Excerpt by Karen T.
Falls on West Fork of Montgomery Creek
I saved the best for last! Actually, I just did it today – after failing to
find it yesterday. Mr. Anthony’s directions are accurate, except that when
you get to the area he describes as “an area large enough to park and turn
around” he doesn’t make it clear that you are at an area that looks like 5
or 6 old roads come together. So, yesterday following what I *thought* were
the directions I, naturally, went completely the wrong way and ended up
going down an eroded trail that looks like it might be a mountain bike
trail. I crossed a branch, as he describes and came to a T-junction with
another trail which he does NOT mention. Since he said the trail “ascends”
after crossing a branch, I took the uphill direction. Actually, this was a
very nice trail – but I have NO idea what trail it is! I only know it
wasn’t the right one!
So I went back today and looked around a little more carefully. Actually,
where Mr. Anthony says to take the “right fork” it’s easier to just keep to
the left, but either one brings you out at the same place – where it looks
like several roads come together. There’s a nice parking spot and the REAL
trail is just to the left of this area, over a couple of small mounds
designed to keep care from driving down the old road. This was an easy hike
down and then back up a little way to a very nice, big water fall. I didn’t
climb down to the base, though it’s possible down a steep trail. Maybe some
other day.
But the BEST part I’ve save for last! If you go on the right day, and get
lucky – as I did today – you’ll get to see about 100 good-looking young Army
Rangers out on maneuvers! The beginning of this trail is actually on the
Ranger camp grounds, though not inside the manned gate…but there is a gate
across the road, so it’s possible that sometimes it might not be possible to
drive up the road. Luckily for me, that gate was open both days. BTW, when
Mr. Anthony says the road gets very narrow after the first fork, he is NOT
kidding! It’s JUST barely wide enough for a pick-up truck – you PRAY you
don’t meet anyone coming the other way. If you decide to park at the first
fork (as he suggests) it would still be a nice, easy hike to the falls and
back – maybe just under 2 miles total.
Over the last few weekends, I’ve done a lot of driving on forest service
roads and I am happy to report that a lot of them are in MUCH better
condition than they were last spring, especially FS 42. A LOT of work has
been done on them, grading and graveling, and they are much improved. They
aren’t superhighways, but still much, much better than they were after last
winter.
Karen T.