RATtreks

Rocky Fork Winter Jaunt – 1-15-2011

Forced out of the Rat`s Hole by a severe case of cabin fever, it was decided we would take a hike to somewhere, anywhere, to get out in the woods. I chose to go on a short hike to Rocky Fork and wander up what we call the ‘high road‘ to get a different perspective on the Stonehenge Cliffs on Whitehouse Mountain. Due to being what he called ‘paralyzed’, my friend Bol’Dar was unable to go but, our friend ‘Fireball’ Mel (who was also feeling a bit ‘paralyzed’ but for different reasons) was able to attend. After the usual late start of around 10:30 a.m., we arrived at the trailhead around 11 ish. There was still plenty of snow and ice to be found and it was a bit cold in the shade but the sun was already starting to shine above the cliff tops as we trudged our way up the old road. The Rocky Fork Creek was raging as always and the cascades were totally frozen with ample supplies of their own ice and snow. It was actually very pretty and the new insulated waterproof boots I was trying out did a great job keeping my feet warm and dry despite their being a half size too big !

View of Whitehouse Mountain and Stonehenge Cliffs from the 'high road'

We couldn’t help but notice the only tracks were a lone set of coyote tracks that led from the trailhead all the way up the old road and then turned where we did taking the high road towards the top. We followed these up that way past the turnoff to Long Branch Falls, on around and up to the point of the ridge where you could see a great distant view of the Stonehenge Cliffs on Whitehouse Mountain. This is a unique angle and was the first place I ever saw the cliffs many years ago, and is where I gave them that name. I was recently contacted by ‘Hiking Bill Fuller’ in regards to where the other name of ‘Whitehouse Mountain’ came from. He informed me it was told to him by Dave Ramsey who did a lot of work to get the Rocky Fork area protected and knows a lot about the area. I look forward to hopefully meeting this man someday soon to get some more information. We took some pics of the mountain and the cliffs as well as Big Bald which can be seen from there (as well as about anywhere around here) before moving on up the high road. There was a set of impressive bear tracks that crossed the road here but the coyote tracks kept going on the road.

Rocky Fork Creek

Whitehouse Mountain and Stonehenge Cliffs

After a ways we came to another set of bear tracks crossing the road over top of a smaller set of tracks so it seems the bears are very active in this area during the wintertime as black bears do not really hibernate, at least not here anyway.There was also several natural snowball formations which obviously occurred when something would cause a ball of snow to roll down the bank into the road. They were so perfect and pristine looking as no one can make a better snowball than Mother nature !  I recalled so many memories of this area as we used to take the high road so many times over the years to get to so many places. Rocky Fork is a vast area that has so many hiking opportunities with so many different awesome destinations possible. As told to us on our first trip here, “It depends on whether you want to get back this week or not!”. It is about 5 miles to the top but today’s jaunt would not be that long as we were just not feelin’ it and the snow was still boot deep. ‘Fireball’ Mel seemed right at home in it ! We made it to the first intersection where another road comes in from the left which eventually loops around to the butt ends of Clarks Creek and Horse Creek below Wilson Knob. We turned around as this was far enough for this trip, the rest would have to wait for another time.

Nature made Snowball

Zoomed view of Stonehenge Cliffs

Zoomed view of Stonehenge Cliffs

On our way back down we stopped again for some more pics of Stonehenge from the ridge point and we could also see very clearly what we call the OTHER  ‘high road‘ which is where the lower Rocky Fork road ends up if you keep going up the valley towards Flint Gap. It curves there and climbs up on Flint Mountain and follows near the top of it all the way back to the road near to where we started and makes a very nice loop hike. It also goes behind the cliffs that are located just across from the Stonehenge cliffs. This is definitely on our list of future hikes as I have not been that way in over 20 years. I plan on coming back to this area soon for several hikes back to these areas since it has been so long since I visited them, it will be like  new adventures again yet I am sure it will trigger many great memories I have of exploring this area so many times over 20 years ago. We did recon some possible routes to the base of Stonehenge which is another one definitely on my list. You can actually see it through the trees this time of year from just beneath it on the old road. We made it back to the vehicle well before dark and it was a great day to get some exercise and be out in the woods enjoying Nature despite the deep snow. I can’t wait until Spring gets here and melts it all away.

Frozen Cascades along Rocky Fork Creek