Rose Pinks on the bank near the campground. 

Camping and Waterfall Hunting in Pisgah Forest 

The Adventure Village Campground

Thursday July 17- Sunday July 20, 2014

Dana & Kenny Koogler

Pictures are here: Waterfall Hunting Pix

   Last Monday July 14, 2014 I quit my job  where I had worked the past eleven years .    

I left with a mixture of sadness and relief.  I had known for nearly a year that I needed to quit

 for personal and professional reasons.   I was very burned out.   I had the full support of my 

family and the understanding of most of my co-workers.   It was not long before

any sense of regret was replaced completely by a sense of great relief and WHY didn't I do this sooner?    It was a prayed over decision. I had to get out while the spirit was moving me to listen! We had been planning trips for weeks that just kept crashing and burning for one reason or another.     We decided to celebrate by FINALLY taking that Summer camping trip we'd been planning for more than a month.   

       Kenny came back from Baton Rouge first of the week. He worked a normal week. 

I did things around home and prepared for us to leave.  We headed out a little before six pm on 

Thursday. I had called to let Cathy know we'd be in the area, but  she had to work this weekend.

We had both worked every other weekend for many years. I had made sure to be off the same weekend as her.   Now we were off kilter.    I had called Dale at Adventure Village to make us

a reservation.   He was pleasant as always and helpful.  We arrived about 8:30 p.m. and set up

camp.  It was probably 10 pm before things were settled in to suit Kenny.  We planned to hike the next day despite the forecast for rain, rain and more rain this weekend.   I was weary and went to bed before eleven.    I had left the flannel sheets on the bed from back in Spring.  It was forecast

to be unseasonably cool and it ended up being a real good thing to have!  I love my spouse and our

little home away from home.   I melted into that soft comfy bed to the sound of the rain beginning to fall. The room was cool and the sheets warm.   

      Next morning we had a nice hot breakfast of pancakes and bacon with hot coffee.

We packed lunches and rain gear and set out in the drizzle.    We hiked to find High Falls on the Thompson River and Waterfall on Reid Branch.   We have done lots of hikes in this area and seen 

oodles of waterfalls here in the Lake Toxaway area.    We were the only fools at the trail head in the rain.  Koogler man was not thrilled, but he was trying to go along and get along.  He knew I wanted very badly to finish some of the falls on my Carolina Mountain Club Waterfall Challenge

I had twenty three to go and I wanted to finish four this weekend.   

     The trail to Thompson River is rugged, but pretty. We had Rich's fantastic directions.

I spotted the turn for Waterfall on Reid Branch, but Kenny disputed me that it was just a drainage ditch.   We agreed we'd get to High Falls first then come back and investigate the other, smaller falls.     It was raining in earnest and seemed settled in.   We missed the right turn and made it only as far as the first big switchback when we both got that feeling something was wrong.  We re-read the directions and realized the right turn was missed and went back to correct course.  It was not a hard hike.  We found the rest of the trail easy to follow.  It seemed like no time at all we were 

there at the river.   We could hear the falls, but there is a bluff in the way of viewing it. Even 

climbing down to the river won't afford you a look at it. You have to cross the river to see it.

Kenny was sure he could get across dry footed and did. I donned my water shoes and waded.

It was not bad even with all the rain.  The first look at the falls was amazing! It is a powerful waterfall especially after the rain.  The sandy bank on the other side was carpeted in deep green moss, littered with  bright red magnolia cones. Tiny yellow flowers of fringed loosestrife dotted

much of the point of land we stood on.   The rain came down steadily,but we were prepared. Kenny held the umbrella over me to get some photos and video footage.  We spent a little while just taking it in.  We both enjoyed this beautiful spot and could not help wondering why we had not come here sooner?

High Falls on the Thompson River.  

     We made our way back across the stream and this time Kenny ended up with a wet foot and boot!  He then laughed at me because so much rain had fallen in my boots under the shrubs that my boots and socks were almost as wet as if I had just waded the river in them!   The rain eased up a little. We headed back to check out Waterfall on Reid Branch.  It was also very pretty and it 

pleased me to know that I had found the correct side path for it.  The red dirt ditch was it after all!

It was another super easy side trip. The total mileage to see these two is 3 miles round trip!

Sweet!  Here is a look at Waterfall on Reid Branch.

Getting to this falls was a short and tricky bushwhack.  The last bit is a through a tangle of rhodo limbs.   I noticed on the hike back I was having a strange experience.  I could taste and smell the color green.  I had heard of synesthesia, but I had never experienced it until today.  I later tasted and smelled the colors pink, purple, brown and gray.   It was very odd and a harbinger of sorts.

    We climbed back up the dirt ditch to the trail and soon made it back to the parking area.
We saw the only other hiker we'd encounter all day. He was a tall fellow out ready to start this hike.  Kenny stopped and spoke to him before I got there.  We met Bob Marshall from Spartanburg, SC.   We didn't have to talk to him long before we realized he was a handful on purpose.  We made a friend on a rainy day!  He is a serious waterfall hiker, hunter, bushwhacker!
We right on the spot traded information and hugs.  We all wished we'd run into one another at the start of this and could have gone together.   We are now connected on Facebook and I see many fun times in the future hunting waterfalls together! He is one of our pack for sure. 

      We dried off in the truck and ate a quick bite.  Kenny was about over it for the day.
It was raining again and we were both damp.    He asked me what I wanted to do and I told him
since I was wet already I'd just as soon go on and do one other short hike to knock a falls off my list.   We headed to hike to Waterfall on Long Branch. It was perhaps 1.5 miles round trip.
It was over in the area of Pisgah Forest so back to Brevard we went.  We have hiked to several 
waterfalls in the area off FR 475. We had passed right by this little, insignificant appearing gated 
forest service road many times never knowing a beautiful falls lay up there.  
It is the nature of Western North Carolina in general and this area of Transylvania County in particular.    A waterfall in an area of the forest is no more than a pip ginny to them on account of
there being so very many!   The sides of this road were lined with crimson bee balm, black eyed susans, purple headed sneeze weed, and rosebay rhododendron.   

     We hiked the old forest service road through mud and weeds on an easy grade.
Ferns were growing thickly on the left heading in  as well as some species of pycnanthemum.
We did not have to go far until we came to the sound of a stream gushing.   We found the side path and climbed up to see waterfall on Long Branch. 

The hike to this is supposed to be easy on the way, but the last bit a bushwhack. There is open trail the entire way now.  Someone is keeping it maintained.  More brush on the forest service road than up through the woods!  We enjoyed the falls for awhile then headed back to the truck.
We were cold, wet and dirty and ready to wrap it up for the day.  Back at the truck we agreed that if the weather report missed and it was not rainy on Saturday we'd hike.  If it was rainy we'd go 
do something non-hiking related.  We agreed we'd go visit the Western North Carolina Farmers Market in Asheville.   We stopped by Red Box in Brevard to pick up movies just in case.

   We arrived back at the camper and I had the moment that defined pretty much the whole weekend.    I opened the truck door to get out.  We were camped by a creek.  A family of ten 
ducks trotted past me quacking and got in the creek and down the creek they swam! That is all this weather is good for... ducks!  I grinned just thinking of it. They weren't the only ones going to find a way to have a good time. We were determined not to let it get us down.     
We had nice hot showers and got clean and dry.  We kept hoping against hope and checking the radar. Huge bands of green with some yellow, orange and red flowed across the screen.  We watched a movie and fixed a good dinner.    I went to bed to read and fell asleep with the rain pouring down in buckets outside. 

         We slept in on Saturday since it was nasty as promised.  It was raining more intensely
and it seemed settled in.   The radar showed more rain behind this cloud mass.    We had looked thoroughly hoping we'd find a way to go further south to avoid being stuck indoors today.  
Alas, it was not in the cards.   We ate a good breakfast and headed to Asheville to shop.  
We took umbrellas and raincoats.    We took Cathy's computer along.  I had taken it home with me and gotten Don Lewis of Etherion to fix it.   I was bringing it home to her to hook it back up.
We hoped we'd get to at least visit with her and perhaps take her out to dinner later.

   

       

     Top and Middle: Delicious produce at the WNC Farmers Market
Bottom: Pretty flowering plants at Jesse Israel & Son's Garden Center also in the WNC Farmers Market.  


     We bought cantaloupe, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and fresh blackberries.
We went to the garden center in the market and Kenny bought me a piece of art I'd wanted for over a year.  I had wanted a red clay and rusted metal Elizabeth Keith wall hanging. 
It is made in Cary, NC.    

   Next we went to Northern Tool and Equipment for Kenny to look around and shop for  things men like. He came out with a disc grinder or some other tool he had wanted.    I read while he shopped.The rain continued to pour down.  We got some lunch in Brevard and went back to the camper.I took a nap and we watched movies.  It was a restful weekend.   I put a call in to Cathy close to time for her to get off work.  We met her at home and hooked her computer up and made certain it was working.   We went out to Cracker Barrell to eat dinner which was great.
We discussed a potential camping trip to Grandfather Mountain.  We said our good-byes and
headed home for the night. Lots of hoping and praying and checking the weather radar for the rain
to be out of there by morning.   It was looking more promising. Before we went to bed Saturday night a blessed quiet overtook us.  No more rain falling!  The frogs were out and chirping. 


     Sunday morning dawned still overcast, but no longer raining.   We ate breakfast and
headed out to hike.  We decided on Paradise Falls today followed by Raven Rock Falls.
We thought if we were really feeling frisky we'd try to hunt up Fisher Falls.  
Paradise Falls turned out to be a terrible experience for me.   I was no longer tasting and smelling 
colors, but I had a sinus headache. I took something for it.  I could tell my balance was off.
We struggled at first to find Paradise Falls trail. We picked the one that went down in the middle
of the parking area.  We came back to the truck and regrouped with better, clearer directions.
We found it quickly that time and set off again.   I was feeling my sinuses improve, but my balance
was still not right.   I struggled the entire way with the trip down that steep bank. It scared me so bad in my current state that I was sweating big drops and having trouble controlling my emotions.
Kenny was wonderfully supportive.   We made it down to see the falls. It was pretty and impressive, but I was not enjoying myself.   I was upset that my brain bucket was still messed up.
We saw a man at the top of the falls. I don't know what he was doing, but he was not real smart.

      See him up there? He was waving and carrying on.   


     The climb back up was not great, but a little easier on me.  I tried Jenny's tips for changing my perspective from what is NOT there to what IS there both on the way down and on the way up.
She is a good friend and I appreciated her advice so much. It did help some.   Between that and Lamaze breathing I got through it.    I can only explain what is going on with me by likening it to 
something else.  Only country folk or farmers may understand this.  A grated cattle guard works
because of the way the cow's perceive it.   They view it as a terrible obstacle to their safely crossing an area like a drive way.  They see the slats as a deep depression their hooves and legs may sink into up to their knees thus trapping them or breaking a leg.   They will avoid crossing it.
They may JUMP  it to avoid walking over it.  The cattle guard may be so old and filled with so much dirt there is no way they'd fall in.   It still works. Its all about perception.   My damaged brain perceives a visual stimulus like a steep cliff or bluff to climb down as WAY worse than it is.
I am a person though and my higher brain functions permit me to reason with myself and get
through an experience like creek crossings, climbing down a cliff or bluff.  It still feels horrible to me.  It is something I have no control over.  It is a reflex.  I had thought I was over all or most of that, but it was back today with a vengeance.   Kenny was tender with me and were it not for him I don't think I'd have managed.    I had two crying bouts on the trail. Very brief, but I was out of control of my emotions.   I was never so glad to see the truck and get out of a place.

    We headed back toward the camper at Cherryfield.  I calmed down.  I cooled off.
Kenny talked me into stopping at Raven Rock Falls and that was the right thing to do.  I had a great hike there and was fine.   My sinus pressure and the weird tasting colors, smelling colors was gone.  My balance was improved. I have to wonder how all this is interconnected?
We saw three gorgeous falls at Raven Rock.  Kenny was thrilled to see it for the first time.
We met a nice young couple who gave us some tips on better ways to find Fisher Falls. I had correctly identified the trail to it, but they told us a better, easier way.   Their easier way was from a place I don't think we'd be welcomed. We found a compromise for another time.
We were going to be late leaving the campground already.  We did not want to press our luck.
We stay there often and don't want to make enemies.   

    

Top: First falls along the hike to Raven Rock Falls. It was running well today thanks to all that rain.   
Bottom: The trail to Raven Rock falls at a spot where it is a rhododendron tunnel.

      

        Top: Bridge of Death Falls
Bottom: Raven Rock Falls flowing better than I'd ever seen it!

   On the way back to the campground we saw this hog trotting all around the sides of the road.  It was curious about us, but not scared of us.  Not sure if it is someone's pet. It is odd looking. It  had a white splotch in the center of its forehead and white hocks on the back.    Funny critter. We also saw a doe and twin fawns.    The sun was out and shining.   I felt better. I was at peace.  
I had completed three waterfalls off my list with the help of my husband.  I asked Kenny if he thought I would ever get 100% back to normal?  He says yes.    I certainly hope so.   I feel like we did our best to enjoy our time together and outdoors on a yucky, rainy weekend.   I've endured some rainy times in my life and I'm looking for the sun!

      

Below is a short video of Raven Rock Falls.

For some unknown reason.. the thumbnail at the start is turned horizontal.

I have edited the footage to flip it and it plays normally.  The thumbnail won't turn! 

Panthertown Backpacking Trip

Native azalea blooming in Panthertown

Panthertown Wilderness Backpack Trip

May 31, June 1, 2013

Dana Koogler & Cathy Howell

Pictures are here: 

Panthertown Pix

    I left home Thursday morning and headed to Asheville for a dual purpose trip.

My son's birthday was Friday May 31st.  I wanted to visit with him and do some nice things for him. I got to see his new living arrangements.  Nice little house in a pretty, quiet neighborhood in Asheville.   Great yard with a creek flowing by and trees!  We had lunch. 

We went shopping. We sat around and talked and caught up.  I helped him with a few chores.    He had to leave for work at 3:15 so I kissed him good-bye and we parted ways.

    I drove down to my friend Cathy's place in Mills River to wait until she got off work.

We were leaving out in the morning to go on a long planned backpack trip.   I was really looking forward to seeing my friend and spending time with her in the woods. Doing what we both love!  Hiking and hunting waterfalls and seeing beautiful things is a really good bonding experience. Especially when it involves the task of route finding and bushwhacking on sketchy or non-existent trails.  

     I unpacked and rested some and fixed dinner for us.  We had a nice hot meal of tenderloin, baked potatoes, salad and cantaloupe.  I forgot she does not like melon.

Later that evening we had the entire living room piled up with gear from one end to the other.   We even put up my tent in the living room. It is a pain in the ass to put up.

I was glad I brought the new tent.  We put the Eureka tent away and got out the old stand by.. my new tent.  It is brand new, but it is a duplicate of the one I had before the Eureka. I wore the other one slap out! We put that thing up in the dark outside in five minutes! 

New tent at our camp site in Panthertown.

      We finally got things packed up most of the way and realized how late it had gotten.
We turned in just after 11:00 pm and agreed we'd start when we started the next day. No alarms on days off from work!  Very liberating!  I don't like pressure and deadlines every single trip.  I am the worst about putting pressure on myself.

      We arrived at Panthertown and once we put on our packs we headed down Greenland Creek Trail.  Neither of us had ever hiked this trail before or seen the waterfalls down there.  We have parked in this lot at this entrance and hiked to Schoolhouse Falls and others.   Greenland Creek Trail was quite pretty.  Lush growth of ferns and a sweet smelling forest were all around. Spring wildflowers are nearly all gone, but now and then we'd see a deep fuschia colored catesby's trillium.  They were so pretty!  The color looked almost fake it was so unusual for a trillium.    We went nearly all down hill on the way in.

      We only passed one group of hikers and they were on their way out.
We knew nothing about the area and had set our tent up at the first likely place we came to.   It was level and shady.  It had access to the creek.  We were certainly not going to try to bushwhack to waterfalls with heavy overnight packs on.  We were trying to lighten our load for that as soon as possible.  A few steps further down the trail and we came to the most marvelous campsite.  Twenty feet away was a site carpeted in pine needles under tall pines.  It was perfect. We pulled up the tent stakes, lifted the tent carefully and moved it!
Minutes later we had the best campsite ever!

          We didn't have to hike far until we arrived at Greenland Creek Falls.
The Panthertown Map shows that the brown dashed trails are the 'official" maintained trails.  The real trail ends here at this waterfall.  Anything from here on out today was on the red dotted trails which are unofficial trails or manways.  They are harder to follow and a bit more extreme.  We enjoyed Greenland Creek Falls and ate our lunch here as it was already 3 pm!
Greenland Creek Falls was really impressive!

Below is a video of Greenland Creek Falls 

    We did not tarry too long at Greenland Creek Falls once we finished lunch. I did take time to filter some water.  We headed on upstream to the rest of the falls we had yet to see.   The map listed a "Halfway Falls" and "Carlton's Falls".   I knew from descriptions of friends previous trips it was supposed to be a difficult hike to Carlton's Falls.  We found out right quick what the trouble was.  It is no time after you leave Greenland Creek Falls until you are climbing straight up a steep bank hanging on to trees and roots and rocks.
We made it up there and finally the trail leveled off.  We went to the brink of Greenland Creek Falls to check it out from up high.   We then re-entered the woods and pressed forward.   The trail or manway is not hard to find compared to other trips we've done, but Cathy had her misgivings a couple times and later we did miss one turn.

     We arrived at a low sliding falls that was very attractive.  We both thought we'd arrived at "Halfway Falls".  Turned out it was not right. It was simply an un-named falls that was not even mentioned. Greenland Creek has wide flat spots on it, but it also has quite a few scenic cascades over the course of the trip.



Un-named low, sliding cascade on Greenland Creek.


Greenland Creek flowing off into the distance.


Halfway Falls.  We hiked on a bit further and arrived at this beauty! It is not real tall, but very picturesque.

Below is a video of Halfway Falls 

     The thing that seemed to bother Cathy was when the trail would veer away from the stream and head in the opposite direction while going up the mountain.  I could understand why, but I had been paying close attention and there was no place we could have missed the trail or what there was of a trail on the way up.  I took a look at the map with her and
showed her where I believed we were.  We were in the area on the map where the trail bends out away from the stream then turns back just prior to Carlton's Falls.  I just said we'd keep going a little further and if the trail didn't turn back toward the stream we'd head back by 5 pm.   Looking around the terrain it was clear we couldn't gain much more elevation and looking a flat creek , growing smaller in the headwaters of a mountain it is easy enough to doubt you'll find a waterfall.

     We soon rounded a bend and headed  down toward the creek.  It was no time until we could hear the loud roar of the falls. Next I could glimpse it through the trees.
Down to the creek bank and out on the rocks and we were there.  It did not look like much at first, but as we crossed the creek on the rocks the rest of the falls came into view.
It was actually a big waterfall with multiple levels! 
Carlton's Falls from the base



Carlton Falls from the middle.

Below is a video of Carlton's Falls

      We climbed all the way to the top of the falls here because the men we associate with
have done so and we weren't to be outdone.  I did my usual hooting and hollering celebration.  Why not celebrate a successful waterfall finding trip with some chest beating?
We had such perfect weather so far this trip. Blue skies. Sunshine. Light breeze. A few puffy clouds.  Temperature right at 80 degrees. All was going well.

    We turned and began our hike back at 5:10 pm.  We were tired and hot and sweaty.
I was not looking forward to climbing back down that steep slope, but we made it just fine.  The only wrong turn we took today was on the return trip we took a side path out through the woods for about 25 yards before we realized we had messed up.  We turned
and went back toward the stream and there was the trouble. The path here continued over rocks at the base of the falls for a short distance before resuming the path through the woods.   No more missteps after that one.  It was not long til we arrived back in camp.
It felt good to take off the backpack and stretch.  I got some toiletries and went down to the creek to wash up and I was soon feeling fresher.

      We had a hearty supper.  I had slivered two New York strip steaks and marinated them then froze them in the marinade.  I diced red peppers and sweet onions and froze them in olive oil.  I cooked fajita flavored rice and froze that.  We sat down in camp and
using two stoves cooked up dinner.   Cathy is just learning to use her stove and she picked out a nice one. She used it like she'd been cooking on it for a long time.  The food was satisfying and delicious.  She washed up dishes while I got the fire started and stoked.
It was a good camp fire.  We were both very tired and when dark came we were ready for sleep.  The little tent turned out to be just right. 

Roaring Fire.

       The forecast called for rain on Sunday, but during the middle of the night I woke to rain.   I got up and turned on my head lamp and jumped out of the tent to throw a tarp over it as an extra measure of protection.   It was just beginning to drizzle.  It rained for awhile, but all it did was help put me back to sleep listening to it hit the tarp.  I think I slept better after it rained!  It was about sixty degrees that night and I was comfortable.
Our tent was on a little bit of a down slope.  We had known this but put our heads to the top.  It was Hanging Rock State Park all over again.  Slide down to the bottom. Scoot back to the top. I remember waking once during the night and feeling boots and things outside the tent wall touching my toes. I knew I'd slid as far as I could go and I just stayed there. I was not going to fight it anymore.

        Morning came and the rain had stopped. It appeared the day was going to clear up.
Sure enough the sun came out.  It didn't rain hard and the camp was barely damp.
We had some coffee and hot chocolate and cereal bars for breakfast.  We packed up and headed out.   We had planned to go past two other waterfalls on our return trip.
We disagreed on the route that would take us back past them.  I could not get it across
what we needed to do so I chose being happy over being right.  I had a heavy pack on and long as we made it back to the car ok I did not care. What I did not want was to wander around aimlessly with that load on my back.  Either route back took us to the same parking area.  Cathy felt we needed to stay straight on Mac's Gap trail so that is what we did.  It was a new trail for us.  I was in favor of new scenery.

     Mac's Gap Trail turned out to be have several advantages over Greenland Creek Trail.
It was shorter, easier and a far more gentle grade on the way out.  Before I realized it we popped out at the parking area about 100 yards down from the vehicle.  Cathy was put out a little because we missed the falls.  I showed her the map again and explained and this time it sunk in.  Mac's Gap trail is the furthest one out to the boundary. It has no water along it except one nasty black pond.  Greenland Creek is the stream those two wateralls are on.  We had to go back up that trail the way we came in then take a slight detour left and down on a manway to reach those falls.  I told her we'd just hit those another trip.
I was tickled at an easy walk back to the car with a heavy pack and not at all disappointed.

     We discussed what we'd do next.  We planned on hiking to a waterfall we had not been to before.  Hidden Falls was shown on the map in the vicinity of Flat Creek Falls.  On the way out we stopped and hiked to Raven Rock Falls. I had been there before, but only once and that was years ago.  It was well worth the stop to visit today. It was flowing well
and the green trees really framed it spectacularly.  I had visited there in Autumn the first time with a group of hikers.  The falls here was far more impressive than the ones we missed at Panthertown on our trip out.  Raven Rock Falls is about 50 ft high and
the stone is striped beautifully. We passed two other small flow falls on the way in and
got to cross the Bridge of Death once more. 
Rich's "Bridge of Death" where you have a choice as to how  you die.
Slip and fall over the edge. Bridge collapse and plunge to your death.
Bash head on low hanging rocks at end of bridge and die of head trauma.
 But we cheated death once more today!

    We arrived at Raven Rock Falls and could hear it long before we got to it.
It was really something to see today.  All that silky flowing water coming down over the cliff face with blue skies and green trees.  

Raven Rock Falls

  The hike back was easy.  We saw some flame azalea in the forest. The only flowers blooming were some Solomon's plume and Clinton's lillies.  We saw remnants of a trail including markers for it.  I later read on www.ncwaterfalls.com that this is the old Toxaway Trail.  I want to come back and explore downstream to Fisher Falls sometime.

Kenny has not seen any of this or at least he says he has not.

Below is a video of Raven Rock Falls

    We motored on toward Rock Bridge Road to find Hidden Falls.  I remarked to Cathy

that "Watch. Once we get there you'll remember you've already seen this falls!"  She doubted that.  We enjoyed the pretty drive on Hwy 281 and Rock Bridge Road.
We have both hiked to Flat Creek Falls in the past and that access is back at the same trailhead as this Hidden Falls.  Once we parked we got out and fixed a hot lunch by the creek.   We had chicken breast and fire roasted tomato sauce over noodles. It was even better than the pepper steak!  We lightened up the packs for use today and set out.
We crossed the logs over the stream and then came a partial epiphany.  Cathy's memory began to clear and she remembered she HAD been to this falls before with Mr. Bernie.
She knew generally how to get there, but that was it.   The area was a maze of trails and old logging roads going every which way.   The map indicated we needed to pick up a path going opposite of Flat Creek Falls and beyond that it was hard to say.

       First we tried going out the trail as if we were going to begin the hike to Flat Creek Falls. She then said no, that was not right we needed to go back and pick up a left turn much earlier.  We saw a nice black snake on the way.  She was not a fan of the snake or
my wanting to take pictures of him. 

Black Snake. Once I put the camera away he did some tricks! He climbed up a log.

  We went back past a campsite and took a left turn on another trail closer to the stream.
According to the map if this was the correct trail we should have one more left turn off this trail and that would put us at the falls.  I estimated the distance to be about 3/4 mile one way.   We had one more snafu on the trail as to where we were on the trail. I think
I figured out the root cause of the difficulties we'd experienced with route finding and Cathy's new found inability to cipher where we were according to a topo map. At some point along this leg of the journey she tried to show me .. prove to me that we needed to be near the creek. I did not dispute that. But what she showed me as a stream on the map was not a stream. It was just a contour line.  Someone has arrived at that point of needing reading glasses like the rest of us middle aged folks! It was an Ah Ha! moment and explained a lot.

       We hiked along through a rhododendron tunnel deep and dark.  It was nice and shady today. We saw either the same black snake or one just like him.  Later I picked up a tiny garter snake from trail and held him up to show Cathy what she'd stepped over. She never did warm up to the idea of No Feet. They're all bad!   Along our journey I spied the only thing that looked like a spot to make a left turn and we dropped down toward the direction of the stream.   We began to see water and the flow grew more and more as we went on.
One more spot where the trail bent down to the left and toward the creek and we began to hear a rumble of falling water.

       We finally arrived at a dead end and there was a gleaming pool of water at an opening in the rhodo.   The rhododendron encroached and the only way to see the falls was to wade out into the creek.  Here is what the first glimpse of Hidden Falls was like.



Lowest level of Hidden Falls.

   It is quite pretty, but after that effort to hunt it up some would find just that disappointing.  The stream was beautiful and like many creeks in the mountains of Western North Carolina contained flecks of mica.. a glittering gold mineral.  It makes a
wade in the creek or a swim like bathing in fairy glamor. 
Glittery gold stream.

    I waded out into the creek and finally could see a glimpse that there was more
to see upstream!  I waded over to rocks and waited on Cathy.  We worked our way around a massive boulder with a tree growing atop it.  Beyond that lay a birch tree growing on stilts.   We were able to see the full beauty of Hidden Falls. It was about sixty feet high and had such a pretty shape.  My photo does not show the rim stone at the top.
Formed from erosion and mineral deposition both.   It was very impressive and well worth all the effort to hunt.    We enjoyed wading the creek up and down. We spent some time soaking up the view here before we headed back.

Cathy bushwhacking back toward the trail

     We wrapped up our days hike by timing our progress back to the trail head.
The hike is about 1.5 miles round trip and once you know the proper turns was not that bad. Navigating here to get started was the hardest part.  We're a good team.

Back home we went for showers and unpacking. We got clean and rested.  We had stopped by the book store for an updated Panthertown map for me.  We went out for dinner at Hawg Wild BBQ and icecream for dessert.  We spent time reminiscing over old photos and checking out routes for Flat Creek and discussing future plans.
We have really done a LOT of hiking and seen lots of waterfalls over the years.
We slept well and woke the next day to pouring rain.   Glad we came on in or we'd have been packing up in a heavy thunderstorm.

        We said our goodbyes on Sunday morning and I headed home in the rain.
What a great trip and I so look forward to next time! I need to do more of this with my long time friend.

Below is a video of Hidden Falls aka Nellie's Falls.

*edited to add: Bernie Boyer found "Hidden Falls" and opened the trail to it. He named it "Nellie's Falls" and that is what it is known as on ncwaterfalls.com. That would have been what he introduced Cathy to it as.  That was part of the confusion as to whether she had been there before.   It was called by a different name.

Autumn in Asheville & Brevard

Fall Asters growing near Log Hollow Falls

Asheville & Brevard Autumn Trip

Dana & Kenny Koogler

Thu. Oct. 18- Sun. Oct. 21, 2012

**This blog entry has been repaired and I have substituted videos
for photos that have been lost. **

     Kenny & I planned to head over to the mountains of Western NC to visit our son and see his new living quarters in Asheville and do some hiking with our friend Cathy.

We decided to do something a little different on our lodging since our daughter Crystal and son-in-law, Adam were using our camper.  I first looked up hotel rooms in Asheville only to find that it is peak season over there for leaf peepers and Biltmore visitation.   Hotel rooms were at a premium!  I tried Brevard and found the rates lower, but still high.

Most of the places we wanted to hike were in Pisgah Forest so I booked a cabin outside the Brevard City limits for a daily rate less than a hotel room!   It also allowed me a chance to head over a day ahead of Kenny to have most of the day Thursday and all day Friday to visit and hike.   

        I was glad to get up with Jared and see where his new housing is and visit with him.

He is doing very well.   We had dinner Thursday night and sat around talking at his place.

I had checked into the cabin and found it very nice.  I dropped Cathy's hiking stick off by her place and left her a note letting her know I was in town and where she could reach me.    I was pleasantly surprised to find she was off work that Friday and we made plans to meet up and hike.   I stayed out late enough with Jared that I was concerned about finding an open grocery store.  I ended up finding an open Bi-Lo Grocery which stayed open 24 hours a day.  I purchased a few groceries. Topped off my tank with gas and went back to the cabin to get some sleep.    

      I realized the alarm clock in the cabin did not work properly. I could not even set the time, much less the alarm.  I set the alarm on my cell phone. I did not trust it to wake me because I had never used it before and my cell phone battery is failing and doesn't hold a charge well.   I had my kindle with me that my mom purchased for me for my birthday.

She and my sister went together and got me a Kindle Fire and a stylus and a cover.

I am still learning about it.   The cabin had free wi-fi with a good signal.  I found a free bedside alarm clock app which within five minutes was set up and appeared to be working.    Very cool! Thanks Mom & Valerie!    I was wakened at 2 am by the malfunctioning alarm clock the cabin provided.   I pulled the plug on that and went back to sleep. The kindle's alarm woke me right on schedule the next day and my cell phone worked fine also.  

       Cathy met me at the cabin as planned and we headed out for our day's adventure.

We started off by visiting a couple falls near the cabin neither of us had ever heard of or visited!  Diamond Creek Falls and Lemon Falls!  As many trips as we've done to hike in this area over the past ten years we could not believe we'd never even heard of these before!   Both were nice and relatively easy to find.    Diamond Creek Falls was a nice 30 foot falls right by the road.   We managed to climb down the steep, slippery bank to see it.  It was worth it.   Next we continued out to see Lemon Falls.  It was also a roadside attraction, but not in view from the road.   We saw two couples while there and I don't think either of these pairs of senior citizens actually SAW the falls because they could not view it from the road.   Checking it out required a clambor down the bank through a boulder field slick with leaves and moss.  We forded the stream on a flat boulder partially submerged and worked our way around to the falls on the far bank.   It was much easier to reach that way.   Well worth the effort. Lemon Falls was only about 15 ft high but far more picturesque than Diamond Creek Falls.    It was framed by rocks and rhododendron and the sun filtering through the canopy formed a rainbow in the spray!

Diamond Creek Falls

        We enjoyed this glorious sight for awhile then decided to continue.  Cathy wanted us to head to Panthertown for an off trail adventure.   I agreed and we knew we'd have to make tracks to get it all done before dark today.   

Lemon Falls with a rainbow


     We headed in the direction of the western entrance of Panthertown Valley which is a wilderness area.   I had been hiking here several times, but always from the other entrance.   I was really looking forward to seeing a new side of it.  Cathy had been prepping for this off trail adventure with KT and knew just how to get us there.  She
had her map with her and was all set.   She had learned of an off trail waterfall there and wanted to see if the two of us could locate it?  We began our hike and I was extremely impressed with everything about this side of Panthertown. The day was perfect in temperature and weather.   The Autumn colors were at peak.  The granite mountains around us were impressive.   We saw lots of other folks parked, but still found a spot and got started.


     We hiked only a short distance until we arrived at Wilderness Falls. It was a huge waterfall with lots of water flow today coming down over a granite wall.  Fiery red Autumn leaves and a blue sky really set off the scene.   We stopped here to eat our lunch and take it in.    Cathy had not seen it either since the previous hike she and KT by-passed this falls in favor of motoring on to a spot she needed to arrive at in a limited amount of daylight. I admit I wondered if the same thing would befall us today seeing as how we were getting late start to this portion of the hike?  I knew all would be well as long as we were back on a main trail by dark.  If we could do that much we'd make it out safely.


Wilderness Falls


     We continued our hike and in only a short distance arrived at Frolictown Falls.
It was not a huge waterfall, but very pretty.  Cathy had seen this one before.  


Frolictown Falls is about 20 ft high.


 We passed a neat backpacker shelter just past Frolictown Falls.
**photo lost**

   The trail we were on now was called the Great Wall trail.  I had never even heard of this feature in Panthertown.  Cathy & KT had hiked it in May and while she was aware of the name of the trail she did not think much about why it was called that. Today we were amazed at the sight of a truly great granite wall towering high above all else to our left.  The leaves were off the trees now enough to allow it to be seen. A stark gray granite mountain wall highlighted by red leaves is very pretty! I took a photo of it, but no picture could ever do it justice. It goes on for a long distance.

The Great Wall in Autumn.**photo lost**

      The trail we were hiking on was mostly level now as it crossed the valley floor. It was sandy and easy and passed through a beautiful forest that smelled so good of pine trees and fallen leaves. Down in the very bottom of the valley all the leaves had fallen off the trees as they were primarily birch and beech.  We arrived at the point Cathy and KT scouted where the trail came to a junction at a wide bend and turned uphill.  We stopped for a bit to check the map and get oriented for our off trail portion of the trek.  I told Cathy the according to the scale of miles on the map Panthertown Falls should be less than 1/2 mile from our current position.  It was marked on the map, but there was no trail to it.  This was Burt Kornegay's map so I knew in order for it to be marked on the map, but no trail was a good indication of how things were going to be.  We'd have to make our own way, but this should not be nearly as bad as many other off trail trips we'd taken.
I told Cathy I figured it would take is 1/2 hour or less and that if we walked for one hour even in the brush without finding it we'd turn around and get back on the trail.

           We set out and the first part of our off trail we had to make our own way completely.   We went through briars and rhodo and brush.  Then about half way there I spotted some survey tape flagging. We pressed on forward and a manway began to be visible and as we followed it the survey tape kept showing up.   We could hear a falls below us and sure enough there was Panthertown Falls.  We passed it and kept following the survey tape and it lead us to a huge dead hemlock tree then stopped.  No more manway.  No more tape.  We turned around and went back to the falls and worked our way down to the stream to the falls to get a better look.


Panthertown Falls in Panthertown Valley.. an off trail adventure.
Panthertown Falls is only 10 or 15 feet high, but the setting for it is very rugged and dramatic. More cascades are below it. Above it is a huge rock grotto.  In order to visit here you must climb through the rhododendron that hems it in and a boulder field.  We spent some time checking it out and glorying in the fact we were successful in locating it!  We really had no trouble.   We made our way back to the maintained trail. This time we stayed higher in the drainage and it was even easier.  We found we came out on the trail higher up the hill and that the flagging actually went the entire way! We made our way back toward the trail head and the vehicle.  We decided that we'd head into Brevard to get some Barbeque  as a reward for our day.  The hike out was far easier than I'd expected.
Thank the good Lord for the South and switchbacks!   Once back at the trail head I stopped to look at that big map with Cathy. We had hiked about  nine miles today!
I had been such fun that it flew by and was a breeze most of the way.
The drive out of the mountains atop Panthertown was an experience in itself.  There is no capturing the red gold glow with a photo or a video recording. You just have to be there.
The views and the light atop that mountain were outstanding. I look forward to many more hikes in Panthertown.  I want me and Cathy to go backpacking there this coming Spring! We made it to Hawg Wild BBQ in Brevard and ate a delicious supper in a relaxed setting.   We were both tired and so we parted company to go get some rest. We planned to get together the next day to hike again with Kenny joining us.

        I had almost arrived at the cabin when I heard from Kenny. He was already there waiting on me.   The cabin I rented was fine for me, but it was tiny!  It was comfortable but small.  It was also a long drive from everything.   We had a fit laughing at the tiny sleeping loft "upstairs".  We also had fun struggling to get the trundle bed trundled. The corners were supposed to hook together, but that never happened.  The more we struggled with it the funnier it got.  We finally got the darn thing fixed and went to sleep so we'd be ready for the next day.   

     We had a little romance the next morning to start the day off and to use Kenny's words....... That trundle bed in all its instability was a "wild ride".  We found it funny.
We had a quick breakfast and met Cathy to hike. We figured we'd hike to some of the waterfalls in the Pisgah Forest area. I had picked out Twin Falls on Henry Branch and so off we went.  I knew the trail was supposed to be confusing and so it was great that Cathy was with us and had hiked it before.   It was a popular trail and we saw lots of other campers and hikers on the way there and while on the trail.  Cathy wanted to test us and said she'd have me and Kenny pick out the way and would only interfere if we got it wrong.

    We did fine finding the way.  The majority of the crossings were bridged and all the wet foot crossings had good bridges.   We worked our way through a forest filled with oranges, reds, golden, bronze, maroon, brown and yellow leaves.  It was a lovely hike.
We arrived at the left fork waterfall and for a headwaters falls there was a good amount of flow!   The left branch falls was about eighty feet high and so beautiful!  The Autumn colors were perfect under that bright blue sky.  The temperatures were perfect for hiking.
It was about 65 degrees today.   We continued over to the right fork falls which was nearby.   It was about sixty feet high and also very pretty. The colors surrounding this falls were mainly golden and yellow.   It was not quite as picturesque as the left falls, but still pretty.  Well worth the trek to see both of them.

      We hiked back and stopped off at the waterfall on Avery Creek. It was ten or fifteen feet high.  The colors around it and the clear sparkling plunge pool made it an ideal setting.
This would be a great swimming spot in Summer!  The rocks were carved up into interesting shapes and swirled with colors.  There are some cascades above the falls too.

Left Fork Henry Branch Falls


Waterfall on Avery Creek

      We continued our hike today after lunch by hiking to one of the waterfalls on Log Hollow.  It was beautiful.  
First waterfall on Log Hollow

We headed back and said our goodbyes to Cathy.  We were all tired.  Kenny and I needed to go spend some time with Jared.  We met him for some shopping and dinner in Asheville.  It was a very nice evening.

     Sunday morning we opted to drive home.  We had a nice leisurely breakfast at Cracker Barrel and enjoyed the drive home through the gorge with all the pretty Fall colors.

Looking Glass Rock viewed from FR 475B.