Cohutta Wilderness Area post Rough Ridge Fire

[Dan Roper]

Today I hiked a 14-mile loop in Georgia's Cohutta Wilderness: East Cowpen Trail (starting at low end), Panther Creek Trail, Conasauga River Trail, Hickory Creek Trail. The forest is in fine condition after the fire that shut down the CWA from early November through December 6, burning 28,000 acres. Some of the understory flora was killed and some healthy trees might have been damaged, but overall the forest looks good. It will recover fast. I suspect that the summer and autumn drought will prove to be the great longer term problem.

The one problem encountered was a high number of deadfalls blocking the trail. This didn't rise to more than nuisance level on most of the trail (and there are long stretches with no deadfalls), but Hickory Creek Trail is a mess, especially the mile north of the Conasauga River. There were dozens of really tough deadfalls there, with a more modest number from that zone on to the parking area.

The forest floor is already partly covered by late-falling leaves. It is not a bleak or unsightly place.

I was amazed at how much water there was in the creeks and rivers. When I hiked on October 31, things were epically low. Today it looks like pretty normal for this time of year. Most encouraging of all, there are lots of evidences of groundwater flow. Replenishing the aquifer overwinter will be critical.

Panther Creek Falls was flowing fast and strong. On Halloween, there was no flow. There were a score or more young folks camping in the flats above the falls.

[Tipi Walter]

Thanks for the update as I consider old Cohutta to be part of my stomping grounds. You say Panther Creek was dry? Where did the folks camping on top get their water??

I've done all the trails you mention on various backpacking trips and remember a badly burned out section from years ago on Rice Camp trail before reaching the parking lot at East Cowpen and Hickory Creek. On my last trip I crossed Jacks River from Penitentiary Branch and went up Rough Ridge trail and camped near where it jcts Cowpen and then finished Cowpen to Three Forks Mt and did a roadwalk to Betty Gap to descend on the Conasauga trail down to Panther Creek and back up etc. The week before my trip in September 2015 a poor soul fell off the top of the falls to his death.

It's good to hear the area hasn't been devastated as now's the time to go when it's cool Any pics??

[johnspenn]

Hey guys, not to hijack but my wife and I love the area, and have been up there along the Conasauga River Trail a couple of times. How do you deal with all the water crossings when hiking in cold weather? (i.e. at or near freezing temps)

[Dan Roper]

Regarding Panther Creek, yesterday it was flowing strongly above and below the falls. In October, the falls were dry and there wasn't any water above except right in the rocks on the ledge, where there was still a small pool. But even in those terrible drought conditions, the lower portion of Panther Creek was flowing, which surprised me greatly.

Regarding the Conasauga River, the water is achingly cold in the winter months. I've crossed before in February and won't ever forget it. I'm usually dayhiking, so I just plunge right through, socks and shoes. I have, on occasion, brought along plastic shoes and changed into them for the two crossing between Panther Creek Trail and Hickory Creek Trail, but didn't like the looseness of the fit and the slipperiness on the rocks.

If you're hiking a longer section of the Conasauga (or Jacks) you could have a dozen or a score river crossings. At high water during wet weather in winter, the crossings can be very hazardous, dangerous and definitely frightening for someone uncertain or unused to that. But for those with experience or determined to go, I think they'd be best off wearing their running shoes and socks. Bring along an extra pair of socks or two to change into after the hike or at camp at night.

[Maineiac64]

Thanks for the update. The river crossings are treacherous, I fell and hurt my wrist badly this summer on Jack's river. The rocks are very slick, I wasn't taking my time and being careful about foot placement and next thing I am going down and I put out my hand instinctively and sprained it on a rock. I personally would not risk doing it in winter, the water in summer is cold enough.

[Tipi Walter]

Hey guys, not to hijack but my wife and I love the area, and have been up there along the Conasauga River Trail a couple of times. How do you deal with all the water crossings when hiking in cold weather? (i.e. at or near freezing temps)

Well, crossing creeks on foot is just part of backpacking in the Southeast mountains. I could name two dozen trails with numerous creek crossings. For an example, check out my Creek Crossings keyword pics---

https://tipiwalter.smugmug.com/keyword/creek%20crossings/

But beyond this, you have to divide the subject into Dayhiker crossings vs Backpacker crossings. As Dan Roper says, winter dayhiking crossings are MUCH different than backpacking crossings as dayhiikers can afford to get their socks and boots soaked because they're heading right out to the car at the end of the day. Backpackers OTOH must do everything in their power to keep their boots and socks as dry as possible for as long as possible. Remember, it's 0F outside. This means barefoot crossings in crocs with or without neoprene water socks. It's painful but must be done as backpackers generally do not carry the extra weight of hip waders.




Regarding the Conasauga River, the water is achingly cold in the winter months. I've crossed before in February and won't ever forget it. I'm usually dayhiking, so I just plunge right through, socks and shoes. I have, on occasion, brought along plastic shoes and changed into them for the two crossing between Panther Creek Trail and Hickory Creek Trail, but didn't like the looseness of the fit and the slipperiness on the rocks.

If you're hiking a longer section of the Conasauga (or Jacks) you could have a dozen or a score river crossings. At high water during wet weather in winter, the crossings can be very hazardous, dangerous and definitely frightening for someone uncertain or unused to that. But for those with experience or determined to go, I think they'd be best off wearing their running shoes and socks. Bring along an extra pair of socks or two to change into after the hike or at camp at night.

The beloved Cohuttas have butt kicking cold water crossings---Jacks in particular is very difficult as it has a brown algae on the rocks which is very slick. But as you say, you're usually Dayhiking which as mentioned is a whole different beast than backpacking crossings.


Thanks for the update. The river crossings are treacherous, I fell and hurt my wrist badly this summer on Jack's river. The rocks are very slick, I wasn't taking my time and being careful about foot placement and next thing I am going down and I put out my hand instinctively and sprained it on a rock. I personally would not risk doing it in winter, the water in summer is cold enough.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpacking2011/Tipi-Walter-Big-Frog-Cohutta/i-CWVPqxn/0/L/TRIP%20122%20118-L.jpg
Here is the Jacks crossing below the Falls and going to the Rice Camp trailhead. It is very slick!!! There are 42 crossings on the mighty Jacks and in the winter it's a real challenge.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpacking2011/Tipi-Walter-Big-Frog-Cohutta/i-Kqt9qHT/0/L/TRIP%20122%20140-L.jpg
The Cohutta has two major creeks with many crossings, the Jacks and this one, the Conasauga. The Connie is much easier because it's smaller and doesn't have the slick brown algae already mentioned. This pic was taken at the crossing going to Hickory Creek.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpacking2009/The-Hilleberg-Keron-Tent-Trip/i-DBFNCgM/0/L/TRIP%20104%20068-L.jpg
In the winter you have to keep your boots and socks as dry as possible hence the need for crocs or water shoes. It's painful, especially on long trails with many crossings like Slickrock Creek with 12 or Snowbird Creek with 12 to 20 depending, and the Cohutta creeks. The hard part is not only the crossings but staying in your crocs for many miles in the snow as the crossings occur once every couple hundred yards.


https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2014-Trips-152/17-Days-Tallassee-Mountain/i-xpwsrzk/0/640/TRIP%20155%20160-640.mp4
Check out this video of Chantelle pulling a typical creek crossing. It's across Slickrock Creek in NC. Now imagine it's 0F with ice on the bank.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2015-Trips-161/Quest-For-The-Connie/i-RD4BGTb/0/XL/TRIP%20169%20180-XL.jpg
Here's the Connie crossing over to the Panther Creek trailhead. Easy enough due to the low water of a drought.

[Tipi Walter]

You got me interested in winter creek crossings so here's more pics---

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2015-Trips-161/Quest-For-The-Connie/i-T2LTLtB/0/XL/TRIP%20169%20208-XL.jpg
On one trip I started at Betty Gap and pulled 21 crossings of the Conasauga with crossing 20 as shown here. Beautiful little gorge, too.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2015-Trips-161/Quest-For-The-Connie/i-P6XghfJ/0/XL/TRIP%20169%20333-XL.jpg
The top of Panther Falls.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpacking2012/Tipi-Walter-in-Snowbirds/i-5vVR2gf/0/L/TRIP%20129%20098-L.jpg
Snowbird Creek in NC is a real challenge in the winter as it's a high elevation creek and requires many cold crossings. Much of this creek is around 3,500 feet---Brrrrr!!!

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2014-Trips-152/24-Days-in-the-Cold/i-b2hmcnD/0/XL/TRIP%20152%20134-XL.jpg
One of the coldest crossings I ever did was during the Polar Vortex of Jan 2014 with nighttime temps around -10F. I had to cross this small creek (Brookshire) in barefeet at 0F and dangit it was tough. Can't rock hop it, boys. Remember, you must keep your boots as dry as possible!

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2016-Trips-171/17-Days-in-the-Snow/i-4X6gqsL/0/XL/TRIP%20172%20146-XL.jpg
One final pic showing a cold crossing over South Fork Creek in the Citico wilderness.

[saltysack]

You got me interested in winter creek crossings so here's more pics---

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2015-Trips-161/Quest-For-The-Connie/i-T2LTLtB/0/XL/TRIP%20169%20208-XL.jpg
On one trip I started at Betty Gap and pulled 21 crossings of the Conasauga with crossing 20 as shown here. Beautiful little gorge, too.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2015-Trips-161/Quest-For-The-Connie/i-P6XghfJ/0/XL/TRIP%20169%20333-XL.jpg
The top of Panther Falls.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpacking2012/Tipi-Walter-in-Snowbirds/i-5vVR2gf/0/L/TRIP%20129%20098-L.jpg
Snowbird Creek in NC is a real challenge in the winter as it's a high elevation creek and requires many cold crossings. Much of this creek is around 3,500 feet---Brrrrr!!!

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2014-Trips-152/24-Days-in-the-Cold/i-b2hmcnD/0/XL/TRIP%20152%20134-XL.jpg
One of the coldest crossings I ever did was during the Polar Vortex of Jan 2014 with nighttime temps around -10F. I had to cross this small creek (Brookshire) in barefeet at 0F and dangit it was tough. Can't rock hop it, boys. Remember, you must keep your boots as dry as possible!

https://photos.smugmug.com/Backpack-2016-Trips-171/17-Days-in-the-Snow/i-4X6gqsL/0/XL/TRIP%20172%20146-XL.jpg
One final pic showing a cold crossing over South Fork Creek in the Citico wilderness.

Damn tipi I thought you carried a pack raft in your pack![emoji51]


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[Dan Roper]

3771537716 The first photo is the hardwood forest at Panther Creek Falls on October 31, 2016. This was one day before the U.S. Forest Service closed Panther Creek Trail due to the Rough Ridge Fire. The second photo was taken yesterday, December 29, when I did the same loop. I chose it because it is fairly representative of the appearance of the forest after the fire. In fact, this may be a little on the severe side of things. This photo was taken on East Cowpen Trail, about a mile up from the lower trailhead. Notice the abundant leaf litter on the forest floor. These leaves fell probably after November 10-15, as the fire reach this area sometime around Nov. 5-7.

The forest is in good shape and will recover just fine. The fire did eat away at trees with rotten areas of trunk, so there are many deadfalls.

[Dan Roper]

I'm not sure why the photos are so small. If time permits, I'll figure out how to do regular sized copies tonight or tomorrow.

[Tipi Walter]

I like your second fotog---below---as it really shows the condition of one of my favorite places---(sorry, pic expanded out to huge)---

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=37716&d=1483134102

[Dogwood]

mostly understory was burned. will recover quickly.

[martinb]

Dang Walter, get a chill every time I see that polar vortex crossing pic.

[Dan Roper]

Today I did the same 14-mile loop in the Cohutta Wilderness Area that I did twice late last year. On Halloween, just as the Rough Ridge Fire was gaining momentum, I hiked the Hickory Ridge Trail, Conasauaga River Trail, Panther Creek Trail, and East Cowpen Trail, in that order. On Dec. 29, I did the same hike in reverse. Today I did it counterclockwise, as on Halloween.

Now spring is here it much easier to see the damage from the Rough Ridge Fire. In some places, the damage is pretty bad. Walking along East Cowepn Trail, which has long vistas to the north and south, I could see big patches of dead forest here and there on Rough Ridge. There is another patch on a rocky secondary summit near Buckeye Mountain. And the side ridge that East Cowpen Trail follows down to the trail head is in particularly bad shape - more than a mile of dead trees and underbrush and a mostly naked forest floor (this area is pretty narrow, the long).

For the most part, though the forest looks to be healing rapidly. There are some coves where lush annuals have already concealed evidence of the fires. And there are stretches where luxuriant ferns carpet the forest floor, mostly concealing evidence of the burn. The upper part of Panther Creek Trail, and the stretch of East Cowpen descending Buckeye Mountain, were particularly pretty.

Little effort has been made to clear out the great number of trees that fell on Hickory Creek Trail and to a much lesser extent on Panther Creek Trail an East Cowpen Trial, after the fire. Recent windstorms, including two in the past week, have dropped many more trees. Hickory Creek Trail is the most effected. Still, this never arises to more than nuisance level, and there are nearly always obvious paths around the worst of the falls.

Water levels in the CWA are robust. The creeks and the Conasauga River were flowing fast and full (but not overfull) today.

Bottom Line: the CWA is by no means a disaster area. There are limited areas that were affected much more than the overall forest, but nature will figure out how to heal the wounds. For the most part the CWA is experiencing a lush and lovely springtime.

[Dan Roper]

3930839309393103931139312
1. Lush growth on the forest floor on East Cowpen Trail, just below the junction with Hickory Ridge Trail.
2. Ferns carpet the forest floor on the Cowpen Mountain spur that Panther Creek Trail follows.
3. The fire burned hot on this section of East Cowpen Trail, between Buckeye Mountain and the Panther Creek Trail junction.
4. The forest is scarred on the badly burned, desolate lead between Buckeye Mountain and the lower East Cowpen Trail trailhead.
5. There are many deadfalls on Hickory Creek Trail, near the foot of Buckeye Mountain. Many of them fell shortly after the fire; others, like this eastern white pine, fell during last week's big storms.

[Dan Roper]

Sorry about the micro-size of the photos. When I have a bit more time, I'll figure out how to upload readable sizes.

[TNhiker]

thanks for the update.....


nice to hear it....