RATtreks

First Hike of the New Year ! 1-16-2010

Finally the temperatures have risen enough to get out on my first adventure of the new decade. I decided to lead an adventure to Dick Creek Falls from the Rock Creek side, along with my son Tyler and good friend Bol’Dar. As usual, we got a late start so we did not leave Hairnt-quarters until around noon. Snow was still visible on the mountains as we drove to Erwin and we hiked on it from the gate where we parked, all the way to the falls and back. It was not deep enough to be cumbersome, except for the ‘shortcut‘ we took on the way back where it was a bit deeper, but we decided we needed some extra adventure anyway! The swimming area in the park was still somewhat frozen.

Dick Creek Falls

It has been more years than I can remember since I hiked this area, the last time being when Bol’Dar and myself hiked up the entire Rattlesnake Ridge trail to the top of Unaka mountain to Pleasant Garden and back. This was a similar route starting out on that same trail, passing through a  ‘prescribed burn area‘ until we reached the intersection of trails and roads at Dick Creek Gap where we left the trail and went down the road towards Dick Creek. After crossing the creek we went right on the road that leads to the old camp spot we used to go to all the time which is just beyond the turnoff to the falls.

Dick Creek Falls

The falls are located not far off the road to the right, just before reaching the small field and camp spot but they are hidden so you will need to listen for them. Not much further beyond that is the end of the road where it runs right into Dick Creek. This is where the ‘shortcut‘ we took began on a fairly nice trail which more or less ended, then became an exhilarating short climb following some yellow plastic bags tied on limbs, where we soon came out on top of the ridge on the Rattlesnake Ridge trail where we went right, leading back down to Dick Creek Gap.  There were some nice views to be seen on the way back down. By the time we got back to the car it was almost 6pm and nearly dark with approaching rain clouds looming,  but we did succeed in our quest to see the falls and take some nice pics with our new digi-cams we each got for Christmas! For more pics of these falls, please visit the photo gallery.

Dick Creek Falls

My next trip will most likely be to the other four waterfalls located on Rock Creek but who knows when or where we will end up as we never make plans and will not get too hasty in our decisions.

Hairnt !    (Trip taken on 1-16-2010)