

        We worked our way gradually down hill and among the boulders.  In no time we were within sight of Rock Castle Falls.   It was flowing great today!  The setting in that beautiful deep green hemlock gorge was just perfect!

Rock Castle Falls.. the one that is on the Tennessee landforms database.

              

Below is a video of this falls and additional ones we found in the gorge below it.  We had been here several times, but today was the hardest and most fun, most rewarding!   Having friends along to visit it for their first time gave us inspiration and courage to keep going!  We found so much more below the first one.  The weird thing is that the waterfalls while impressive appear dwarfed by the house sized boulders surrounding them!



  The best part of today for me?  Climbing around the boulders and checking out various views of waterfalls I climbed up on a huge fallen hemlock tree trunk.  I walked the entire tree out to its end and THIS vantage point that made me gasp.

The last four feet of the log stuck out over a house sized boulder beside it with a huge drop below it.

I was not able to shoot video steadily from a stance here, but did manage to stay steady enough to get photos!  Great progress for this brain damaged old lady!  My balance and coordination are improving!  There is hope for me yet!  I laughed and said Jay Walker would swear my carrying on at Medley Arch and Sinking Falls was fake and it was just for attention! ha!

       We crawled around here checking out an additional five waterfalls below the first one.  Two of them were twins that emerged on either side of a huge boulder!  The photo below illustrates part of that, but again...... it makes the falls look puny compared to the rocks!

        

The terrain down in Rock Castle Gorge.  400 feet deep.  We were all dreading the climb back out of that hole.  I missed my perfect chance for one of Marlene's "Dead" poses after completing only a fraction of this climb.     There was not enough level ground to lay down for a photo! What's funny when you're in the midst of something like that? The thought crosses your mind Well if I die doing this at least I don't have to hike anymore!  I can rest!

  Moan, groan, huff and puff as we did ...we still managed to make it out and once up at the bluff line it was easy from there.   We had the worst behind us.  Sharon kept telling me how many times I'd already said that.  I lie to myself to try to feel better.  We sat on the tail gates of the trucks and ate lunch.   It was a beautiful, warm day.    They went back to Maple Hill worn out but happy.

We wanted to squeeze in one more something?  Kenny said we'd try to ride out Darrow Ridge Road and see Christian Tunnel.   

Christian Tunnel

            All the years we'd visited the area we had not once ridden out Darrow Ridge Road.  It is a very pretty area.  It is partly housing and residential and part outdoors opportunity!   Many of them!  Lots of land forms and trail heads out here to be discovered.  We had to follow the rough road all the way out to its end at Christian Cemetery. ( It keeps going, but only as a trail or bike path beyond that point).  We parked at the cemetery and I checked out a few of the old graves.  Many were marked by very old clay bricks.   Southern Clay Brick Manufacturing Company. I don't know if "Christian" cemetery denotes a religious affliliation or someone's surname?  One guy had a menorah on his headstone which appears more Hebrew!   There is no trail to Christian Tunnel. We had to off trail it to find it.   At least it was short.  0.22 miles from where we parked to it.   We found it first try.

I took land marks on the way there, but it was no use.  On the way back we got screwed up and everything looked the same.  Thankfully the GPS tracked us back safely to the truck.

           Christian Tunnel is worth a look. It is a rock house or arch that is 120 ft through.   Has a front and back door. It has the most liesegang weathering I've ever seen hands down!  Prettiest too.  It was all over everything. 

Front door of Christian Tunnel.  Kenny in the picture for scale.

 Back door of Christian Tunnel

 Liesegang Rings on the walls of the rock house outside

Another huge rock house next to Christian Tunnel with more split of chunks of liesegang patterns. 

The view of sunset looking out across Darrow Ridge Road on our drive back out.

           I grew up surrounded by sage fields in Barren Ridge.  It was pretty to me then as a child. I still love seeing those settings as an adult.   Darrow Ridge is such a place.   We saw a few folks out there besides us,but it is quiet and pretty.  No one else was at Christian Tunnel and it looks like it doesn't get visited much at all. 

           Back at the cabin we got showered and dressed and eventually went next door to Betty & Klaas' home for the birthday party.  It was John's birthday on Tuesday and Klaas' birthday Dec. 23rd.

Sharon baked cakes and breadsticks. Betty served wine and veggies and dip.  Sharon had made lasagna. We had a nice meal and celebration with friends and lots of good conversation.   It was fun.  None of us are real big party animals so we were all tired and ready to turn in by 8:30 or so.  

I know John and Sharon had to be worn out from that toiling up the hill in Rock Castle. I was worn slap out.

Monday

             We woke Monday to rain.  The weather forecasters had called it correctly. However they expected it to be out of the area by 10 am in Jamestown.  We packed up our stuff and tried to decide what we wanted to do?   We decided the only thing that really sounded appealing was to try to make it into the bottom of Big Piney Gorge to hunt for waterfalls and make trail connections.  We were fully prepared for lots of lumberjacking like last time.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that the gate had not been put up again!  Even better the rain was gone and the sun was out.  Best of all? 

For the most part all the remaining trees that covered the trail were cut out!    We didn't have to fret with it today.  We made it all the way down into the guts of Big Piney.  We were exhultant!  

It is quiet, hushed,deep green pale aqua and beautiful down in there.  The stream flowed by gray and aqua.  The hemlocks were deep green. The velvet green moss coated everything.  

We hiked up and down the stream banks.  It is one of those places where little sunlight gets in and what does make it down there is glittering golden.  

Sunlight struggling to make it to the floor of the gorge.  

 Everything mossy down in Big Piney

Beautiful Big Piney Creek and gorge... no one down here but us!

 Ford of Big Piney Creek

Big Piney Creek.  This is not a normal stream. It comes out of a headwaters, flows and most times it goes into the ground before it ever makes it to the confluence of the East Fork Obey River.  

    We did not find any waterfalls down here today as hoped.   It was still neat and very satisfying to be here at last.   We did find a way to turn it into a loop ride and another way in and out  of the place.

I was ready to go home after a few hours.  I was weary.    

I did manage to go down the road and get a photo of Cravenstown Arch with the hog pen atop it.

Cravenstown Arch from the back.  It looks better round here than it does from the road.  Its 12 feet high here. On the other side it is a briar patch and only about 4 feet high.  See the hog pen at the far end?  Yes. It is built on the arch.   This is right down the road from Tay's Grocery.

A better look at the hog pen.

          We loaded up and headed home.  It was good to know tonight we'd sleep in our own comfy bed!