Hiking

Karen’s Waterfall Adventures-Part 1

Excerpt by Karen T.
Holcomb Creek-upper falls small

Anna’s reports on her summer adventures inspired me to report on MY
“adventures” this summer. With it being so hot for so long, here in GA, I
didn’t feel like doing any really long or strenuous hiking…so almost every
weekend I’ve been out one or both days “chasing” waterfalls.

I found this wonderful site: http://www.jjanthony.com/waterfalls/ that has
something like 100+ waterfalls in North Georgia, and I’ve been using it to
target waterfalls. He has a few that I’ll probably never get to, because of
the trail (or lack of one) but I think I can eventually do most of the ones
that are publicly accessible. Some of them I’m saving for when the weather
is a bit cooler.

Here are the ones I’ve done so far, all of them on Mr. Anthony’s site
(except the last one):

Ada-Hi Falls – this falls is at Black Rock Mountain State Park. The trail
starts near the campground and is 1/2 mile down the mountain. This is a
steepish, switch-backed trail with a lot of steps near the bottom. There’s a
nice viewing platform at the falls, but the falls themselves are somewhat
disappointing. At the park headquarters they have a nice photo of the falls
with a lot of water coming over, but they said it doesn’t look like that now
because the creek re-routed itself. Now it’s not much more than a trickle.
It’s not worth a special trip, but there are several waterfalls in the area
and if, like me, you just want to “mark it off the list” it’s not too bad a
hike down.  There is a fee for the park.

Amicalola Falls – this is probably GA’s most famous waterfall. Mr Anthony
lists it as a 600 foot high waterfall, but the state parks site says 729
feet and it’s the highest waterfall in GA. The trail from the parking area
to the base of the falls is a short, steep, paved trail. I don’t know how
long, maybe 1/3 mile? Then it changes to a combination of steps and
bridges – over 400 to the top of the falls (I’ve never done this part).
There’s also a trail from a parking area up the mountain that is wheelchair
accessible that comes out onto the steps/bridges part of the trail. Any way
you look at it, this is a spectacular waterfall and well worth the work to
get to it.  There is a fee for the park.

Holcomb Creek Falls, Ammons Creek Falls, and an unnamed falls on Holcomb
Creek – this is a long drive from my house, and a relatively short, but
strenuous trail. As described in most trail descriptions (Holcomb Creek
Trail) you park at the junction of 2 forest service roads. From there you
switchback pretty steeply down to the Holcomb Creek Falls. You then go past
these falls, start hiking pretty steeply back up until you get to Ammons
Creek Falls where this part of the trail ends. Then you backtrack a short
way and take a side trail back up the mountain. This is a tough, steep trail
that goes more or less straight up the mountain beside Holcomb Creek – but
for most of the length you can’t actually see the creek due to the (mostly)
mountain laurel and rhododendron bushes along the banks. Shortly before you
get back to the road, there is another unnamed falls that is quite pretty.
When you get back to the road you are actually higher than where you parked,
so you have about 1/2 mile+ hike back down the road to your car. This was a
tough hike, but well worth it for the falls. I think if I did it again,
though, I’d park at the same place, but hike it “backwards” so I’m hiking
down that long uphill hike.

Angel & Panther Falls – These 2 falls are on the same trail, about 1 mile+
long. Panther Falls is first at about 1/2 mile and is a tall, cascading
waterfall. Angel Falls is another 1/2 mile further up the mountain and is
similar to Panther Falls but is spectacularly much higher. In fact, the
viewing platform is so close to the falls that I had to take 3 separate
pictures – top, middle, and bottom – to get it all! The trail is all uphill
going in, but is not too steep, except for just above Panther Falls where it’s a
steepish climb for a couple/three hundred feet, then it gets a bit easier.
These are beautiful falls, well worth the hike.  There is a fee for the campground.

Anna Ruby Falls – this is another famous falls, and the trail to the base is
paved. It’s steepish at first, then gets easier just before you get to the
base of the falls – where there are some nicely placed viewing platforms.
This would be a pretty hike even if there were no falls at the end, the
creek is just one cascade after another all the way up.  There is a fee to view the falls.

To be continued……

Karens Trail Report-High Shoals

 

600_8580417Ok, I made a very last minute request to have today off for the holiday and
got it! So I was determined not to waste it loafing around the house all
day. I set out to explore the High Shoals Scenic Area, which is off of Ga
75, north of Helen, GA. I did the 1.2 mile hike on the High Shoals trail as
far as the 2 waterfalls – Blue Hole Falls, and High Shoals falls.

This was a nice easy hike – going in – because it’s all down hill. In fact
this is a bit of a “roller coaster” trip. You drive UP to Unicoi Gap, then
DOWN to the bottom, then drive UP the Forest Service road, then hike DOWN to
the bottom!

The falls were beautiful and well worth the hike. As I was just coming out
of the second falls, a couple of AT section hikers were hiking in. They
were “resting their knees” (and with a grimace) “by going hiking(!)” I knew
they would pass me going back out and about 2/3 of the way back they did.
We stopped to chat and I told them I had seen a BEAR CUB run across the road
as I was driving in. They hadn’t seen anything of him, and JUST at that
moment…a BEAR CUB jumped up out of the brush and took off down the hill!

Knowing that Mom couldn’t be far away we all hiked on as fast as we could
manage, to put some distance between us. I’m almost sure it’s the same cub
I saw on the road…how likely is it I would see *2* different cubs on the
same day! On the drive in you cross a “wet foot” creek crossing on the
road, then you hike down the mountain to what I am sure was the same creek –
so since I saw the cub not too far from that creek coming in, I think it’s
quite likely he and his Mom just followed the creek back downstream in time
for us to jump him out of the brush.

This was a nice hike, the trail was in good shape with nicely done bridges.
The falls were beautiful and both have nice viewing platforms that give you
a good angle to see them. The whole hike only took me 2 hours and I’m a
VERY slow hiker.

Karen T.

http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/d/ddoggone/Homepage/Homepage.htm

Karen’s Waterfall Adventures-Part 3

Excerpt by Karen T.

Denton Branch Falls small
Kilby Mill Falls – this was another one that took me three tries to find,
that turned out to be easy after all. This is actually a 2 stage falls, and
the trail to the lower stage is easy, the short trail to the upper falls is
not so easy – but it’s not bad.

Lake Trahlyta Falls – these falls are below the lake at Vogel State Park.
The trail starts down from the dam and is a bit steep, and near the viewing
platform not in the best shape, but not too bad.Dames

Tiger Creek Falls – these are 2 falls on the grounds of the Tiger Creek Inn.
Talk to the proprietor and let her know you’d like to see the falls. The
upper falls are small, but pretty and are behind the lower rooms of the Inn.
The lower falls are higher, and down a long, long set of steep board steps
to a small viewing platform. They day I did them it had been raining and the
boards were wet, so I went down VERY carefully in case they were slippery –
there are handrails on both sides.

Unnamed falls Davis Creek-above Dukes Creek Falls – 2 falls – the first of
these falls is LITERALLY above Dukes Creek Falls. The short (maybe 200
yards) downhill trail comes out right on the top of the tallest falls the
feeds into Dukes Creek. There’s a nice flat area to “land” on, so it’s not
dangerous – but you do want to say out of the creek. About 30 feet or so
upstream is a smaller pretty falls. The other falls is further up the same
forest service road. You cross the creek, park immediately and walk through
the well-used camping area and the falls are just around a small curve in
the creek.

Falls on Barnes Creek – these falls are a long, steep drive up a forest
service road in the Cohutta Wilderness, but the falls themselves are in a
small picnic area and are easy to get to. There’s a side trail that goes up
a bit steeply to a viewing platform at the top of the falls.

Warwoman Dell Falls – this is a small, pretty falls at the far end of the
nature trail in Warwoman Dell, outside Clayton. The hike is easy, maybe a
little over 1/4 mile total.

Falls on Wildcat Creek – these 2 falls are right beside the forest service
road and are quite near the road that goes back to the trailhead for Hemlock
Falls. There is also a rock waterslide on the same creek that is very
popular with children.

Minnehaha Falls – this falls is a short hike from the gravel road and had
been a playground for children for generations. They are near Angel Falls &
Panther Falls.

Falls on Crow Creek Road – these are 2 falls, one easily visible from the GA
Power gravel road. The other is a short hike beside the creek and is a nice
area for a picnic. There is a rather elaborate rock built grill here that is
about 5 feet tall – so this is evidently a popular picnic area!

Bad Branch Falls – this tall waterfall is a bit difficult to find. Follow
the directions on Mr Anthony’s site and pay particular attention to the
distances he gives. Once you find it, it’s a short hike up a badly eroded
old road – but worth the effort!
(Panther Falls, Angel Falls, Minnehaha Falls, Bad Branch Falls, Crow Creek
Falls, and Hemlock falls can all be done in one long day of driving/hiking)

Toccoa Falls – this sheer drop falls of 186 feet is on the grounds of Toccoa
Falls College. The trail in is easy. There is a fee to pay to the college.
There is a very sad history to this falls, which I won’t detail here…but
you can look it up.

Falls on Davis Creek (Gilmer County) – this is a different Davis Creek from
the one that forms Dukes Creek. This one is in Gilmer County. The falls are
on private property, but you can get a pretty good – though distant – view
from the road.

Shoals on Soque River – this is not, strictly speaking, a waterfall, but is
a nice cascading shoals right behind “The Mark of the Potter” on Hwy 197
about 10 miles north of Clarkesville. There a nice parking area and a good
view of the shoals from the road.

Tallulah Gorge – there are several falls in this spectacular gorge below the
town of Tallulah Falls. The best way to view them is to take the steps into
and out of the gorge, but be prepared…there are over 1000 steps! There is
a fee into the park.

Becky Branch Falls – these falls are a little over 1/4 mile uphill hike from
Warwoman Dell. Park in the first parking area in the Dell and hike a short
way down the road to the trailhead. The switchbacks out of the Dell are
steep, but not too bad. Cross the road and hike the short, fairly steep
trail to the falls. The trail crosses on a wooden bridge right at the base
of the falls.

Martins Creek Falls – these falls can be reached by hiking past Becky Branch
Falls and then a further 2 miles to the viewing platform at the falls. Or
you can shorten that to 1/2 mile hike by following the directions on Mr
Anthony’s site. Your feet WILL get wet crossing Martins Creek following his
directions.

Keown Falls – the shortest way to these falls is follow Mr Anthony’s
directions. This is a nearly 2 mile hike, and the last part just before the
viewing platform is a little tricky as it is narrow rock steps around a
large outcrop. You can also get to these falls by driving up to the top of
John’s Mountain and hiking down from there…which is a bit longer, but to
me a lot nicer. The falls are a sheer drop and there is actually a hiking
trail that goes under the falls. The falls is very dependent on rainfall and
in dry times there might not be any water flowing over.

Raven Cliff Falls – this is a 2 1/2 mile hike in, all uphill but not too
strenuous. You practically have to be on top of the falls at the top of the
trail to see them as they are in a very narrow slot in the rock. there are
several other unnamed falls along this trail.

Falls near Unicoi Gap – these falls are on the same forest service road that
goes down to Horse Trough Falls and are right along the road, not too far
from Hwy 75. There’s no parking, you just have to find the closest wide spot
and pull over as far as you safely can.

Bean Creek Falls – this small falls is not too far from Unicoi State park,
but is hard to see when the trees are in full leaf. It’s easier to find in
the fall and winter, when it is easily visible from the road. The directions
on Mr Anthony’s site are accurate, except they say the falls are on the
right side of the road…they are not, going up the road the way he
describes, they are on the left side.

Sylvan Mill Falls – this small, pretty falls is on private property but is
easily seen from the road. The road is narrow and there is no parking. Just
park as far to the side as you can and try not to block any traffic that
comes by.

Nancytown Falls – these falls are not on Mr Anthony’s website. They are a
short way down a side trail off the Sourwood Trail in the Lake Russell
Recreation Area near Mount Airy. The easiest way to get to them is to park
in the hikers parking area, hike up the paved road past the group camping
area and where the Sourwood Trail goes to the left, turn right and cross the
creek on the bridge. Hike straight up this road (ignore the road that comes
in from the left) until you cross another creek. There is a pretty little
waterfall here, on the right. Just across the creek the trail goes upstream
to the left. Follow this trail maybe a little under a mile and you will see
a sign to the falls where the main trail turns left to go uphill. This is a
nice trail, but I don’t advise hiking it in warm weather. As much day hiking
as I do, this is the only trail I ever came home from with ticks. There are
several deer grazing areas and when the grass is tall – one year it was over
my head – you WILL get ticks. I only hike this one in the fall and winter,
and early spring before it gets too warm.

Karen T.
http://bellsouthpwp.net/d/d/ddoggone/Homepage/Homepage.htm

You Can Never Have Too Much Tango…Day 4 Continued

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Day 4 continued………

After driving back to Quito, we all go our separate ways to get ready for a big group Tango lesson    followed by a Milonga tonight. We still have plenty of time, so Njål and I head down to the  Indian Market in the Mariscal area to buy some souvenirs. We get out of the cab and I look    up at the giant black clouds that have rolled across the sky. ¨You know¨, I said, ¨this might be a great time to go have a coffee and let this storm pass before we wander  through     the open air market!¨ He agrees and we head for the Hilton Hotel that happens to be there  on the corner. We settle into a much-too-nice restaurant next to a window and order coffee as the rain starts to pour and lightning begins to flash across the sky. Talk about    good timing!!! We talk and laugh and exchange stories about violin making. The conversation   goes from serious to hysterical and back again, neither of us bothered by the fact that this is probably the worst coffee either of us have ever had. J By the time the coffee pot     is empty and the rain has stopped, it is time for Njål to head to his private Tango lesson.   The shopping will have to wait for another day.
I head home to get things organized and within the hour am in another cab headed      for Cafe Libro. This is a beautiful, small restaurant with a dance floor that hosts all  kind of events, including visiting famous Tango teachers. When I get there, class is about     to begin and the floor is covered with dancers. I chicken out of the lesson, knowing that Njål will teach me later, and settle back to watch. Our group of friends has bunch   of small tables and chairs on the side of the dance floor and I am joined by different   people that I met the first evening I was in town. I later told Njål that it was like being part of the     ‘cool crowd’ in high school!
As the lesson turns into the Milonga itself, I talk to different people, sipping hot      red wine, ( vino caliente) out of a mug with a sugared rim. The energy in the place is electric, but grounded and comfortable as more and more people stream in.     There is a group of very stern, frowning women in their 60´s gathered around a table  across the dance floor and I have fun watching them make a considerable dent    in a bottle of rum. I watch all evening and only once did I see one of them smile. 🙂
At times, I find myself sandwiched closely between new Tango friends, all of whom  treat me like I have been there forever. I am having a good time, but all of the sudden,      the Tango music stops and Salsa music starts blaring through the speakers. I do believe     that the Milonga is finished!!! The other women at the table jump up and start    dancing like crazy, motioning that I should join them. Again, when in Rome, right?!

I dance away while the die-hard Tango people slip out quietly. Noticing Njål standing on the side quietly, I went to ask him if he was ready to go home. Tiredly, he says ‘yes’.    Unfortunately, though, the DJ picked that very moment to play “I Will Survive”!     I begged and cajoled and Njål reluctantly followed me out onto the dance floor.  I enjoyed myself to pieces for the next few songs which consisted of American greats,     such as “YMCA” and “Thriller”. Njål was a great sport and kept me company on the dance     floor til I ran out of energy. It is close to 2 am and it is time to go home.   Tomorrow is my last day of playing tourist and Njål and I have been invited to visit a music    festival outside of Quito. I figure I should save some energy for that……. J

Buenas Noches…………

Anna

The Middle of All things- Day 4


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Day 4…………

So, my brother and I have a game….it goes something like this.
He says, ¨I have canoed the boundary waters of Michigan!!¨

I say, ¨Yes, but I have sat on the hillside of a Masai village talking to warriors!!”
He says, ¨Yes, but I have bicycled across the South of France…twice!!”
at which point I say, ¨Yes, but I have ridden a sled across a frozen lake at midnight under the Northern Lights in the Arctic Circle!¨.

It is a totally obnoxious, self indulgent game, but we enjoy it.  However, today I am thinking that, I win!!! Today, I will Tango on the Equator!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
(I know, I know…how obnoxious can I be!?!?!) 🙂
Njål and I have been invited to join our new Tango friends, John, Cathy and David, to go to La Mitad del Mundo. It means, the middle of the Earth and the equator literally runs straight through this little town giving everyone a chance to dance, stand and kiss on the equator itself. David used to work as a tour guide at the museum that straddles the line, so he has agreed to take us all there and show us the sights. Njål and I meet David at his apartment this morning and we take a bus to the main terminal, where we transfer to the bus that travels the half hour to La Mital Del Mundo. The entire trip costs 40 cents, and it passes quickly in conversation. David is the nicest guy!! Of course, like everyone here, he is very handsome. 🙂 And he does dance a mean Tango!! 🙂 But he is also kind and accommodating and is constantly making sure that I know what everyone is saying and doing. He lived in Chicago for three years and his English is perfect. I don’t mind everyone speaking Spanish around me….I figure if it is something that I really need to know, Njål will fill me in. But I am truly touched by his kindness.

When we get there, we are joined by John and Cathy. John is the visiting Tango teacher and once again greets me with a warm smile and a hug and a kiss. I still find him a bit intimidating because he is just so amazing!!! But he is so friendly and down to earth that I find myself relaxed and laughing with him. Cathy is a stunningly beautiful woman that, really, if she weren’t so darn cool, I would have to hate!! 🙂 She also Tango’s like a beast and looks like a model, but is, too, very smart and down to earth. It turns out that she is studying medicine in college and is going to become a psychologist. Everyone is talking like they have known each other forever and even I am laughing and understanding everything that is going on. The sun has come out and the sky is a brilliant blue. The museum is actually a series of outdoor displays that weave through huge cacti and blossoming flowers. The colors are riotous and every few steps there is a different smell.
We join a tour in Spanish, because I am the only person there that doesn’t speak it and as we wind our way around, David whispers in my ear, telling me all about the displays. Since this was his actual job for several years, he knows everything and is a fantastic guide. A lot of this is about the different Ecuadorian tribes, including those of the Amazon. We see actual shrunken heads, (yuck) and gigantic spiders and snakes. We learn about the tribe that, when the chief dies, they bury the chiefs’ wife and children with him. Alive. All I am saying is that that is a good reason to never marry the chief!!

The best part of the tour comes when we get to the actual equator. I just thought it was cool place, but the weirdest, strangest things happen here!!! They have all kinds of neat experiments that they show you that demonstrate just how powerful it is to be at 0 degrees latitude. For instance, they have a sink of water that when you set it on the line and let the stopper out, it does not circle around the drain….it falls straight out. But when you move it three feet off of the equator, in either direction, the water swirls down. On one side it swirls clock wise, and on the other, counter clock wise! This is all within three feet!! AND, if you close your thumb and forefinger together, and have someone test your strength by trying to pry them apart, you will find that you are much weaker standing on the actual equator!! I am not making this up!!
The best part, though, is that it is darn near impossible to close your eyes and walk a straight line down the equator. You will be pulled to one side or another. This got really funny when the dancers got involved!!! John grinned and lined his feet up on the equator, closing his eyes. He took three steps forward and fell off to one side! With an exasperated sound he tried again, and again!. We were all laughing hysterically!! When all way said and done, I looked at Njål and said, ¨Will you Tango on the equator with me?¨ With a smile, he said, Of course!¨ I now have a video of me tangoing on the equator and then, of course, doing the Dance of the Real Woman. It is not quite the same without the hiking poles, but my heart was totally in it all the same!! 🙂 And the best part is that when you see me almost fall over tangoing on the video, I can totally blame it on that whole ´no balance on the equator´ thing!!!

As we finished up our equator fun, it started to rain and we all make a dash for Cathy’s car. The next thing I know, five of us are crammed into her 1974 Volkswagen Beetle and we are weaving down the road, laughing and teasing each other. The next stop is lunch and David knows a wonderful place with great food. Cathy introduces me to Chicha, a fermented corn drink that is fantastic!! (For my friends in the know, this is NOT the one that is chewed up my men and then spit into a bucket to age!!) We all sit around enjoying lunch and everyone is talking and laughing in Spanish. I do not feel left out in the slightest. I pick up every third or fourth words and let the rest of them fall around me like music. All I know at this point is that I am sitting in a cafe in the countryside of Ecuador with new friends, drinking Chicha and laughing.
I am so glad that I said yes when Njål asked if I wanted to go Tango….
(to be continued…..)

Anna aka Mud Butt