Raven Rock, Chattooga River (Section 4)

Taylor and I hiked down to the Chattooga River at Raven Rock, about a mile downhill to the river. The hike is easy going down, more difficult coming back uphill. Location: 34.778, -83.321

Raven Chute, a class-IV rapid

Two hundred foot cliff, on the South Carolina side of the river.

Taylor takes a dip in the river.

Large specimen of cauliflower mushroom (sparassis crispa) along the trail. It is an edible mushroom, 
often found at the base of conifers.

From US 441/23 around Lakemont, take Camp Creek Road (paved), heading east. At 1.5 miles, turn left (north) on Water Gauge Road, which becomes gravel shortly. After 2.6 miles on Water Gauge, turn left on Raven Rock Road, and follow it about 1 mile, to the trailhead at the end. From here, it is less than a mile on foot to the river. We did not need 4-wheel drive anywhere on this route, but it is slow going once you leave Camp Creek Rd.

Minnehaha Falls

Saturday morning excursion to Minnehaha Falls on the south side of Lake Rabun.

Charlie and Papa at Minnehaha Falls

Dicks Creek Falls

 We hiked in from Sandy Ford Road (off Warwoman Road), following Dicks Creek down to the Chattooga River. The last part of the creek forms a waterfall, where the creek joins the river.

Dicks Creek Falls, at the Chattooga River

Bob and Nancy

Chattooga River shoals, water-carved rocks

Taylor and his mom

Paddling: West Fork of the Chattooga River

This was a solo 'scouting' trip, to get an idea what this stretch of river is like.

Short answer: really nice! Very scenic, with fast, rocky stretches mixed in with deep, slow pools. Saw lots of birds and fish; paddled over a couple of 14"-16" trout. Water was just above 2' on the SR-28 bridge gauge.

Sorry, no pix!

Went from the West Fork Campground (one mile north on Overflow Creek Road, from the Warwoman Road bridge over the West Fork), to a take-out on the river-side of SR-28, about a mile south of the end of Warwoman Road at SR-28. Probably 2-3 miles on the river, about 2 miles from take-out back to put-in. Which I was doing on foot today, this being a solo trip.

The takeout has a nice spot for camping, and a rope-swing out over the river.

Taylor Creek

Went for a walk at Black Rock Lake in the state park. It is fed primarily by Taylor Creek, and is on the Tennessee River side of the Eastern Continental Divide. Saw some bufflehead ducks on the lake.

Taylor, at his creek

Black Rock Lake

Vogel State Park, etc.

We set out this morning for Brasstown Bald, but when we got to the road up the mountain, it was gated. Road Closed! Probably ice on the road, or perhaps trees down; but, with 2.5 miles and 2000' of elevation gain to deal with on the way to the summit, we opted not walk in.

Instead, we went a little further west and south, on 180, then 19/129, to Vogel State Park. We hiked around the lake, visited the waterfall, and generally checked the place out.

Trahlyta Falls comes off the spillway from
the dam that forms the lake at Vogel State Park.

Lake Trahlyta and start of spillway; Vogel's facilities are at head of lake.

Waterfall video below the break (click on Read more).

To-do list for paddling adventure

• Paddle the portion of the Hiawassee, above Lake Chatuge. This looks like a good warm-weather activity, occupying most of the day. Check TVA gauge for water level from 2.5 to 6.0 feet, Hiawassee at Presley.
• Paddle the Tallulah, from just above Tallulah River campground, to Plum Orchard road (boat ramp). USGS gauge, Tallulah River near Clayton, above 2.45.
• Paddle two easier sections of Chattooga River: West Fork to main river, and SR-28 to Earl's Ford. Refer to on-line gauge (Chattooga River near Clayton).
• Upper Chattooga (section "00") - new rules for limited access.

Tray Mountain hike

Hiked up to the summit, from the gap just south of Tray Mountain, with Don and Carol. Cool (about 40) and very clear, after a week of rain in Northeast Georgia.

Feather frost coming out of the wet ground; sometimes called hoar frost.

George and Carol, at the start of the 1 mile (+600 ft. vertical) trail to summit.

George and Robert, at the summit.

Extreme telephoto shot of the head of Timpson Cove, from the Tray summit.

For the converse view (mountain from boathouse), see our previous post about Tray Mountain.

From the Blue Fish Lodge, take US-76 west to GA-75 south, to Indian Grave Road on the left. Indian Grave fords a small creek in the first quarter mile, then heads uphill to the trailhead for High Shoals and Blue Hole falls. From there it continues to Andrews Cove, then uphill to join with Tray Mountain Road. Go left (north) on Tray Mountain, a mile or two, to the gap trailhead and parking area. The trail to the summit is about a mile, and a 600' elevation gain.

Charlie and the Pumpkin Patch

We visited Hillside Farms Orchard this morning and came back with some pumpkins.

Charlie wants a big red tractor for Christmas, just like this one!

Bluegrass at the farm, courtesy of the Front Porch Gliders:

Romney, Obama appear at Mountaineer Festival

Obama overheard whispering to the guy in the green shirt:
'Being a scarecrow is way easier than debating that other fellow!
You think we could sneak outta here and do 18 at Kingswood Country Club this afternoon?'

They call it that good old mountain dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
Well, I'll hush up my mug, if you'll fill up my jug,
With that good old mountain dew.

Rabun Library's scarecrow; reads, of course.
Not so good at keeping crows out of the Old School Garden, though.

Bluegrass band entertains at lunch-time, playing Love of the Mountains:

  

The burning of the green wood on the fireplace

The fallen snow around the red bud trees

The branches of the laurel by the creek bed

And the rippling waters of the gentle stream

Now a bright moon is shining in the valley

   An old wagon leans against a stack of hay

   Two graves on a hillside by the cabin

   My mom and dad are resting there today

Quilt lady puts the sales jive on Georgia . . .

Tallulah River and Tate City

Taylor and I took a ride up the Tallulah River Road (FS-70), past Tate City and into North Carolina, to a Nantahala Wilderness Area trailhead. We were looking for Flat Branch Falls, along the Tallulah, but had no luck finding the trail. Still, we enjoyed a nice Saturday drive.

Budding rhododendrons

Shopping opportunities at the Tate City Mall

Detail from photo above: TATE CITY MALL. Apparently, they sell
cast iron frying pans, horseshoes, shovels and farm implements.

Bartram Trail, downstream of Russell Bridge

Another exploratory hike along the Chattooga. This one started from the Highway 28 crossing (Russell Bridge), following the Bartram Trail downstream along the Georgia side of the Chattooga River. Being early April, Sunday, and sunny, there were some fishermen casting for trout along the river. And when I returned to the truck at the end of the hike, there was a church youth group from Midland, Michigan, setting out on a five-day backpacking trip along the Bartram Trail.

More photos follow; click on 'read-more' link, below.

Some are red and some are blue; some are old and some are new

One fish . . . 

two fish . . . 

red fish . . .

blue fish!

The blue fish came to us through the generosity of Laura, Taylor and Andrew. The red fish was a gift from our friend Ginger. Rhyming verses courtesy of Dr. Seuss.

 

Thanks!

George at the Gorge

About 600 steps on the stairs down to Hurricane Falls

The Tallulah River ordinarily is diverted around Tallulah Gorge through pipes that run from the Tallulah Falls dam (upstream of the Gorge) to the powerhouse at the head of Tugalo Lake (downstream of the Gorge). But for the first 3 weekends in November, and the first 2 in April, the power company releases the river at full flow (500-700 cubic feet/second), and kayakers turn out to enjoy the rapids.

More photos below the break.

Bread and butter pickles

Five pounds worth of cukes!

Holcomb Creek Falls

Another waterfall explored with Taylor

Go east from Clayton on Warwoman Road, about ten miles, then left (north) on Hale Ridge Road, about six miles to the intersection with Overflow Creek Road. Trail starts on north side of Overflow road, at the intersection. About 1 mile to Holcomb Creek Falls, then about a quarter mile further to Ammons Falls.

Manipulation - the official card game of the Blue Fish Lodge

Hillary, Andrew & George

Two decks (or more, depending on number of players), deal 11 cards each, play until someone goes out. All piles played must be and remain (a) three or more of a kind (no duplicate suits), or (b) three or more straight in a suit. Move cards around on the board ('manipulate') as you please, to facilitate your play (making sure all piles are 'legal' when you're done). On each turn, you must play from what you have, or draw until you can play, playing one or more cards. First player out of cards wins.

Example of a manipulation: You have two Queens, spade and clubs. The player ahead of you added a Queen of diamonds to a diamond straight of 9-10-Jack. You take the Queen from the diamonds straight (leaving that pile legal, at 3 cards straight), and combine it with your Queens, forming a legal 3-of-a-kind pile, no duplicate suits.

Hot Tub Time Machine

Fifteen feet below street level: don't even ask how we got it there!

We just put a 3-person hot tub on the lower deck of the boathouse. We're still getting it set up, including the electrical feed, but hope to be cooking soon!

Black Rock Mountain State Park

Blue Ridge Overlook

Just a few miles from the cabin is Black Rock Mountain State Park. The park includes a campground, several cabins located near the top of the mountain, some nice hiking trails, and a small lake.

Apples from Tiger Mountain

We came up here after the wedding (end of September, early October), with Ann and Bob and Nancy. We bought a bushel of apples at the Tiger Mountain Orchards packing house, and proceeded to make applesauce.

Apple-picking: Bob, Nancy and Georgia show how it's not done.