Foothills Trail at Bad Creek to Johnson Creek

Thursday, December 29th - What a beautiful day for a hike!  Entering from the Bad Creek Area off Hw. 130 in SC and just before the entrance to Whitewater Falls, 22 of us hiked over to Johnson Creek to enjoy the day and picinc by the roaring creek.  The Foothills Trail is actually 77 miles in length and travels from Oconee State Park area to Table Rock, crossing many, many creeks, rivers, and specatular waterfalls.  Considering the numerous spur trails and connectors, this trail is well maintained and well marked.  Most of this trail is moderate, but I've heard that this trail is streneous in some areas.  This hike today was an in and out trip for a total of 7 miles.  It was a great hike with just one little BooBoo....for some unknown reason at the last 1.5 miles my left knee gave way on the decending slope.  With the assistance of a couple of trekking poles and moral support, I was able to finish the hike only hobbling a little bit.  Not sure what happened, but when I got home I grabbed my favorite glass of wine and when to the jazzaci.  It did help some, but then I took an ibuprofen and rub some biofreeze on.  Looking forward to my next hiking adventure.

NOTES:  Morning temp 30; afternoon 55.  Need to take ibuporfen before hiking and during.

November 20, 2011 - Winding Stairs Trail

Today, Pam joined me on the Tuesday morning hiking trip.  Our goal today was 7 miles of the Winding Stairs Trail in NW South Carolina.  The trail is actually a good beginner trail, but if you take the southern trailhead route it's a little more demanding.  We encounter several small creek crossings, many hurdles over down trees, sharp switch backs and all at a moderate elevated climb.  We made it to Miuka Falls and then it started to rain a bit.  Several of us dogleg down to the falls for pictures.  After continuing on the trail for awhile, the rain picked up and the group decided to head back.    We discovered another waterfall called "Secret Falls" on our return route.  Pam and I, with a few others, scrambled down the side of the mountain to get the full view, not realizing we had to climb back out.  That was a tough one.  As I sit writing this, I'm having a hot cup of cocoa by the fire.  It was a great hiking day and looking foward to Thursday's hike on the Foothills Trail on the East Fork Chattooga.

NOTES:  Temp at 40 in am then warmed up slightly with drizzle rain.  Stayed warm and dry with my rain jacket, long sleeve black under armor and purple vest.  Just wore my hiking pants.  Feet stayed dry wearing my hiking shoes.

The Chattooga River Trail

Thursday, December 15th - Finally got to hike again.  Today I joined the hiking club on the Chattooga River Trail at the SC/GA state line.  I understand there are more than 50 miles on or near the River, but today  we did 6.5 miles.  This section along the trail is fairly easy but the last 2 miles are pretty rugged.....of course it would be, when your following the river. I've never gone under and over so many down trees nor sprinted so many creeks before.   The river,  was fairly peaceful, but had several wild and dangerous rapids today.  One was at "Bull Sluice" and it was running pretty good.  I remember rafting on this section many, many years ago.  We enjoyed a picinic lunch here before we hit the trail for the 2 miles down river to the bridge.  The weather was partly cloudy in the am with temps around 45 and then reached around 65 by the end of the trail.  Looking forward to more adventures in this area.



Picnic at 4 miles


 

Bull Sluice

Notes:  Hiking pants worked wonderfully.   Suggest longer sleeve underarmor.  Wore today, short sleeve heat underarmor with cold wear jacket.  Comfortable, but would have been cold if weather had been lower than 45.  Pants did great, but will also need underarmor if weather is colder - as well as hat and gloves.  Boots and new socks were great.

Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve

Thursday, December 1 met the hiking club and Mandy for a hike in the Eastatoe Creek Heritage Preserve in Pickens County, SC .  It was an absoulutly beautiful day, probably reach 55 by lunch.  The trail is relatively easy for most of the way, but drops precipitously down into the gorge for its last .5 miles.  The switchbacks makes the going a bit easier and the stairs were quite helpfull on both the descends and ascends.  I'm so glad I got to spend some time with Mandy today.  It's not often we get to spend time together with just the two of us.  Once we reached the riverside, we had a pleasant picinic lunch on one of the boulders and then it was time to head back. I believe the total trip was 5.5 miles.  I think this is the longest I've ever hiked, so far, and I'm sure it was a little boring for Mandy, but  she seemed to enjoy all the folks and the hike and they were equally pleased to have a youngster among the group.  I didn't mention the waterfall......the pictures will tell it all.  Looking forward to our next hiking adventure next Tuesday and Thursday.  Might even visit Mandy in Asheville for a run next week...lol     Hopefully, just a nice hike in the Smokies without any bears.

Issagueena Falls and Blueridge Historical Railroad

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - Met hiking group for a 5 mile hike on the railroad trail.  This abandoned railroad trail dates back to the early 1800's and was never completed due to the civil war.  It was suppose to be a trail to Charleston.  We begin at our usually meeting place at 8:30 and caught up with others in Walhalla to group and pool for just a few miles away to the Stumphouse Tunnel.  Just pass the entrance of this tunnel is the path to Issagueena Falls (named after an Indian princess).  I've never seen this area before (don't know why - it's just on Hwy 28 outside of Walhalla).  I did not go into the Stumphouse tunnel today because you needed a flashlight to travel through the 1,617 feet dark and damp opening.  Just beyond this area is the entrance to the falls and the Blue Ridge Railroad Trail where you can see two other abandoned tunnels.  The trail today was 5 miles and took us to the middle tunnel and Saddleback tunnel.  I went inside the middle one, only to be able to crawl in a few feet and then stand up just for a few steps.  There was a barricade up and you could tell where the whole tunnel had clasped.  The last tunnel was filled with water and this was where we turn back.  It drizzled most of the way back to base, but it made for an exciting day and meet some very nice people.  There were only 8 of us willing to bear the weather.

Temp - 37 - 40 degrees
No wind
Need waterproof hiking pants

Opossum Creek Falls

My first outing with the hiking club took me on a 3 hour moderate to strenuous hiking journey in an effort to see a 50-foot waterfall and boy was it an awesome site.  I meet the group a 8:30 a.m. and it was misty raining.....but we went on because the weather was suppose to clear.  We made a few turns off Hwy 76 (Long Creek Branch) until we entered the trail head. This was a 1.5 mile hike to the Chattooga River for lunch break and then continued .5 miles to the waterfalls.  The OCF tumbles over a steep cliff with two major drops for a total descent of more than 100'.  When I saw the river I had a flood of memories past me by.  Those good ole rafting/kayaking days with the family.  I thought about Dad alot today. 

Lunch at the Chattooga River

It was an absolute pleasant day and I enjoyed this hike so much.  The terrain wasn't too bad....the leaves had covered most the roots along the pathway, but my new shoes held the slippery leaves.  There were 15 of us that participated.  I learned today there are 300+ in the club.  Everyone was about my age and a few older, some with spouses, some with dogs..... everyone was very pleasant and informative. 



Beginning of trail



Opossum Creek Falls

 



 





 

The Shoes........

what else can I say!  A must!

Nature Bridge Nature Trail

Description:  Located in Keowee-Toxaway State Park starting of the Park Office, this moderately strenuous, well-marked 1.5 mile trail provides a nice get away on land that Cherokee Indians once traversed.  The most distinguishing feature of this trail, the natural bridge, provides a natural fixture for you to cross Poe Creek, which you will follow for a short distance of the hike.

Mandy and I hiked this trail one Sunday afternoon in November.  This was really a re-introduction to hiking for me.  I haven't hiked in 18+ years - except for the occasionaly lesiure walk on pavement.  Truly enjoyed having Mandy with me to show me the ropes and her company. 

This trail took us about 40 minutes with some time spent taking pictures.  I think I did pretty well, considering I didn't realize we would encounter some climbing - guest I should pay attention to the description before I head out.  The weather was very pleasant and we had intended to extend this hike another 2.7 miles on the Raven Rock path, but time ran out.  We had to be in Greenville later that afternoon.