Short Springs SNA

Joan scheduled a hike with Dennis Horn at Short Springs SNA. It was a Sunday afternoon hike to see the fall color and for tree identification. I got there early so I drove to Rutledge Falls which is close by. It is on private property with access by the owners. Beautiful farm, really pretty waterfall just behind their house. A nice statue seems to add peace to the area.

The wildflower book I have is edited by Dennis Horn who is a charter member of the Tennessee native plant society and a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Rare Plants in Tennessee. We were chatting in the parking lot, and I showed him my book, he asked where I lived and showed me a rare plant that evidently grows on our mountain top not far from our house. Since it blooms in April and May I will have to wait to investigate.

Dennis pointed out different oaks, maples, magnolias, different leaves, explaining how to id trees without their leaves. Much study is needed. We saw beautiful waterfalls, thankful for the recent rains. Adams Falls had water falling coming from a spring in the side of the ridge. Machine Falls was flowing well and the water is so clear! There were some young guys flying a drone, and one had a remote controlled truck climbing the rocks.  Dennis left us behind at the waterfall and was gone by the time we got back to the parking lot. I should have had him autograph my book.

 

Rily's wedding and Brooks Lake

A trip down to Georgia for a cousin's wedding made into an adventure. We headed down to Brooks Lake campground making it just in time to get set up and leave for the wedding. The wedding was moved due to the rain so we got to do a little more exploring to find the wedding. It was beautiful and we got some family time in.

The campground is set up a bit different than most with sites set scattered across the fields with no drives or pads. There is water at the pavilion and the electric is mostly limited to 20amp service. There is a bath house, but no showers and no dump station. The area is beautiful with a big lake and the owners super friendly. We explored the campground and trail the next morning before heading out.

We headed out and explored the Black Shoals Park which has a Georgia Veterans Memorial Park. They have a fishing lake and a hiking trail. We explored it all and then started the drive home.

Pictures:

Father / Son Trip 2019

Lakeshore Trail 3.0
Forney Creek Trail 0.4
Bear Creek Trail 2.8
Day One 6.2

Bear Creek Trail 3.1
Welch Ridge Trail 0.3
High Rock Trail 0.4
High Rock Trail 0.4
Welch Ridge Trail 0.3
Bear Creek Trail 3.1
Day Two 7.6

Bear Creek Trail 2.8
Forney Creek Trail 0.4
Lakeshore Trail 3.0
Day Three 6.2


This year, just for a change, we went with plan A. We all arrived on Sunday to start some home projects.  The usual tree cutting was a big hit again this year. No body even got hurt.

Monday we started the backpack while the women folk started spending. We headed off to North Carolina which with our drought we were pleasantly surprised with plenty of moisture over there. We headed down the "Road to Nowhere" and started on the Lakeshore trail heading West. The tunnel is right at a quarter mile long and right around there we saw all the people that we were going to see in the next three days.

We turned on the Forney Creek trail for a short spell before heading up the Bear Creek trail. We were going by Steve's description, which he memorized this year and left the printed addition at home. We were looking for a trail on the left which lead to a old settlement. We spent some time exploring the area off an old roadbed and never found anything. Shortly after we came to a split in the trail. On the right was a bridge and going up the hill was a no horse sign. On the left was a lesser used trail with no signage. Steve went left and I went right. We both came back with the same report "trail looks used and keeps on going." We decided to explore further. We did the same, but for longer. Same report. Chose on going left because of the no horse sign.

It was warming up as we approached our campsite #75. A big open campsite right on the creek with good access. Section of good hanging trees near the bear bag hanging area. We set up camp and ate dinner. Dad retired to his hammock and we stayed up a little later.

The next morning we made our packs into day packs and headed up the mountain. It was a long steady climb to the top. We stopped and ate lunch on the way. We continued on to the High Rocks for a wonderful view of the mountains below and an old tower house in disrepair.  Afterwards we headed back to camp for the night, cleaned up and ate dinner. Just about bed time it started to rain and rained throughout the night.

In the morning as we ate breakfast, I noticed a swarm of yellow jackets by the rock that we had used to clean up on the night before. Upon further inspection, there was a nest there next to the rock. Boy talk about lucky. We packed up camp and headed out.

We had a short rain shower on the way out and Steve did a massive fall on the trail after stepping on a wet long. He was a little slow on recovery, but made it the rest of the way out. We saw more people as we approached the tunnel again.

We got an ice cream in Bryson City and then headed home. The ladies had a great adventure on their own and we swapped stories over pizza.

Pictures:

Rock Creek SMHC

The SMHC came to hike Rock Creek from the Retro Hughes trailhead to the cascades and back.
Cindy brought a carload of hikers, 4 + her, I met them there. Doris had helped scout these southern segments of the CT so hearing her stories about the early days of the trail was neat. It started out cool, so I kept my fleece on going into the gorge and didn't take it off until we started back out. Rock Creek had very little water, but the pool at the bridge was nice. We had lunch here on the huge boulder. And there was a pool by the campsite. No rain for the last 45 days makes a huge difference in the creek gorges. No water at the cascade at all.

Coming into the gorge, one hiker saw a weird looking root on the ledge that looked like a snake; it was a snake. A big black snake that Doris managed to piss off. She got a little too close for his comfort so he coiled up and struck at her. Of course then we all had to pass by the pissed off snake...
Just don't understand.

Nice day for a hike, thanks to Cindy and the SMHC.

Pictures: