Archive for December, 2010
What turned out to be the last day of the warm and sunny weather of Indian Summer before the changeover to more winter-like conditions, was spent hiking with my friends Bol’Dar and Dave on a trip to the Longarm Branch Falls and Wilderness Falls. These are located in the Clark’s Creek area inside the Sampson Mountain Wilderness area. Although there was not much water flowing, Dave had not yet been to the upper Longarm Branch Falls and we wanted to take him to the Wilderness Falls on the way back in order to obtain a GPS waypoint for them. This was needed in order to list them with the TN. Landforms site and allow us to name them since Bol’Dar was the one who first discovered them. We did succeed in this and they are now listed there.
Middle Wilderness Falls 150 '
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Posted on 5 December '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. No Comments.
With only one day for my ‘merit badges‘ and sore muscles to heal since my last adventure to California Creek Falls, and with the continuing above average temps, it was decided by my hiking friend Dave and myself, that we would go on what was planned to be a short hike to Hell Hollow Falls and Small Falls located in Clarks Creek which is within the Sampson Mountain Wilderness Area. Of course as you know things don’t always go as planned !
Old tractor hood found along Chigger Branch
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Posted on 4 December '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. 1 Comment.
It has been many years since I abused various off road vehicles and trails in the Rich Mountain area located in Unicoi county, going to such places as Bumpass Cove and California Fields. My fellow ‘waterfaller’ friend Dave, asked me if I knew how to get to California Creek as he was interested in finding the waterfalls located there. Of course I knew the way but, it seems a friend of his, Jimmy Hilton, who was raised in the area and whose father had actually worked in the mines there, had recently shown him the best way to get there from above the upper falls. Most people risk wading across the Nolichucky River to where California Creek enters into it, and then proceed upstream past the lower falls to Cody Falls and the upper falls. We decided to start well above all of these and work our way downstream instead. This turned out to be a good idea as we ended up discovering some nice cascades and another waterfall above the upper falls that are not yet named or listed.
Falls found above upper California Creek Falls
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Posted on 1 December '10 by RAT, under RATtreks. No Comments.
My name is 'RAT' and I love the mountains and waterfalls of the East TN. area where I live and I hope you enjoy this blog about my outdoor adventures.
