RATtreks

Back To Lower Higgins Creek, Birchfield Camp Br., and the Hidden Lake – 2-3-2012

After our last trip to the Lower Higgins Creek area on Jan 24, 2012, it was decided that we would return there on our next adventure not only to show Bol’Dar the new ‘hidden falls‘ but,  also because there are other waterfalls well above the Lower Higgins Creek Falls that are located even higher up the mountain beyond the turn off to the Birchfield Camp Branch Falls that we had not documented yet. We also had discussed possibly going to the ‘hidden lake‘ via the Birchfield Camp Branch Valley. Dave and Lou accompanied Bol’Dar and myself on this adventure and since they had already been to the hidden falls, they proceeded to hike up towards the unseen falls while we took the obscured old log road up to the hidden falls, and then climbed around those to the Lower Higgins Creek Falls and afterwards, climbed back up to the road where we would eventually catch up with Dave and Lou at the unseen falls further up the mountain towards Bearwallow Gap. It did not take long to reach the turnoff to the secret old log road where we parted ways temporarily.

Waterfall found way above the Lower Higgins Creek Falls

The water level was not quite as high as it was on the last trip here but it was not low by any means. I was trying out my new  ‘muck boots‘ so crossing the creek was not an issue for me and since Bol’Dar is very good at rock hopping, he had no issues either. We made our way across the double crossing and pushed through the growth until we found the old abandoned log road and followed it up to the base of the hidden falls. Bol’Dar was definitely impressed with these magnificent falls.

Waterfall hidden below the Lower Higgins Creek Falls

We hung out there for quite awhile before climbing up the steep right side to reach the Lower Higgins Creek Falls. The feeder falls coming down the right side there were not as big as before but were still flowing. Looking back towards the top of where the hidden falls are, it was easy to see why they are indeed hidden ! We made our way past them to the base of the big falls where we crossed over and began the super steep ascent up the left side back to the old road high above us.

Lower Higgins Creek Falls

Lower Higgins Creek Falls

Lower Higgins Creek Falls

Lower Higgins Creek Falls

From there it did not take long at all to reach the top of the falls and see the several higher falls and cascades that you can not see from the bottom of the falls. After that we crossed the creek after which we came to the turn off to the Birchfield Camp Branch but we kept going up the Lower Higgins Creek Trail which crosses the creek again (due to the old road being washed out) before climbing another hill where we found Dave and Lou. They were way down deep in the laurels at one of the two waterfalls we had come to locate. We descended down to join them there where we found a very nice set of waterfalls with another even nicer one just above it. There was some laurel hells to negotiate to get to each one of them, but once this was accomplished a decent view of the falls could be obtained. Each of these waterfalls had their own unique qualities and were a pleasure to photograph despite their being located down a steep ravine and being buried in laurels.

First set of falls located well above the Lower Higgins Cr. Falls

Waterfalls located well above the Lower Higgins Cr. Falls

Next set of falls located even further upstream from Lower Higgins Creek Falls

Next set of falls located even further upstream from Lower Higgins Creek Falls

After spending some time at each falls getting what pics we could we slowly made our way back up the steep bank to the old road trail above. From there we returned the way we had came as we decided there was not time nor reason to continue further up the mountain to Bearwallow Gap but instead I had planned on taking Bol’Dar to the Birchfield Camp Branch Falls and then follow that trail beyond them to the ‘hidden lake’ below Frozen Knob and Higgins Ridge. Since it was downhill from there, we made it back to the turnoff to the Birchfield Camp Branch Trail in just a few minutes. Dave had planned on going to the pond with us but Lou was already having some knee troubles so Dave accompanied him back to their car while Bol’Dar and myself crossed the creek just below where the two creeks converge, and proceeded up the Birchfield Camp Branch Trail towards the falls and hopefully to the pond.

Hiking back down the Lower Higgins Creek Trail

Square rock in Birchfield Camp Branch

Just before we reached the falls we encountered a strange little bat with an unusual light colored head and orange colored underside, flying around in broad daylight. It kept circling around between us and every other lap it would dip down and skim across the surface of the small pool of water in the creek where we were standing. I have never seen this before and I am unsure if it was drinking water or what but, it gave a whole new reason (in my mind)  to treat or filter water even when you think it is safe to drink. We watched this for several minutes while trying to photograph and video the whole process (not very successfully I might add) before we continued on past some cascades to the Birchfield Camp Branch Falls. There was still enough water flowing to make these falls highly enjoyable so we took some time there to take in their beauty and get some pics.

Bat flying over my head

Birchfield Camp Branch Falls

Birchfield Camp Branch Falls

I am glad we got a good rest there as the trail from that point on was steadily uphill and much farther (or so it seemed to me) than any GPS or map shows. The trail condition was very good considering no vehicles or horse traffic has been there in many years and it looked as if not much foot travel is done there either. It is a really nice valley and the trail gains some good elevation constantly, not only up the mountain but also going high above the creek in places. It seemed to go on forever and after the earlier climbs up all the steep sides of the hidden falls, the Lower Higgins Creek Falls, and then the climb up to the two newer falls and climbing up from them, my granny gear was about gone before we ever reached the pond. Just about the time I was feeling out of energy, the trail leveled off for a short ways and we came upon something that energized us both to the max ! Sitting on the side of the trail right there in the middle of nowhere on the old forest road that had not seen any vehicle traffic in at least 30 years, was one of the oldest trucks I have seen in a long time. It had obviously been there for many years but still sat tall and proud like it was just parked there the day before.

1939 GMC Cabover Truck

1939 GMC Cabover Truck

After some investigation we could see it had an extremely long frame which was definitely typical of log trucks used back in the day. I also discovered later (on our way back from the pond) a part of the hood located a ways above it, which revealed it was a GMC.  It had been there so long, it had likens growing on it and looked just like the rocks it was hiding behind. The GMC and shape of the hood also aided in my research of finding out what year, make, and model it was. Come to find out it is somewhere between a 1936 and 1941 GMC Cabover. They made several different models and styles all used for different applications. You can see some of those HERE.

Bol'Dar and RAT posing in the old truck

After checking out the truck for a while, we used our newly found excitement to power our way on up the trail which became steep again, until we came to the creek where we had to cross it and could then see we were nearly at the top where the pond was.  We could see the last stretch of hill and the dense growth that we knew had to be the pond. It was uphill every step of the way until we reached it, stepping out of the thick laurels to the level road that goes around the pond. At last!

Last stretch of hill leading to the pond

The Pond aka Birchfield Camp Branch Pond aka The Hidden Lake

We could hear the water roaring in the spillway pipe located out in the lower end of the pond where we came out at,  just over from the small metal wheel that controls it. I must assume a small boat is needed to be trucked in there when it is needed to drain the pond or adjust the amount of water flowing out of it. (yes there is a nice road (gated) to this place that starts way down in Rocky Fork some 5+ miles down the mountain).

The pond

The pond

The pond

The pond

It was really nice to finally be at the pond. It is an awesome place and I had not been there in at least 20+ years. We spent as much time as we could walking around it and hanging out taking pics. We walked to the opposite end where the Birchfield Camp Branch starts and flows into the pond  just behind Frozen Knob but, there is no view of the pond from there due to the growth. We spent as much time as we could enjoying the beauty before the sun started setting low in the sky which was our clue that we had to leave. It was a long 4+ miles back to the car but at least it would all be down hill. We took our last looks and photo`s before bidding the pond goodbye and began the long descent down the Birchfield Camp Branch Valley hoping we could make it out before dark.

The pond

The pond

Reflections on the pond

Reflections on the pond

Reflections on the pond (black and white)

It did not take near as long to hike down the entire valley past the truck, and an assortment of mossy logs, cascades, odd rocks and rocky ridges, as it did to climb up it. We were back at the Birchfield Camp Branch Falls in no time. From there it was just another short ways back to the Lower Higgins Creek and down past the falls there and out to the car. Of course we did not make it out before dark and the moon was already high in the sky when we reached the vehicle but what a wonderful waterfall filled day it had been. The hidden lake was just icing on the cake. I am sure we will be returning to this area again in the near future, especially since Dave still wants to experience the pond. Until next time,,,,,

To see more photo`s of these and many more waterfalls and mountains, please visit our Photo Gallery here.