Mercy
05-17-2008, 14:27
May 6-10
Here's an attempt at posting some photos in a trip report.
In mid-March I hiked from the Falls to Bad Creek, and really wanted to see this part of the trail with leaves on the trees.
On May 6th I left my truck at Bad Creek access and got a shuttle ride to Laurel Valley access with my canine hiking partner. My plans were to hike slow and explore a lot.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/dsc01052.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24611&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
This is towards the start of the trail.
Virginia Hawkins falls is signed and sits just off the trail.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/virginia_hawkins_falls.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24603&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
We hiked an easy (pretty level) hike along Laurel Creek 7.5 miles to a short spur trail to the campsite at the top of Laurel Fork Falls. The campsite looked like it had been swept. There was room for several sets of campers spread along the creek side in that area, and we chose an area pretty close to the falls. A little before dark four hikers yelled an "ahoy matey" as they followed the Foothills trail on the other side of the creek. I think they met a boat at the Laurel Fork Falls. They were the only folks I saw day 1.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/laurel_fork_falls.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24607&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
Day 2 we hiked about 8.5 miles to a little stealth site.
At Rock creek I saw three more hikers heading to Table Rock. I was aggravated at folks dumping food near a fire ring attracting ants, but then realized those huge ants were carrying leaves, not food scraps, to some destination. I sat on a log and ate lunch and watched their determination and wondered what kind of ants they were.
I contemplated crossing Rock Creek and skirting the edge of the low Lake Jocassee to Toxaway River in an attempt to avoid the next 1.2 miles that are the most challenging part of the trail (to me!) But, I understand this has been attempted unsuccessfully by several, so I plugged ahead.
The trail passes several good campsites and crosses Rock Creek before climbing up a ridiculous amount of steps that no photos I took could do justice, and then rapidly descending down the other side to a couple of the most beautiful campsites on the trail beside the Toxaway River (with picnic tables, no less!) My knees were screaming in agony, and I figured if I wanted to be able to walk the next day, I'd better hike a little further. We crossed the 225 ft suspension bridge and hiked another mile or so before meeting four eastbound hikers, headed for the Toxaway campsites.
We startled a couple of turkeys, that were roosting in the trees trailside.
We stealthed at a small flat clearing that I spotted from the trail, and was roused in the middle of the night by my canine partner's deep throaty growl. (She rarely growls, almost never barks, and sounds like she is twice as big as she is!) I heard crashing in the bushes, and told the dog to bark, figuring our night time intruder would scramble away. I listened as the brush noises came closer to the camp, so I growled and yelled. Whatever was there wasn't bothered in the least. I finally pulled my arms out of my little warm cacoon and stuck my headlamp out the tent vent and waved it around. Whatever it was went away, and we promptly dropped off to sleep. I looked around a little in the morning, and never saw any tracks or sign I could identify.
Day 3 we hiked to near the access trail to Hilliard Falls about 9.5 miles away. Perhaps this photo explains our slow pace. We hiked to Horsepasture River and found a rock that demanded a power nap after a snack. This photo is after I woke up, and moved down to filter some water... nobody is snapping my photo when I'm resting my feet on an elevation. Suffice it to say, I found nice rest rocks along Laurel Creek, Rock Creek, Horsepasture, Thompson River... you get the idea!
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/horsepasture_river.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24605&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
There were wildflowers everywhere, and several types of trees were still blooming. It was really pretty!
We passed the nice campsites at Bearcamp Creek, and as soon as we crossed the creek again, there was bear sign EVERYWHERE! For over a mile I don't think there was a 100 feet of trail that didn't have signs along side of a bear digging under the leaves, or raking the insides out of rotting trees.
We kept going to a nice site near the Hilliard Falls access trail. It poured that night, and it made for great sleeping.
Day 4 we hiked to Bad Creek, drove over to see the Upper Whitewater Falls overlook, and then went to Oconee to camp with showers!
We broke camp in the morning, shook the tent off, and rigged a line to hang it up to finish drying out while we went to Hilliard Falls. The sign says it is .3 mi off the trail, but it is less than .1, and well worth the trip! If you hike the Foothills, don't miss this one. If we'd been there in the afternoon, I'd have been swimming!
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/hilliard_falls_1.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24604&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
When we got back to camp, two hikers from Wesleyan College hiked up with itty bitty packs, and asked if I was at Thompson River. I told them they'd already passed it. I asked where they were heading, and they said Whitewater... uh, guys, you're going the wrong way. We talked a little and I headed up the trail wondering if they believed me or not. A little later they caught up to me, mentioned their guide book was 20 years old, said they'd camped at Bearcamp Creek the night before, got off to an early start, and somehow got off the trail. They'd hit a forest road and hiked down it until they hit the trail... and turned the wrong way. I wondered how far they'd have gone if our paths hadn't crossed.
We stopped at Thompson River, and lolligaggled on a power nap rock, enjoying the view, and the sounds around the river.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/thompson_river.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24602&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
I met four more folks that day, and I really should have got their photos. Four twenty-somethings with some of the largest, heaviest looking packs I'd ever seen. One guy had five number ten cans (empty) strung to his pack. I started to ask why, but since he seemed to be the knowledgeable one in the group, I didn't dare. (Bear rattle?!:D)
We went to the truck at Bear Creek access, and drove to the Whitewater overlook before heading to Oconee State Park for showers.
The Foothills is a gorgeous trail with beautiful trees and plants, creeks, rivers, and waterfalls. This section of the trail is pretty well marked and maintained, and not heavily used. Water was plentiful, and I never carried more than a liter for me and the dog.
Photos of a couple of falls near Burrell's Ford road in the gallery.
Mercy
Here's an attempt at posting some photos in a trip report.
In mid-March I hiked from the Falls to Bad Creek, and really wanted to see this part of the trail with leaves on the trees.
On May 6th I left my truck at Bad Creek access and got a shuttle ride to Laurel Valley access with my canine hiking partner. My plans were to hike slow and explore a lot.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/dsc01052.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24611&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
This is towards the start of the trail.
Virginia Hawkins falls is signed and sits just off the trail.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/virginia_hawkins_falls.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24603&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
We hiked an easy (pretty level) hike along Laurel Creek 7.5 miles to a short spur trail to the campsite at the top of Laurel Fork Falls. The campsite looked like it had been swept. There was room for several sets of campers spread along the creek side in that area, and we chose an area pretty close to the falls. A little before dark four hikers yelled an "ahoy matey" as they followed the Foothills trail on the other side of the creek. I think they met a boat at the Laurel Fork Falls. They were the only folks I saw day 1.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/laurel_fork_falls.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24607&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
Day 2 we hiked about 8.5 miles to a little stealth site.
At Rock creek I saw three more hikers heading to Table Rock. I was aggravated at folks dumping food near a fire ring attracting ants, but then realized those huge ants were carrying leaves, not food scraps, to some destination. I sat on a log and ate lunch and watched their determination and wondered what kind of ants they were.
I contemplated crossing Rock Creek and skirting the edge of the low Lake Jocassee to Toxaway River in an attempt to avoid the next 1.2 miles that are the most challenging part of the trail (to me!) But, I understand this has been attempted unsuccessfully by several, so I plugged ahead.
The trail passes several good campsites and crosses Rock Creek before climbing up a ridiculous amount of steps that no photos I took could do justice, and then rapidly descending down the other side to a couple of the most beautiful campsites on the trail beside the Toxaway River (with picnic tables, no less!) My knees were screaming in agony, and I figured if I wanted to be able to walk the next day, I'd better hike a little further. We crossed the 225 ft suspension bridge and hiked another mile or so before meeting four eastbound hikers, headed for the Toxaway campsites.
We startled a couple of turkeys, that were roosting in the trees trailside.
We stealthed at a small flat clearing that I spotted from the trail, and was roused in the middle of the night by my canine partner's deep throaty growl. (She rarely growls, almost never barks, and sounds like she is twice as big as she is!) I heard crashing in the bushes, and told the dog to bark, figuring our night time intruder would scramble away. I listened as the brush noises came closer to the camp, so I growled and yelled. Whatever was there wasn't bothered in the least. I finally pulled my arms out of my little warm cacoon and stuck my headlamp out the tent vent and waved it around. Whatever it was went away, and we promptly dropped off to sleep. I looked around a little in the morning, and never saw any tracks or sign I could identify.
Day 3 we hiked to near the access trail to Hilliard Falls about 9.5 miles away. Perhaps this photo explains our slow pace. We hiked to Horsepasture River and found a rock that demanded a power nap after a snack. This photo is after I woke up, and moved down to filter some water... nobody is snapping my photo when I'm resting my feet on an elevation. Suffice it to say, I found nice rest rocks along Laurel Creek, Rock Creek, Horsepasture, Thompson River... you get the idea!
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/horsepasture_river.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24605&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
There were wildflowers everywhere, and several types of trees were still blooming. It was really pretty!
We passed the nice campsites at Bearcamp Creek, and as soon as we crossed the creek again, there was bear sign EVERYWHERE! For over a mile I don't think there was a 100 feet of trail that didn't have signs along side of a bear digging under the leaves, or raking the insides out of rotting trees.
We kept going to a nice site near the Hilliard Falls access trail. It poured that night, and it made for great sleeping.
Day 4 we hiked to Bad Creek, drove over to see the Upper Whitewater Falls overlook, and then went to Oconee to camp with showers!
We broke camp in the morning, shook the tent off, and rigged a line to hang it up to finish drying out while we went to Hilliard Falls. The sign says it is .3 mi off the trail, but it is less than .1, and well worth the trip! If you hike the Foothills, don't miss this one. If we'd been there in the afternoon, I'd have been swimming!
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/hilliard_falls_1.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24604&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
When we got back to camp, two hikers from Wesleyan College hiked up with itty bitty packs, and asked if I was at Thompson River. I told them they'd already passed it. I asked where they were heading, and they said Whitewater... uh, guys, you're going the wrong way. We talked a little and I headed up the trail wondering if they believed me or not. A little later they caught up to me, mentioned their guide book was 20 years old, said they'd camped at Bearcamp Creek the night before, got off to an early start, and somehow got off the trail. They'd hit a forest road and hiked down it until they hit the trail... and turned the wrong way. I wondered how far they'd have gone if our paths hadn't crossed.
We stopped at Thompson River, and lolligaggled on a power nap rock, enjoying the view, and the sounds around the river.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/5/3/4/5/thompson_river.jpg (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=24602&original=1&c=member&imageuser=15345)
I met four more folks that day, and I really should have got their photos. Four twenty-somethings with some of the largest, heaviest looking packs I'd ever seen. One guy had five number ten cans (empty) strung to his pack. I started to ask why, but since he seemed to be the knowledgeable one in the group, I didn't dare. (Bear rattle?!:D)
We went to the truck at Bear Creek access, and drove to the Whitewater overlook before heading to Oconee State Park for showers.
The Foothills is a gorgeous trail with beautiful trees and plants, creeks, rivers, and waterfalls. This section of the trail is pretty well marked and maintained, and not heavily used. Water was plentiful, and I never carried more than a liter for me and the dog.
Photos of a couple of falls near Burrell's Ford road in the gallery.
Mercy