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

Gentian 

Working on Finishing Our CMC Waterfall 100's

Oct. 20 & 21st , 2018

Dana Koogler

Wally Storey

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Hilliard Falls

Looking downstream at the brink of the lower cascade

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

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

 Un-named Falls

Lowest portion of un-named falls.

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

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

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

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

Shuck Ridge Falls 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wally at the small falls. 

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

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

Falls below Farlow Gap Trail 

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

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

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

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

Toms Spring Falls is massive!  

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

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

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

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

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

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

      

October Camping Trip with Kenny

Ladies Tresses Orchids growing along the Blue Ridge Parkway

October  Camping Trip with Kenny

Oct. 19, 2018  

Dana & Kenny Koogler 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

coming back. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saw a few Autumn wildflowers at the overlook.   

 View from the Blue Ridge Parkway near

A splash of Fall color 

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

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

 View of the stream at Graveyard Fields

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

 Lower sliding portion of Upper Falls

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

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

 Day Two- Hilliard Falls 

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

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

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

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

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

go on as planned.  Foothills Trail is very scenic.

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

 Lower cascade of Hilliard Falls

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

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

     

Pretty cascading falls near Musterground Road.

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

  Day Three--Assorted Falls 

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

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

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

 Bearwallow Falls

Autumn colors at Gorges State Park

D.E.W. Falls in Autumn.  

         

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

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

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

Let the Bellyaching Begin! 

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

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

Big Bearcamp Falls

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

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

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

 12 foot high Lemon Falls.

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

 Clear sparkly water at the base of Lemon Falls

Mica flecks in the water are like golden fairy glamor.

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

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

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

Fontana Village Birthday Trip

Yellow Fringed Orchid growing at Tulula bog

Fontana Village Birthday Trip 

Aug. 12, 2017 weekend

Dana Koogler & Kenny Koogler 

 It seems like every year for my birthday it sucks worse than the last year.   I watch the family make

plans and carry them out for other folks birthdays and mine kinda gets ignored.  I guess part of it is the fact I don't like to be made too much of a fuss over, but a little bit would be nice now and then.

I spend lots of time doing nice things for other folks birthdays, but mine is not important.   I decided

since I had sense enough to see the pattern I'd do something about it. I told Kenny what I wanted for

my birthday was a trip to get away with him.   I'd blow everyone off and do what made me happy

for a change.    

        We have stayed at Fontana Village in the past for wedding anniversary trips and lived there

briefly for Kenny's work.   It was always pleasant and relaxing.  The campground at Fontana is not

great so we decided to rent a cabin.  We had also eaten at the restaurant before and really enjoyed it.

I saw that the dining areas had been refurbished and management changed. I was looking forward to

trying it out.     We headed over and stayed a long weekend.   We would do some more exploring and cleaning up those lists of places we wondered about.  We'd also be knocking out one of those wishes

from the wish list by simply staying there again.    

      I will say that while the trip itself was fun and relaxing parts of it did not live up to expectations.

The dining services are so so.  Lunch at the grill is nice.  Would definitely recommend that and would do it again.   The restaurant is still beautiful and has a nice view, but the atmosphere has changed as has the food.   You now must have a reservation.   The food and atmosphere are pretentious and expensive while the food is lack luster.  Very limited menu. Most of the food is emptied out of containers and zapped in a microwave. They've forgotten the history of the area and where they came from.   Good ole country cooking  would be a better way to go.   I have spoken with a number of persons who have also found it disappointing.

           We took the canoe over to the lake with us, but ended up not using it. 
On the drive down we stopped at Twentymile and hiked to the cascades and on past them to a place called Hamilton Hollow. It was very pretty. 

 Lots of cranefly orchids present along the Twentymile Loop Trail

 Twentymile Cascade

Small cascade and pretty water hole at Hamilton Hollow. 

Looking down the chute.. a narrow gorge at the mouth of Hamilton Hollow.

      We continued on to the cabin and checked in and got situated.  It was nice.  I'd stay there again
with no hesitation. I'd prefer to just bring plenty of grocery items and supplies and cook all our meals though.  Either that or go some place down the road toward Murphy or Andrews out to eat.
Fontana Village has a peaceful feeling to it all the time.  It is like going back in time in many ways.

       Tulula Bog Wetlands

  One of the places I wanted to get it off my list was Tulula Bog Wetlands.  I had been before and seen lots of nice orchids.  We stopped just short of seeing the entire place.  I planned on going back and hiking that last bit.  Supposed to be some neat carnivorous plants there.   We pulled up to the trailhead. We were aghast at what we found.  The entire road bed was now grown up in weeds and kudzu that were nearly impenetrable.   Waist high weeds and kudzu.  I looked around for an alternative path.  I saw none.  We pulled down the road a bit and I noticed the woods were pretty open by comparison.   I figured I'd just go in that way and make my way past the bad patch of trail.

Kenny refused to go.  He told me to knock myself out, but he was not getting involved.   I told him ok and off I went to try it.   I did manage to get down to part of the bog. I saw yellow fringed orchids and a few pretty plants. I did find the creek and some of the work done to restore the wetland.  Someone in the past tried to turn it into a golf course.   WCU was doing a restoration/mitigation project there.  I soon found that it was not just the beginning of the path consumed by weeds. The entire logging road was now overgrown with thick kudzu and small saplings.   Since the college had moved on to other things the place is not being maintained.  I tried many different things to approach.

I finally gave up.  You either struggle with the overgrown logging road getting chiggers and possibly snake bit OR you take your chances with the boggy terrain that may suck you in.   I did not like either choice.   It was not in the cards. I have tried it. Failed and I'm moving on to other things.

It was still satisfying to know I've tried and given it my best.

 The only vista I had of the entire wetlands area

 One of many yellow fringed orchids

    Forest gloom and ferns.

 Little terrapin was the only creature I saw thankfully. No snakes!

The wetlands. I dared not try to cross that muck.  

 

A Few Un-named Cascades

 Tulula bog was something of a let down, but  the trip back yielded a few nice surprises.   

We couldn't believe we hadn't seen these cascades before.   They are both roadside falls.   

Recent rain had them flowing nicely. 

 Cheoah Lake covered in advection fog

 Pretty un-named cascade near the lake.

Another un-named cascade.  

           The Next Day Was Weird

  Sometimes I can just feel when something is wrong.   It doesn't have to have happened yet. Sometimes I can feel it before the fact.   Got up Saturday August 12... my birthday.  The plan was to take the canoe and go across the lake. We would hike up to the Brown Hole.  Not brown because of the color but a hole on Hazel Creek where the brown trout go to spawn in November.   I had been looking forward to it.  I woke up and was not sure what was wrong, but I did not have any interest in going.  I just felt sad.   Something was not right and I couldn't say what.   I told Kenny and he was completely understanding about my change of heart.  Instead we used the time to explore some roads we'd wondered about.   We found Rainbow Falls that I'd learned of.  It was pitiful! It is just a collection of dripping rocks.   Since we were there this Summer they've had a landslide right near this.  It is going to shut the road down for months.   

Rainbow Falls could use some water!

 Sun coming up over the lake. 

 Lone boat in the distance

Rain clouds were parting.  

Pretty cascade at Cable Cove.  

 bold red cardinal flower in Cable Cove

Bright orange jewel weed at Cable Cove.

  We checked out the marina.  We explored some side streams and saw lots of pretty Summer wildflowers and small cascades.   

     We went back to the village and had ice cream at the store.  We went to the swimming pole which is marvelous and swam for a couple hours.  It was very relaxing.   We finally went back to the cabin and saw on the news that evening about the riots in Charlottesville, Virginia.  We are from Virginia.

We both sat and cried. So sad. I couldn't help wonder if that was the negative vibe I was picking up 

earlier in the day?   I later learned that all the persons protesting and rioting were from out of the area. They are not Virginians!  The chief of police, city manager and mayor of Charlottesville did a nice job.  The assortment of black, white and mixed race persons represented made me realize that no matter what anyone says Virginia has come a long way from its ugly past.  

         I had a quiet birthday, but at least it was better than some other ones.