RATtreks

Whiterock Cliffs and Blackstack Cliffs – 10-8-2011

When I am not trekking through the back-country looking for waterfalls you can sometimes find me high in ‘the balcony‘ on some rocky outcropping on top of some tall mountaintop enjoying whatever views might be available at the time. On Saturday October 8, 2011, my friend Bol’Dar and I began our adventure at Camp Creek Bald on top of what is called Viking Mountain. Our goal was to hang out on the two major cliffs near there being Whiterock and Blackstack Cliffs. One faces the North Carolina side and the other faces Tennessee so the views can be breathtaking. The fall colors were very nice so we hoped the views would be extra special for this trip. Our original plan had been to take the shortcut trail over to the Appalachian Trail and go North to Whiterock Cliffs on the Carolina side but, for some unknown reason we changed our minds and ended up walking the gravel road up to the fire tower on the high point of the mountain. This would add a few extra miles to our hike but it was worth it and after all, it was a beautiful sunny day and I needed the exercise.

Whiterock Cliffs

Blackstack Cliffs

I knew from experience that it was a lot further to the tower than it appeared but this did not stop me from doing it. There are many different towers there for everything from television and radio microwave relay stations  to cell phone service towers. As we reached the top we could hear noises coming from over the ridge and I thought I could see a new tower top sticking up that had men working on it. I zoomed my camera in on it and sure enough you could see two guys being winched up and down the tower. Talk about an office with a view ! The fire tower is rather hidden in a precarious location so you can not see it until you climb right up to it. It had been awhile since I had been there but other than some new towers it had not changed much.  Once at that vantage point we could then see that indeed a huge new tower was being constructed just below on the other side down near where the AT comes over the ridge. After spending some time taking pictures from the fire tower and eating a Scooby snack, we took the side trail down the hill to the trail stopping momentarily to talk to the workers and check out the new tower.

Men working high up on new tower

View of Blackstack Cliffs and small part of Whiterock Cliffs with Coldspring Mtn. in Background

Tower view of North Carolina

View of small part of Whiterock Cliffs with lower end of Coldspring Mtn & Green Ridge in background

Tower view of North Carolina

Tower View of North Carolina

Following the AT Northbound we set our sights on Whiterock Cliffs and was looking forward to standing on top of them. The distance from there to the cliffs is always underestimated as the trail winds in and out around the fingers of the mountain  which adds a considerable amount of distance. After walking for quite a while we stopped for another break when we heard something approaching up the steep, overgrown side hill beside us. No sooner than we heard it, a large hunting dog fully equipped with a tracking collar popped out on the trail and came over to meet us ! After checking us out he wallowed around on the ground for awhile as if he was happy to see an actual smooth trail. Although we did not offer him anything we were unable to make him change his mind about following us to the cliffs. He did stop for a long drink at the spring and then despite his being emaciated,  obviously having been in the woods for a few days, he did do his ‘business‘ right after his long drink !

On the A.T. just below the towers

Hunting Dog (presumably a Bulls fan)

It was not long after this before we made it to the side trail to the cliffs and upon the first view I could tell the views were going to be very good with quite a bit of color in the trees however, it was an extremely bright day with no clouds which makes it hard to get quality photographs but it was satisfying just to be there.  The dog seemed to enjoy the views also. Not long after we got there a small group of female hikers arrived. They did not stay long and soon continued South towards Allen Gap. I am not sure what the hound dog thought he would gain by following them but, we were actually glad that he left with them. We could see the towers from our rocky perch and watched as the workers continued going up and down the new one. We enjoyed a long visit on the cliffs looking off into the North Carolina mountains before moving on down the trail to the Blackstack Cliffs located on the Tennessee side.

RAT taking pics from Whiterock Cliffs (photo by Bol'Dar)

View into NC from Whiterock Cliffs

Whiterock Cliffs

Colors seen from Whiterock Cliffs

Upper part of Whiterock Cliffs

Bol'Dar standing atop highest point of Whiterock Cliffs

The two cliffs are not very far apart but the side trail to the Blackstack Cliffs is longer and trickier as it makes its way through the scrub growth and laurels that thrive there. You know you are almost there when the trail drops off this huge rock that you have to carefully climb down in order to get to the cliff face. There is a survey marker on that rock. I last visited these cliffs on my birthday hike of September 2008 so I was happy to be there again as it is a unique place.  Looking over towards Coldspring Mountain I could see the rocky outcroppings at Bearwallow Gap from  here. I had been wanting to come to Blackstack Cliffs since I got a glimpse of them from the Bullen Hollow trail during a hike I went on back in May of this year. The first glimpse revealed just as much color as the NC side. The views were indeed awesome and we kicked back to take some pics and enjoy the beauty. We reveled in seeing the ‘big picture‘ of the many back-country trails from Bullen Hollow to Horse Creek and everything in between and beyond with such a unique perspective. I have labeled some things here and here.

Bol'Dar sitting on part of Blackstack Cliffs

RAT atop part of Blackstack Cliffs with towers in background (photo by Bol'Dar)

View from Blackstack Cliffs (continuing to pan right)

VIew from Blackstack Cliffs (continuing to pan right)

View from Blackstack Cliffs (continuing to pan right)

View from Blackstack Cliffs (continuing to pan right)

View from Blackstack Cliffs (continuing to pan right)

View from Blackstack Cliffs (continuing to pan right)

View from Blackstack Cliffs (continuing to pan right) Coldspring Mtn seen at top far right)

RAT sitting on part of Blackstack Cliffs (photo by Bol'Dar)

We played around on the cliff tops for quite awhile until the sun started dropping letting us know it was time to go. On our way out, we passed some folks on their way to the cliffs and I was able to get a zoomed picture of them on the rocks from the old resort site.  We stopped there to recall the huge lodge-style log structure that used to sit there back in the heyday of the mountain (late 1960`s to early `70`s) when it was an attempted ski resort area with several chalets, A-frame,  and roundette style condos, that eventually failed. We used to camp in the upper A-frame house many years ago before they were all removed.

Mark Painter looking at the old resort and round houses from Blackstack Cliffs before they were removed in the late 80`s. Photo taken some 20+ years ago.

Jones Meadow leading up to the old Viking Mtn. Resort structure and an Aframe house before it was removed in the late 80`. Photo taken some 20+ years ago.

One of the A-frame houses we used to camp in before they were removed

Another one of the A-frame houses prior to being removed

I am told it had many famous visitors during that time including Elvis and the Ayatollah Khomeini. It was a vacation home idea gone broke and they auctioned off everything back in 1988-89 for little or nothing but the winning bidders had to remove their prizes within a short time. I am sure the downfall of the project was due to the access road. It was called the Viking Mountain Ski Resort as the road also carries the name to this day (Viking Mountain Road) but you will not find that name on any maps and the mountain has never been officially renamed to that. Many did try but it is still technically named Camp Creek Bald Mountain. There used to be a swimming pool behind the lodge that they ended up bulldozing what was left of the resort into and we could see the remnants of the tile still showing through the dirt there. If anyone out there has a closeup picture of the old resort lodge when it was in operation or still standing I would love to see it.

Blackstack Cliffs as seen from the old resort site

Blackstack Cliffs (as seen from site of old resort)

Blackstack Cliffs (seen from old resort site)

Blackstack Cliffs (zoomed view from old resort site)

Blackstack Cliffs (zoomed view from old resort site)

After reminiscing about our many past trips to this area and enjoying the wonderful visuals of the surrounding mountains, (of course you can see Big Bald and Little Bald from there !) we then made our way down the paved road to our vehicle to begin the long descent back to the bottom of the mountain and then home. The moon was already up and the sun was setting quickly. The last thing we encountered was a wild turkey just before it took flight. It had been another great day spent with Mother Nature and all the incredible beauty she has to offer.

Purple Mountains Majesty (seen from the road on our way down the mtn)

To see more photos of Whiterock Cliffs, please visit our Gallery here.

To see more photos of Blackstack Cliffs, please visit our Gallery here.