RATtreks

Dave does the Waterfall Tour ! – 5-2-2013

My waterfall crazy friend Dave Aldridge has asked me to take him to a few of the more difficult to get to waterfall locations in this area ever since I have known him.These include such places as Buckeye Falls (both the base and from Chigger Ridge), Josiah, and Lilybeth Falls (just to name a few). We did finally get to Chigger Ridge but it was not until recently that we succeeded in getting him through the Waterfall Tour without any mishaps. If you are not already aware of what falls the Waterfall Tour includes, it takes you down all of the following: Lilybeth Falls, Devil`s Slide Falls, Josiah Falls, and Pine Ridge Falls. Getting to and climbing down each of these falls is not an easy task and it is only recommended for the most experienced off trail hikers especially since the old road into Devils Fork is completely devastated and we had to find a new way in. It is a shorter route but, MUCH steeper. First one has to get to the top of Rich Mountain to get to the new route down which involves some climbing no matter how you get there. We started out in Sill Branch which is a two mile hike UPHILL to the old road (the last part of which is very steep) which will then lead you out to FR190. We did encounter a mama bear and her cub while photographing a small falls there but I was unable to get a pic of them. (Bol’Dar got one and I have included it below) From FR190 it is extreme downhill the rest of the way to reach the Devil Fork Valley. Dave did good on the steep climb up the South Fork of Sill Branch but, was very happy to finally reach the level ground of the old road.

Lilybeth Falls

A mama black bear and her cub seen along South Fork of Sill Branch (Photo by Bol’Dar) (note: the cub can not be seen in this photo)

We took a long break there to rest and enjoy the views before hiking the old road out to what we call the ‘Big R Curve‘ on FR190.

The old road is not on the top of Rich Mtn., but already we were as high as the top of Sampson Mtn. seen across the way !

View of the Nolichucky River Valley from the old road

Looking towards Wilson Knob

Wild Andromeda

Bellwort

This is the easiest part of the hike and it did not take us long to reach the forest road 190 where we would eat our lunch and prepare Dave for the unreal steep off trail descent that was to come. A short ways down the road we would find the draw that would lead us down to the Devil Fork Valley where the waterfall adventure would begin. The first thing you come to is actually an unknown waterfall which is basically the headwaters of Devil Fork Creek that is at least 100 feet high or maybe more as part of it does cascade before dropping off the edge. When the water is up this is actually a very nice falls. I have not yet taken the time to document them on TN Landforms but plan on doing that soon. The descent is crazy steep so we usually create switchbacks to get down to the bottom of the falls and continue on a more straight route from there.

Bol’Dar and Dave preparing for the steep descent

Unknown falls located at the top of the draw we take to go down to the Devil Fork Valley

unknown falls

Unknown Falls (find Bol’Dar)

Unknown falls

RAT (me) crossing the huge fallen tree at the unknown falls

Unknown Falls

It is still steep for quite a ways beyond that but it does get better and better until it reaches the upper part of the Devil Fork Valley. This was a welcome site and I was happy that Dave had made it down this section of the journey unscathed but, there was still more difficult and more dangerous obstacles to overcome. There is basically no turning back from this point so we were committed to getting Dave down all these falls and out hopefully before dark. Coming down the first steep descent into the valley, watching Dave struggle with balancing as he carefully placed each step as if it would be his last, taking a lot of time in doing so, I had many second thoughts on whether this was a good idea or not as it is not something that a 70+ year old person would normally be doing ! Of course at this point it was too late for any second guessing and as Dave put it, “we did not twist his arm and make him do it !”

Looking over our steep route down out at the lower end of the Devil Fork Valley and the Nolichucky River Valley beyond

Dave with that ‘deer in the headlights’ or better yet, ‘what have I gotten myself into’ look !

To try and demonstrate just how steep this descent is, you can see that Dave and myself are just 10 feet apart yet his feet are higher than my head. (Photo by Bol’Dar)

Dave and Bol’Dar making their way down the incredibly steep slope as I stood on the fallen tree near the unknown falls

Looking down the draw on our way down. It is much steeper than the picture can show.

Dave and Bol’Dar taking a snack break below the unknown falls. (Bol’Dar is in ‘stealth mode’ so you might not see him) Nice Trillium eh ?

Snake skeleton I found in the creek bed on our way down

This tree was huge

dwarf crested iris’/’wild iris

From there we proceeded down the Devil Fork Valley, following the creek until we reached the point of no return where the first falls, Lilybeth, is located. There is no trail from here so it is all secret ninja routes to reach the top of the cliffs that overlook the falls. Once Dave cautiously peered over the edge and seen the falls, all fear was gone and he lit up like a kid in a candy store ! Of course the fear quickly came back when we showed him the route he had to take to get down to stand on the top of the falls and it only gets trickier from there !

Finally made it to the Devil Fork Valley floor !

Making our way down the Devil Fork Valley. There are still remnants of the old roads that used to be here.

Dave checking out what’s left of an old log bridge where the ancient log road used to cross the creek

Bol’Dar checking out a small falls along Devil Fork Creek

patch of dwarf crested iris

showy orchis

dwarf crested iris’ with some ‘fringed polygala’ flowers

End of the line ! Near the top of the falls. (Lilybeth)

Looking down on Lilybeth Falls (this is about 70 feet above the base of the falls)

Lilybeth Falls

Standing at the top of Lilybeth Falls

We spent some time standing on top of the falls as it is such an amazing place to be and I can assure you that not many have ever been there. To get down, one must walk a narrow cliff ledge to reach a point where you can slide down to the bottom of the falls which is another amazing place to be.

After reaching the ‘end of the line’ at the top of the falls and taking the ‘ninja trail’ up and over to the cliff above the top of Lilybeth Falls, I am sitting on the edge looking back through the laurels for Dave and Bol’Dar to arrive.

Sitting on top of the cliff above Lilybeth Falls looking through the maze of laurels towards the small falls just above the top of the big falls. Believe it or not, we have a ‘ninja trail’ through this to get down below the cliff and the top of the falls.

Maneuvering Dave through the maze and ninja trail to get down to the top of the falls

Dave climbing down to the top of the falls. This is not easy.

Almost there !

Ta Da !! Dave made it down ! (notice the big smile)

Dave is smiling because he is looking at this,,, the top of Lilybeth Falls !

Dave standing at the top of the falls photographing Bol’Dar over near the other small falls

The small falls just above the top of Lilybeth Falls

Standing at the top of the falls looking at the narrow ledge you must take to get down to the bottom of the falls. This is less than 2 feet in most places, 3 feet at its widest point. About 50 feet down if you fall.

Dave and I enjoying the top of Lilybeth Falls (Photo by Bol’Dar)

Dave and Bol’Dar making their way across the narrow ledge

Being very careful on the narrow cliff ledge

Lilybeth Falls as seen from the bottom

Lilybeth Falls

We got some pics there before walking down the creek about a hundred feet to look off the top of the Devil`s Slide Falls. Of course it is too dangerous to go down those so you have to go back to the base of Lilybeth and take the ninja trail over to the next drop off cliff which is even harder than the one we just came down. Once this is handled, you walk along the base of the cliff over to the Devils Slide Falls where you have to climb over some huge, slick rocks to get the view of the falls and take pics. This too is very dangerous and I can`t imagine what it would take to rescue someone from anywhere in this part of the valley so the main thing is to not get hurt.

Standing atop Devils Slide Falls

Looking off the top of Devils Slide Falls

Dave mentally preparing himself for the long, steep slide for life he is about to take to get down the next cliff from Lilybeth Falls to be able to reach Devils Slide Falls

Bol’Dar below Dave on the slide for life. This is steep and a long way down.

Dave has completed the slide and is making his way along the base of the cliff with Bol’Dar and myself in order to reach the Devils Slide Falls

Cliffs below Lilybeth Falls that lead over to Devils Slide Falls

Standing against the cliff below Lilybeth falls looking towards Devils Slide Falls (Photo by Bol’Dar)

Base of Devils Slide Falls

Devils Slide Falls

Bol’Dar getting ready to jump the gap !

Dave negotiating the slick rocks of Devils Slide Falls

Dave on Devils Slide Falls

Devils Slide Falls

There has never really been a trail through here and certainly not one from Devils Slide to Josiah so you have to make your way through the laurels and steep drop offs high above the creek to get to ‘the split‘ which is where another creek comes in from the left to join Devil Creek. A small cliff has to be negotiated to get down to this but the reward is another unnamed bonus falls on the new creek coming in (not to mention you have to in order to get out !)

You must find the hidden ninja trail through here to get from the Devils Slide Falls down to ‘the split’.

Taking the path of least resistance through the thick laurels to get to ‘the split’

The creek through this section is gorgeous and there are some really nice small falls along the way.

Once you make it through the secret laurel trail it opens up some and leads over to the next cliff

Looking down on one of the many falls and cascades of the Devil Fork Creek on the way to ‘the split’

Dave looking down on some of the small falls and cascades of Devil Fork Creek about to realize he has yet another cliff to climb down !

Once down the next cliff, we make our way around the bottom of it over to the left side where the other creek comes in at

Continuing around the cliff there is an awesome bonus falls on the new creek coming in from that side. I love this place !

The bonus falls are beautiful. I just can’t take too many pics of them.

Bonus Falls

Bonus Falls from the other side as you do have to cross here.

Bonus Falls from the other side while crossing there

Last falls on Devil Fork Creek as it flows into the split where the other creek comes in at which is just before the top of Josiah Falls

It is tough to cross this creek and get by ‘the split’ and then there is a short but very steep climb, staying on the left side of the now much larger Devil Fork Creek to get up and over the knob above the top of Josiah Falls. Getting down these was the hardest descent for Dave. We had roped him up from the first descent off the road but so far we had not needed it, but this drop may require it. Bol’Dar went first and stayed just below us and I stuck with Dave to offer whatever assistance I could. It may have been because he was getting tired after all the rugged territory we had already covered, or it may have been just because it is really steep and difficult, but it took longer to get him down this than it did anything. I was very proud of him when he finally did the last slide for life down to the creek at the base of the falls. He had done it ! We took as much time as we could celebrating this fact there as it is not hard (comparatively) from there on out, aside from crossing the top of Pine Ridge Falls and we still had enough daylight to get out before dark.

Looking down on the split where the two creeks come together from above

Dave climbing up from the split

A tired but happy waterfaller resting before the next climb. That smile will soon turn to worry on the next descent !

There are a lot of falls on the upper part of Josiah Falls that you can not see from the bottom of them. You can look down on the many parts of it as you climb up and over them

Upper parts of Josiah Falls

Looking down on the lower part of Josiah Falls

Dave making his way around the knob above Josiah Falls in order to get to the point of descent

Once you get over the knob and to the point of descent, you can see the many huge rock cliffs that loom high above Josiah Falls

Bol’Dar begins the descent of Josiah Falls

Bol’Dar stops to take pics of Josiah Falls on his way down. Pictures can not display just how steep and far down this is

Helping Dave descend the steep slope to reach the base of Josiah Falls

Dave, now with the worried look, part way down the steep descent

Dave negotiating the huge blow down that blocks the old slide for life route

Dave doing the slide for life. Before the blow down one could slide down a less steep part of this hill all the way to the creek below

Finally, Dave has made it to the base of Josiah Falls !

Josiah Falls

From Josiah Falls, it is a short scramble through a large rocky area by a few very nice small falls and cascades not to mention one of my favorite swimming and play holes. You soon have to cross the creek and climb a steep bank to reach on old road bed that is now grown up where the going gets a bit easier. From there it is about a mile to Pine Ridge Falls where it is a bit tricky to get across.

Small waterfall below Josiah Falls

Another small falls and one of my favorite swimming holes located below Josiah Falls

small falls and reflection pool that are at the creek crossing

Standing on the old road bed (where it ends) looking back at one of the small falls on Devil Fork Creek. You can see Josiah Falls through the trees.

Old tree growing on the old road bed

Cascades above Pine Ridge Falls

Top of Pine Ridge Falls

Bol’Dar crossed first to demonstrate the proper method, then I came right behind Dave to make sure he did it correctly as one slip here would mean certain injury and most likely death. At least it was not dark like it was on one of our previous trips ! He aced it and in no time we connected with the Longarm Branch Trail and were looking at the Lower Longarm Branch Falls just before reaching the vehicle. It had been an awesome adventure and I could not be more proud of Dave for completing it without any issues. After this epic trip, Buckeye Falls should not be that big a deal.

Dave crossing Pine Ridge Falls

Almost there !

A well earned sigh of relief !

Pine Ridge Falls

Lower Longarm Branch Falls

To read about other trips we have made to this incredibly wild area, please visit our Blog Archives. To see more pics of all these falls and more, please visit our Photo Gallery.

Posted on 17 October '13 by RAT, under RATtreks.

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Dave does the Waterfall Tour ! – 5-2-2013

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