Martin Creek

After a month of so of being away from hiking, it was certainly nice to be back at it.  I just hope the weather stays pretty descent....I hate cold weather.  Our venture today took us over to Clayton, GA.  It was a mostly moderate 5 mile hike.  We crossed several streams and made our way to view two waterfalls, one being Martin Creek Falls. I believe the other was called Becky Branch Falls.  Both are worth the hike. The weather was cloudy with a slight mist in the air, but it was nice hiking weather other than the trails being rather wet and slippery.

From the trail head in Warwomen Picnic Area, near the old CCC trout basins, we hike up to Warwomen Road.  There is a small sign where the Bartram Trail crosses the road.  We continued uphill a bit generally paralleling the stream, 1.8 miles to Martin Creek Falls.  Nice place for our picnic lunch however wet the sitting area was.

Big Bend East - Chattooga River

What an exciting hike!  I love to hike along the Chattooga River especially the upper end where it's not so commercialized with rafters.  Our hike today was a bit tricky with numerous trails leading off the Foothills Trail.  We did get a bit off track buy a few miles, but loved every minute of it. Perfect weather!

We started out on the Big Bend Trail head which is 2.5 miles north on 107 pass the Cheohee Road (actually it's exactly 8.5 miles from Hwy 28/107N on the right at the Cherry Hill Entrance)  The trail head is just south a bit by road on the right.  After that.....well....we follow the trail as much as we could and listened to direction of the river.  Oh my, did we find the river.  It was awesome!

 

 

This was not Big Bend...but it was well worth the trek to get to it....I was the only one that dared!

Bill tried to follow close behind...but had a little mis-hip

What a beautiful fall day!

Coming Along!

Thanks to Donna for this great Pic!

Clemson Central

Not one of my favorite hikes.....just because it's too confusing with all the trails connecting. But got in 6 miles today.....in 82 degrees.   I do like the ease of the trail and walking along the lake.  Had a pretty good turn out today of 20.

                                                                 

 - Jeanne, Karen with Riley the dog, ?, Leslie, Rita, Donna, top row left to right - ?, Deb, Michael, Herb, Lee, Carol, Bobbie,Mike, ?, ?, Kathy (blue hat), Nancy with dog Lilie, and me.

At Issaqueena Lake and Overflow Dam of Lake Hartwell

Getting it done in my trail shoes....thanks to Mandy!

Dupont

Yes.....excited that we are going back to Dupont.  Love this place!  We have a big turn out for this one.

Just a small sample of the trails in this park of Dupont!     Hooker Falls, Triple Falls and High Falls.

Triple Falls - standing at bottom of number 2

Lunch time at High Falls

A better view of Triple Falls

Smoky Mountain - Day 4

Don't even remember my head hitting the pillow last night......but I'm up now and ready for the day.  We are ready to check out but getting in another hike before we head home.  Nancy, Bill, Kathy and I are headed to "The Road to Nowhere".  There are several trails in this area and we entended on doing a 2 mile hike but of course, we ended up doing a moderate 4 mile hike on part of the Lakeshore Trail and Forney Creek Trail which we started out on the Goldmine Loop Trail.  I'm still confused.

The story of "The Road to Nowhere" is back in the 30's - 40's Swain County gave up the majority of its private land to the Federal Government for the creation of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mtn. National Park.  Hundreds of people were forced to leave the small communities.  With the creation of the park, their homes were gone and so was the road to those communities.  The old Hwy. 288 was buried beneath the lake.

The government promised to replace the hwy. with a new road.  Lakeview Dr. was to have stretched along the north shore of Fontana Lake, from Bryson City to Fontana, 30 miles.  It was also to have provided access to the old family cemeteries.

Lakeview fell victim to an environmental issue and construction was stopped, with the road ending at a tunnel about six miles into the park.  Swain citizen's gave the unfinished Lakeview Dr. its name, The Road to Nowhere.

In 2010, Swain County accepted a cash settlement from the government in lieu of completing the road.

Looking for away around the mud hole.....Mandy would have jumped through it and probably in it!

Nancy resting before the climb back out!

One of the many tributaries of Fontana Lake

Almost out!

After a stop at the local "Farmers Market in Bryson City, Nancy and I were on our way back to Salem.  There is just so many trails in the Smoky Mountains, I know I will never be able to hike them all....but I'll try! 

Smoky Mountain - Day 3

Already day 3......we all gathered again after our belly were full from breakfast for another days hike.  I was planning on hiking to Charlies Bunion, but my hip was still rather tight from the day before.  Most of the group had also changed there mind about this hike and did the Alum Cave hike with Bill....a more difficult hike than I wanted today.  Nancy was on my pace as well as a few others, so we drove back over to the parkway and hiked the Kephart Prong trail of 4 miles.  It was a moderate hike because of the terrain and gently elevated slope.  The trail wanders for two miles beside a stream to the remains of a CCC camp and the Kephart Shelter.  A beautiful hike!

Afterwards we visited the Oconaluffee Visitor's Center for lunch and another short hike.  We had lunch along the river, but I stayed back and rested on one of the rocking chairs on the Center's back porch.  The rest was very welcomed and I also enjoyed the walking around at the Visitor's taking in all the displays and reading materials in the area.

From the pictures that Bill and Donna took on their Alum Cave hike, I have to plan that one for next time.

In Kephart's Prong

another creek pic at Kephart

Evan ready for Fall

Returning to the Inn around 4ish for another soak in the tub before the evenings events.  After dinner a quick game with Nancy, Tom and Arlene before turning in. 

Smoky Mountain - Day 2

The hike today was to Clingmon's Dome and Andrew's Bald.  Most of the group signed up for this hike so we had to divide into two groups and arrange the car pool.  Bill had suggested that since he and Donna were doing the early time out hike, that I go with Nancy's group so that we would have someone to take pictures along her route.  That was fine by me.  The Parkway is about a 45 minute drive from the Inn and that was where we were headed.

Clingmans Dome is at an elevation of 6,643 feet and is the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains.  The tower rises above the forest affording a magnificent view of the mountains.  It is reached by a strenuous half-mile walk from the large parking area. 

Nancy's Group

Mike and Donna

Our next hike for the day was from the same parking area....Andrews Bald is a round-trip distance of 3.6 miles and a moderate very rocky hike.

Bill's Group have lunch at Andrews Bald

Evan ready for the Hike!

 Andrews Bald

Pretty tired after today but on the same schedule as late night except this afternoon it was soaking in the tub then Social/Happy Hour and a fabulous dinner at the Inn (also included in room).  A had a great prime rib!  Now off to bed......

Smoky Mountain Outing - Day 1

This was my second year participating in the 4-day hiking outing that our group puts together.  They choose the Bryson City Area which is close to the Smoky Mountain National Park.  It's been a very long time since I was in this area.  My stay with the group was even better this year, I guess mainly because I new more hikers.  I choose a suite balcony room at the Fryemount Inn.  Most of the group stayed at the main lodge.  I liked the fact that my room was out of the main building and I had some conveniences that the others did not...ie AC, TV, small kitchen. It was a bit costly, but I'm glad I chose it.   I thought when I booked the room that possibly Pam or Buddy would be with me....as it turned out, either of them came along.  I did however, hitch a ride with Nancy Carhuff.  She was meeting some of the other hikers earlier the first day for a run on the Nantahala River.  I wanted to just tag along and reminisce....ended up taking pictures for the group.

Both of the photos where at the last fall before take out...now called Nantahalla Falls, but was once known as Little Wesser.  There were 9 of the ducky boaters from our group.  A very pleasant day....loved hanging out around the river taking pictures, visiting the shops and restaurants while the others played in the water.

We arrived at the Fryemount Inn around 3:30 where most of the others that were attending had already checked in or was out for a brief hike at Deep Creek.  A quick shower and we gather for our social/happy hour/greeting time.  It was nice to see some folks I missed from last winter's hike (we were in Florida).  Bill briefed us on the many hikes in the area and we all signed up for the hike we were doing for the next day as well as the time slot for breakfast (included in price of room).  Ready for a good nights sleep and excited for the adventure tomorrow.