Cap Rock and Maudes Crack Hike 

Oct. 19, 2024

Kenny & Dana Koogler

Sharon McGee and Otie the  Bestest Hiking Dog

Cap Rock Directions

Maude's Crack Directions

  We went out to see Sharon and hike for the weekend.   We took the pontoon boat this weekend.

The plan was to go hiking one day and boating/hiking another day.    We hiked in Big South Fork to take Sharon to visit Cap Rock for the first time.  We'd been, but missed seeing Maude's Crack and Russell Arch.   We'd try to hit all of those today.    Otie loves to hike so it was great that we could all go!  He gets so wound up when we take him. He makes the trek several times over checking on all of us.   His herding instincts kick in!  

     It was a bluebird day.  Sunny skies with mild temperatures.   We had the start of Fall colors in Big South Fork.    We saw few others today.   We made the long drive back Terry Cemetery Road and hiked the unofficial trail to Cap Rock Window first.  It is a tall spire of sandstone with a diamond shaped hole eroded through it. It appears to be wearing a graduation mortar board.   That is the capstone of harder, less easily eroded rock.    The pillar is full of swirls and holes.     

    It had been awhile since we did this hike. Typical of us we made it seem shorter and simpler than it truly was.    We had to do a bit of way finding, but we didn't have any significant trouble.   We did loose the trail or what there is of one at one point.   Otherwise we were fine coming and going. 

There was one more drainage to cross than we recalled also.   We made it out to the edge of the bluff and found a steep scramble path down to the Cap Rock.   We worked our way around to see it.  

   It stood towering by the bluff about fifty feet from the cliff edge.   We sat down at its base in the shade to cool off and enjoy it. The slope is a bit steep, but we were able to get views of it and a few pictures.     

Above : a vertical oriented shot of Cap Rock

Below: Horizontal composition.  Look at those pretty orange leaves! 

Below:  on the "trail" amidst the leaves under those blue, blue skies! 

Above: Otie is happy

Below:  Zoomed in on the cap 

Above: zoomed in on the diamond shaped window

Below: another look at the forest coloring up for Autumn! 

  We took in the Cap Rock and toiled bravely back up the slope to the bluff line.   We decided to try to find Russell Arch.  We started off hiking on out the trail past Cap Rock.  Kenny had the notion we needed to go back to one of the drainages we'd crossed on the way in.  He believed that would take us right down and around to the big 100x30 foot arch.  We turned around and headed the direction he wanted to try.   We stopped at that drainage and waited.  Sharon and I hung out while he went ahead to scout.   He returned a short time later saying that was not it.   He'd tried a couple different ways and each side cliffed out cutting off further progress.   I was not in the mood to be on the Struggle Bus today.    Instead we just kept easing back in the direction we'd come trying NOT to lose the trail this go round.   We managed to keep sight of it heading out. 

Below is a video of Cap Rock Window

           Russell Arch was a wash today, but we still needed to reach Maude's Crack.  It is a popular, well known hike.  I don't know why we'd never done it?!   We'd fix that today.   Back on the main trail we turned east and headed out the finger ridge.  It was pretty level and easy.   The path was nice. The colors were pretty.  The company and conversation were great.    We got to where the ridge narrowed down. We could see from one side to the next!    We passed a couple neat overlooks of the gorge below.

The views were spectacular and unobstructed.    At the second overlook we went a few steps over and there was the crack!  A bright yellow poly rope was tied to the trunk of a tree.   It drooped down into the dim light of the crack.  Kenny was down that cleft in the rock in no time.   Sharon opted not to attempt it.  She was mainly concerned Otie would try to follow us and might get injured.    I offered to lift him, but she didn't think it was a good idea.   They stayed up above.  I took a look at the way down and said "I can do this! "  I just took my time and was careful.  It was exciting and fun.   Kenny was waiting on me at the bottom.   It is the one route down off this bluff that I am aware of.   

Below is a photo taken at Overlook #1 

Below: the top part of Maude's Crack

Below: down at the base of the bluff at Maude's Crack

Below: a photo taken at Overlook #2 

Below is a photo of a cup handle archette at the bottom of the crack. 

Below: down in Maude's Crack there is a spot shown here that faces off the bluff. It has a choke stone.

Above: Kenny standing there at the top of the crack by the rope. 

    I was tickled we'd done it at last.   It was great fun.   The climb back out was easier than going down. 

We made a leisurely hike back to the truck.   It was exactly what I needed.  Time with my best friend and time outdoors.   I checked with Kerry Woolbright once I got home.  I asked him about Russell Arch and how to reach it.  We should have stayed on the ridge line past Cap Rock like we started out to do.

It was maddening to learn we'd only missed finding Russell Arch by 0.06 miles!  It is okay though. We'll go back and knock that out and succeed next time. Thank you Kerry!  

Below is a video of Maude's Crack and the overlooks

  

Rich Mountain Road Drive

April 19

Catesby's Trillium growing along Rich Mountain Road

Rich Mountain Road Scenic Drive

Kenny & Dana Koogler 

Good Friday April 19, 2019

  We had the nice surprise of Kenny being off Good Friday!  It was rainy for the morning, and we just did stuff around the house.   The rain cleared off and the sun came out. The day turned pretty so we decided we had to get out of the house a bit.

We went for a short scenic drive along Rich Mountain Road.  Facebook popped up a memory of April 19, 2018.. one year ago we took Gabe for a drive round that road.

It opened today! First day of the Spring season to be able to take advantage of it.

We headed toward Cades Cove.   It was not too bad traffic wise.  We didn't take 

a long time to be able to make it round to the turn off for Rich Mountain Road.

It leads from about halfway round the loop road to the back side of Townsend.

        

 Driving the Cades Cove Loop Road.. the rain and clouds are clearing.

 The mountains in the distance look beautiful.

 View back into Cades Cove from Rich Mountain

 Early Meadow Rue in bloom

 Sweet White Trillium

 Canada violets

 Sunny slope along the road, but very few wildflowers out this year. Maybe we were early?

 View from Rich Mountain toward Dry Valley and Townsend

 above and below views of wet weather cascades along the road

 Below.. a turkey at the end of the road.

  We had a pretty drive and enjoyed it.  It was odd since the same time last year we saw loads of wildflowers bloomed out. Today we saw a fraction of that!

 I talked to my neighbor a few days prior to making this drive.  I relate in the paragraph below what he shared with me.  Email me if you can relate any similar experiences you've had in that vicinity.   

T's Story: 

Our neighbor told me about a strange experience he and his wife had last year. They took a drive on Rich Mountain Road. It is the one that leads out of Cades Cove into Dry Valley at the back of Townsend. He described a certain point along the drive.. a part of the terrain that I remembered immediately. He said as they were driving along approaching that point they saw an older man and woman along the road. They were not dressed for hiking, but looked like they were dressed having come from church. They also were not dressed for the time period. They looked like 1930's -1940s garb they were wearing. Said the couple smiled at them and waved and kept going. They entered the woods. 
They had an odd feeling about it like something was wrong. Yet they kept going and expected to see a vehicle pulled over. Perhaps the couple was venturing out from where they parked. There was one vehicle besides my neighbors on that road.. a truck coming along behind them from Cades Cove. As my neighbors got to the end of the road near Bull Sink at its end.. the truck caught up to them. An upset couple got out and asked them if they had seen the elderly couple? They told them they had. Both couples had the same response of their hackles going up over this. No vehicle was parked anywhere along the way out. There are no dwellings in the area to have come from. It would not be impossible to walk up there from Dry Valley, but it is unlikely. It would bea bit far especially for an elderly couple not dressed for a walk. Has anyone else had this encounter or other odd encounters along that stretch of road? I could tell when he related this to me he was still bothered by it. He said he did not know if what they saw was real or was an encounter with ghosts. He is a Vietnam Vet and tough as iron and not the kind of man given to talk about this sort of thing.

New Section of Foothills Parkway & Butler's Wrecker Service to the Rescue

New Section of Foothills Parkway and Butler's Wrecker Service Rides to the Rescue! 

Dana & Kenny Koogler

Saturday February 23, 2019

Butler's Wrecker Service

Foothills Parkway Info

   We had all that flooding and then afterwards landslides, rock slides, downed trees. 

Everyone has been very weary of the rain, flooding, cold and dreary gray weather.   The first sunny day we had to go for a drive on Foothills Parkway's new section we took it.   It has been open since back in Autumn, but we still had not visited.  We have visited it a couple times prior when they would open it up for Fall color weekends and such.   Today we'd drive it all the way from Walland to Wears Valley.   Highway 321 was closed through the gorge because of rock slides at Hatcher's Cut.

I figured we'd have to take the parkway and then just reverse course for the simplest way home.

Below are a couple shots from one of the overlooks. I think it is the second or third one along the way.  Ah What a bluebird day it was! 

        

 Views looking out off Foothills Parkway's new section toward Townsend below.

   We approached an overlook pull off and my head snapped round like it was on a rubber band.

I spotted something going on besides a pretty view.  We were pulling over anyway, but I was getting my camera out as hard and fast as I could getting ready.    I saw a park ranger vehicle and a Butler's Wrecker.  I knew this was gonna be good.  As we got closer I could see a bright orange camaro down over the embankment.  Photos do not demonstrate how scary that had to have been.  He'd jumped the curb at the overlooking parking area and down over the mountain he went.  Brand new car!  

Don't get me wrong. I don't like to see people get hurt, and I do not like to see people's property torn up either, but I had skin in the game here.  I had to do my part and take pictures and video of this momentous occasion.   I am an opportunist. There were other looky-loos around doing the same, so I felt a little better about myself.

      

 Somethin' goin' on hyere.

 oh the drama

 Pulling the camaro back up over the mountain

The guy got stopped at the bottom of that brushy spot just in front of the tree line nearer the bottom, but beyond that were hundreds of feet to continue the drop to the base of the mountain.

Glad he was safe. The car ended up with surprisingly little damage!  All's well that ends well.

    What was my reason for the photos and video?   Our grandson Gabriel age 2 loves trucks, vehicles of all kinds and most especially wreckers and working on vehicles.   He is Papaw's little man.
He and I play "Call Jerry" all the time referring to calling Jerry Hall of Butler's wrecker service. It is not far from my house. They are great people.   Salt of the earth.  Anyhow we have to pretend we are stuck and calling Jerry.   Sometimes I change things up and pretend Gabe has called Jerry so many times he can't come anymore.  We then have to call Tipton's Garage in Eagleton to come tow us.
Gabe likes me to make up some long winded story on the phone about what was going on when we got stuck or broke down.   He is country as cornbread.

            Gabe in a little wrecker at the State Farm office in Eagleton

 We've been washing and detailing our trucks today.

 Little man has his camo on and his boots... he's a fireman/wrecker driver.

Busy boy. He calls his fire truck his Brrrm Brrmmm!

    Below is a video of them towing out the car. Gabe loved this video like a blockbuster movie.



   
For Gabriel Logan Koogler--- courtesy of Mama Nana




     Once this action scene was resolved we continued out the parkway enjoying the views and scenery.   It was beautiful. Mike Gourley and buddies had seen a pretty waterfall along the road. I wanted to see it.  I had visited it once before long ago, but really had forgotten about its existence.
It was very pretty today with lots of water flow.   We made it all the way through to Wears Valley.
Kenny decided he did not want to double back, but would instead gamble on trying to go through Townsend.  We know a couple back roads as alternatives to Hwy 321 had it been still blocked.
Turned out the road was open by the time we got round there so we were able to make a big loop on our trip home. It was a short little adventure, but a good one with some unexpected events!

 Above and below: two views of the waterfall. It is very tall.

   Below is a video of the falls.

Look Rock and Goldmine Road Exploring

Daisy Fleabane blooming at the Look Rock Campground

Look Rock Campground and Goldmine Road Exploring

Dana & Kenny Koogler

Saturday May 5, 2018

   We decided to stick around close to home to do some snooping and get some exercise.

We'd taken Gabriel up to the Look Rock Campground which sits closed and un-used. 

We went through the week and it was the perfect place to push him in Carsie.   We had us

a little picnic lunch.  We liked it so much we went back Saturday. It was so hot down where

we live, and up in the Foothills it was much cooler.    We were intrigued by the campground 

sitting there. Such a nice facility.  Someone told us they are considering reopening it. 

It would be good if they could, but if they don't we can still enjoy using it for quiet walks.

     We have discovered several neat things off Foothills Parkway in recent years. 

There are a couple waterfalls that seldom get visited because they are so out of the way.

We have also found some pretty wildflowers.  One never knows what you'll find prowling around.  It's like the lottery... you have to play to win!  You just never know!

          We pulled down to Goldmine Trail and walked down as far as the junction with 

Cooper Road Trail.  We rested then turned around and climbed back up the hill.  Kenny wanted some uphill to challenge him a tad more and strengthen his foot and leg.   

We always like this trail in Spring. It is pretty and quiet.  It also has nice Spring wildflowers along the way.  We saw lots of pink lady slipper orchids.   We also saw lots of Catesby's Trilliums.  

 Catesbys trillium

 Old shed and a lone pink lady slipper on the way down to the park boundary.

Cluster of three pink ladies. One is deformed!  

Goldmine Road Trail 

Wild columbine was blooming right where we parked! 
 

Pair of white form Catesbys trilliums. They like the same sort of piney woods that lady slippers prefer.  

Dogwoods were in peak bloom today! 

We saw some pinxter azalea blooming in the woods.

Kenny ahead of me on the Goldmine Trail. Great to see him back up and about.

   Once we got back to the jeep after Goldmine Trail we pondered what to get into next?  

I had been studying the topo map of the area.  I wanted to drive up to Lake in the Sky and Top of the World Estates.    We pulled up there to the chapel.  It is a quaint structure and really fits the area.   The lake looked very pretty today.  We noticed a group of people in the distance having some sort of gathering.  They were laughing and having fun.   

 Above: Top of the World Chapel with the Lake in the Sky behind it.

This is a fully functioning church with regular services.  

Large cluster of Cinnamon Ferns blooming outside Top of the World Chapel.

We walked around and took in the scenery.  We then got in the jeep and headed back the way we'd come.  We saw some flame azalea in the forest.  

  On the drive to the chapel I just KNEW we'd passed a road sign for Tower view Road.   We went back slowly but did not see it.  We turned round and gave it one more try.  This time we found it.  We turned and followed it out. It went through a residential area.   What an oddity this place is.   You see just anything and everything.   One house will be neat as a pin and you can tell it is being lived in day to day or kept up.  The next will be standing empty and abandoned.  We finally saw the "tower" and it was an old water tank that sits out of commission high on the mountain top.   We saw empty homes in all sorts of condition.  Rotting down. Burned down.   New but unfinished. New and unlived in.   

Some real professional work and some jack legg rigged up structures.   The views from the mountain side were astonishing. 

 This view from the top of the world estates is nice.  Look at the red oak buds!

Above is a closer view of the fuzzy new red oak leaves budding out.

Here is the most unobstructed view we got from that side of the mountain.  

In the woods near the mountain top I saw lots of American lily of the valley. It is not the first time seeing it for me, but the first time finding it blooming in my own county!

 

 Abandoned camper

 Ramshackle A frame left to rot.  

    We drove slowly along and were amazed at the empty homes and structures.  A pattern began to appear.    The houses that were being lived in daily had wells!   The ones that were empty did not seem to.  It seems these folks had water at one time, but now they don't. It was clear that the water tower supply system had gone belly up.  I learned later that the Look Rock Campground had a septic system problem and water problem.   It would be expensive to repair so who knows what will happen.   Today we saw a whole lot of "It seemed like a good idea at the time" sitting decaying on the slopes of that mountain.     

    We headed back toward Look Rock Campground to continue our walk.  We parked and strolled the A loop.  We then walked out toward the picnic area which I had never clapped eyes on in my life before today.  It was really pretty and quiet. I sincerely hope they are able to get this open again. It seems a little sad sitting there not being used at all.   The air was cool and fresh. It was great weather for walking.  We had partial views of the mountains through the trees.   There is a trail that runs all the way from the campground to the Look Rock Tower.   

This view was from the Look Rock Picnic area 

We did not see a lot of types of flowers near the picnic area, but we did see one massive cluster of

purple wild geraniums!  

   Back at the jeep we were preparing to go.  Another fellow pulled up in a jeep.  He got out and we greeted him.  He was very nice.  He lived in Townsend and was named Terry. He uses the campground and picnic area to walk. He was also having back problems. Kenny commiserated with him, but told him how well he'd gotten along with surgery. He urged him not to mess around with it long. Don't let yourself suffer.  Now days back surgery is more often a cure and complete recovery.

   We parted ways with Terry and went on to see what else we could get up to.  I had seen a photo of Gods Office in the vicinity of Butterfly Gap.  I believed it was a place folks could go and visit. You know like a chapel in the woods or something?   We went down off the mountain via Butterfly Gap Road.   It was a lifetime ago since we'd driven that route.   It is very, very pretty.  The forest was mostly just green, but a little bit of flame azalea could be spotted.    We did find God's Office, but 

God is exclusive. He had a no trespassing sign up.   So I had to get a photo from the road.  

God's Office viewed from Butterfly Gap Road.

  We continued down the mountain through some of the most remote parts of our county.   It is rural in the extreme.   We finally came down to Butterfly Gap Creek and the little roadside cascade.   Across the creek sits another example of someone's big idea.   It is a crumbling old house sitting amidst the river cane.   

 Very pretty small cascade on Butterfly Gap Creek

 Above and below is a rotting down shack across the stream situated by butterfly gap falls.  The foot bridge used to cross over to it is missing the first several slats.  I joked I wanted to make it my new Bigfoot Investigator office since the rent would be low and if anyone came to file a report they'd have to turn around or wade the creek.

 At one time this place had to be pretty.  Look at all that intricate rock work.

Butterfly Gap Creek flowing every onward.  

 Above and below.. leaves and the bloom of Shuttleworth's ginger on Goldmine Road Trail

We continued on our way home satisfied with our days easy explorations.  Kenny is getting stronger.

We were grateful to have a day out together.