New to me Trail

      On top of Sassafras MTN.

      What a beautiful view

      I followed Foothills Trail

      To this signage or two!

A trail I have not hiked, I assumed it must be fairly new within the last couple of years. Down to the trailhead I went and found it easy enough based on the sign for Headwaters State Forest. It was over a mile to this spot and it's connection with the Foothills Trail. That hike to the overlook will be for another day. An uphill climb but doable for even an old man, few level places to ease the leg muscles. One way down going back. 

I recommend this hike, a nice walk in the woods.

Turtle

GRACIE MAY 27, 2000 --- JULY 09, 2014

Gracie - Friend

          I had an early morning appointment with the local Vet to have Gracie put to sleep. I had to carry her to my small SUV and gently laid her in the back and then arrange her legs so she looked comfortable to me before we made the ten minute trip down the road. We arrived at 7:40 am and I carried Gracie into the waiting room. They were waiting for me and quickly lead us to a room where I carefully laid Gracie on a cloth covered table. The vet and his helper came in and explained what was going to happen. I could not respond so I just put my finger up to my lips and did the hush sound, he understood and they left to get the stuff. They returned and gave the first injection which made her very sleepy and comfortable so the second injection would not be painful. Once again they left the room and I was able to rest my forehead on her forehead while I continued to rub her ears and I could feel her relax as the pain and tension went away. At that point her heart was still beating but she was gone. The vet returned with his helper and told me I was welcome to stay or some people chose to leave, I stayed and petted and loved my girl one last time as she slipped away out of this life. The kind gentle vet said stay as long as you like and he and his helper left us alone. I petted that fur which I had watched turn from the yellow of a young Yellow Lab to the white of an old fourteen year old Yellow Lab and then I kissed the white muzzle and hugged my friend before walking out of the room.

          I'll retrieve her ashes in a few days and I plan to scatter them a few at a time at our familiar camping spots along the Foothills Trail and the shore of Lake Jocassee.




          Goodbye Gracie - You are still loved!



          Turtle





















 

Virginia Hawkins Falls --- Foothills Trail

Cold!! Foothills Trail next to Laurel Fork Creek

            WE, myself and I [ Jim couldn't join in the fun ] started this hike at the Hwy. 178 parking area at about 10:00am on a frozen Friday morning. My nose as red and shiny as the elbows of an old Santa Claus suit. The sun shining and laughing because there was no warmth in his breath blowing across the gravel parking lot and through the naked winter trees surrounding this bleak trailhead. A white pickup truck with GA tags silently waited the return of his master so they could seek the warmth of Georgia and shelter in the two car garage attached to a Colonial style house. My red Mazda hunched his shoulders against the cold and endured waiting my return. I stiffly removed my Crocs and slid my sock covered feet into the old worn hiking shoes, the left shoe is weary and torn but the right shoe is just weary. We've stirred up a lot of dust and scattered a bunch of leaves these pass few years. The imprint of this pair has been stamped in muddy creek bottoms, sandy ocean shores, the red clay of SC, and the rock covered trails twisting over the mountains and hills of the Appalachians. Two toned hiking pants with a quarter sized hole rubbed in a private place from hanging around my butt after a long hike on many a long trail. The shorts are light khaki, bleached in the sun and the zip off legs are darker only being attached in the cold weather months. My North Face fleece is old and shapeless and comfortable and as warm as the first time she was worn. The North Face daypack is as old as my hiking resume and still carries the same two Nalgene water bottles. Fresh Nature Valley granola bars and the basic survival    gear fill the daypack along with an extra fleece, gloves and socks. I hang a whistle around my neck, secure my dirty white Tilley hat on my head, a happy smile on my face, a spring in my step, trekking pole in each hand and we are gone.

        After hiking the entire length of the Foothills Trail this section has been voted "Best liked by me!" It starts with a steep set of steps to gain the ridge top and then the way is easy for a little bit. The elevation change will tie your thighs in a knot as you grab onto every breath you can reach. Up and down goes the trail, about six hundred feet up  from the TH and then down about twelve hundred feet to the valley, of course it is more like a roller coaster ride then a trip and fall and roll down the side of a mountain.

                                                                             

Small sample of getting up!

       
          This is not the steepest climb but will give you an idea of what the trail is like. The only thing that came to my mind when I took this picture was


                                            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain
                                             Heavenly breezes BLOW;
                                            Climb, climb up sunshine mountain
                                             Faces all A GLOW.

                                             Turn, turn from sin and doubting,
                                               Look to God on HIGH,
                                             Climb, climb up sunshine mountain
                                               YOU AND I

          Now any one who grew up in a Baptist church and went to Sunday school remembers these words. Really now you didn't even need  to be Baptist, all Protestant groups sang this song. The last word is always loud!!  You will be singing this all day. That is good , better then singing some of the songs we hear nowadays!

          So I keep hiking in the cold biting air, but am getting warm so its time to shed a layer of clothes and stop sweating. Just like an old snake I start at the top and peal back the top layer looking all fresh and new, I strap the fleece on the side of the day pack and stuff the gloves in the pack with my hat.
Enjoying being outside and walking up and down the mountain as I slowly hike along the trail. Carefully, very carefully I descend down the wooden steps and arrive at the Laurel Fork Creek. A great hike following the creek and crossing back and forth over it on the bridges built way back when. Several trees fallen into the creek, many have been there for quite some time coated with moss and ice crystals. Small, big, and boulder size rocks impede the flow of water creating the unmistakable roar of water which fills the valley. We come to the Virginia Hawkins Falls and step our way down the hundred steps to the bottom.

                                                                               

Virginia Hawkins Falls

Closer view of Falls

Virginia Hawkins Falls

                How about that, another pretty SC waterfalls. I hung out here for a few minutes then returned back the way I had come and saw everything from the opposite perspective.  As I was hiking high on the mountain side I remembered something a sales clerk in KY told me about the Foothills Trail. He said, he and some buddies came to SC to hike the trail, after hiking a couple days they started calling it the trail with no view.

                                                                             

Hazy Mountains

          I understood what he meant if he hiked when the leaves covered the trees, but during the winter time there is an impressive view through the trees all along the trail! I had time to meander back to the trail head and my waiting car, so I was in no hurry. The temp started to drop and I bundled back up feeling the cold wind chap by cheeks and tear up my eyes. The wind was just a blown' but did not sound like a freight train, more like the train pulling out of "Petticoat Junction", so I knew I was safe. The trees swayed and groaned, cracking and squeaking as they rubbed one another, fussing at the wind!   Was a good day!



          In the woods,

          Turtle


























             

Foothills Trail - Whitewater River

Whitewater Falls

         Genesis 1:1  "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

Lake Jocassee

                                                                  
          

Fog covered Lake Jocassee

                                                                            

Whitewater River

                                                                                   

Top of an old stump.

                                                                                  

Leaf covered foot bridge.

                                                                                

The beauty of Fall

                                                                                 

I don't know, but pretty.

                                                                                  

Pine tree cloaked with fog.

                                                                              

Whitewater River

                                                                                 

Whitewater River

                                                                                   

Over hanging the River

                                                                                 

Below the Falls

                                                                              

A trickle in the midst of the Whitewater River

          Hiking upstream from Bad Creek access to the bottom of Whitewater Falls.  

          In the woods or on the water,

          Turtle
                                                                               

Still Loafin' on the Lake - 2 - Lake Jocassee

Good Morning Lake  Jocassee!!

          Standing at the end of the new remote boat ramp looking north. The foremost group of trees is an island, we will paddle to the right side and circle around it then proceed up the lake. You can see the ripple on the surface, another light breeze and no boat traffic. Excellent morning for a canoe trip, not even eight o'clock yet and we are already on the water. Don't have a destination in mind just a desire to be paddling and get away from the civilized life! Gracie and I  left home before seven, we made a quick stop at the local Hardee's for a steak biscuit combo and then an uneventful drive to the lake. "I'd rather be lost on the lake then found at home." I have that hanging on the wall at home along with another one that says, "I love canoeing". Those are two good things because today I felt as if I was lost on the lake.


          We paddled to the island and stopped to listen to mother nature talk to us about how sweet the birds sing and how many different ones we can hear if we just sit still and absorb the sounds around us. We rocked with the movement of the still lake water. The cloud cover and the surrounding tree covered hills created an amphitheater  for the blend of notes bouncing around the canoe making me smile. We continue paddling up the right side of the lake following close to the shore. This shore line is not friendly toward us canoeist, no place to stop and stand on good old Mother earth, we just paddle and listen for the small hidden waterfalls tumbling into the lake.

Very small Falls hidden back in a cave.

        I hear several of these and can see most of them but a few are behind the under growth. Pull out your map of the lake and find Bootleg Mtn. on the eastern side of the lake, this is where we are following the water's edge. When I get to the end of the point I normally make a beeline for the Oconee county side and skim pass the land mass jutting into the lake, but today we stay with the shore and curve to the right entering a part of the lake where I usually do not go. I have seen fish jumping all morning, but something new pops up next to the canoe and I am surprised to see a group of otter sliding into the lake. One is most nosey and keeps popping up and holding himself for three or four seconds trying to figure out what I am. I did the best I could to get this picture, he did not pose for me.  [ If I ever capsize on the lake, it will be trying to take a picture! ]

Otter head

          Gracie and I see a place to beach the canoe and eat some lunch, maybe kick back and relax for an hour. I never like to come to the lake if I have to hurry.

Almost Heaven

          We stay here a couple of hours and you ask the question. "What do you for two hours on that small bit of beach?" The answer --  NOTHING --  Now do you get it? Life really "don't get much better then this"  I know that there are some people who are afraid to be by themselves, I guess they are scared of what they see when it is just them and themselves all alone with no place to go! Remember a wise turtle once said, "Hiking is good for the soul and canoeing will make you whole!"

          Enough introspection! Paddle on to new adventures! There are more trees to see. Rock formations rising out of the cold depths of clear water! Dead trees standing guard over crumbling cliffs! The exciting danger filled days of a flat water canoeist on a lazy hot summer day. Off in the distance the sound of a motor powered boat and all five senses are on full alert anticipating the wake heading my way, the canoe will rock once, twice, maybe three times and then the instability and danger will be past until the next time! Gracie sleeps on! I paddle steadily! What new action packed story will I have to relay to the wife when I return home? Hold on to the gunnels it could get rough!

          OK then, moving on toward Laurel Fork Creek Falls my mind goes blank. I don't know where on the lake I am. Really where am I? I see nothing familiar and sit in wonderment at my lack of knowledge of this part of the lake. Just keep moving with the shore on your right and something will be familiar in a minute. Yes, now I know where I am! Have stopped here many times on my way to the suspension bridge and the Toxaway River.

Trail into mountains. Not Foothills Spur Trail.

           From here we go to the water falls behind the rock, boat traffic picks up the closer we get to this popular waterfalls. A spur trail of the Foothills trail stops at the lake giving access to the camping area at the top of the falls. Have hiked to the camping area and did an overnighter a couple of times, came in from the 178 trail head, my most favorite part of the Foothills trail. A good rugged hike for an old man. There is a parked pontoon  blocking the entrance to the falls, people are fishing! People move the boat! We have come to see water falling from on high not "persons of interest" fishing.      

Laurel Creek Falls  from a distance.

Laurel Creek Falls

          You can see Gracie is not happy, we are bumped up next to the pontoon and a fishing line is almost in the canoe. The dog on the pontoon is barking and I'm trying to take a picture so we are just free floating. I say I'm sorry for being in their space, but I'm really not! They need to move! They don't! This is a beautiful place, the mist from the falls keeps everything green and cool. We paddle out to the main part of the lake and turn toward the boat ramps and return the way we came. We still don't get in a hurry and steadily move on down the lake. The sun is out and it has warmed up, I stop and take a quick swim to cool off, drink some  Gatorade and hand comb my hair back over the top of  my head. This is important to understand when we get to the ramp and the other boaters are giving me strange looks. When I go to the car I look in the mirror and see my hair sticking up and out all over my head. Wild man look! That and no shirt seems to scare people away!


          On the lake,


          Turtle








       

Ellicott Rock Wilderness -- Fork Mountain Trail

 

Respect all Wilderness Areas

Trail is in both states.

          It is the right thing to do! Four days of rain, a good steady rain that we fervently needed permeated the trails and elevated the water levels in all the creeks and streams. The Chattooga River stampeded down her river bed in an angry boil of white water and ever changing currents, smashing into rocks and diving over  submerged tree trunks and decaying stumps. I stood in amazement watching  the display of power! The hike down the mountain was commonplace, a walk in the woods. The  challenge of stooping under, going over,or edging  around the tangle of downfall  branches blocking the trail occurred four different times. I was able to keep moving and made good time. Only one stream was wide and deep enough to cause me to stop and stare and watch as two other  hikers decided how best to cross the stream. They tossed stones into the water and tried to build up the creek bed enough so they could walk across without getting water in their hiking shoes. They both were Boy Scout leaders, but they were not prepared! I, on the other hand was never in the Scouts, but I was prepared and had on my waterproof LL Bean hunting boots which walked me right over the water and onto the other side. There was nothing I could do to help so I continued on down the trail. Later, we crossed paths again and they told me that they took off their shoes and waded across the creek.

          The Fork Mtn. Trail ended when it merged with the Chattooga River Trail which followed the river and connected with the Foothills Trail in the Burrells Ford area. In other words get out your Foothills Trail map, start at Sloan Bridge Access, hike down the Fork Mtn Trail, turn left on the Chattooga Trail, turn left on the Foothills Trail and you will arrive back at your car which is patiently   waiting at the Sloan Bridge Access. A really simple-don't get lost hike if you know where you are going.  Now I'm going to get out of chronological order and tell the story of three novice backpackers I met about three miles from the end of my second day of hiking. I know that I'm looking pretty rough, have backpacked seventeen miles and camped out one night, my legs are tired and my body is tired. I'm not complaining just setting the stage for my encounter with The Three!

Me looking rough!

          I've hiked back up Fork Mtn. and am slowly traveling along the Foothills Trail when I see something coming toward me. I stop and lean on the trekking poles, puzzled at what I am seeing! Ah!! hikers, no not hikers, but backpackers! Three of them! When I first saw them they were in single file, but coming around a bend so I was seeing three heads, but one wide body and a big backpack! They stopped and looked me over, I smiled and said,

          Hi!

          Hi! three times

          How ya'll doin'?

          OK

          Wher're ya'll goin'?

          We don't know.

           Do you know where you are?

          No, we saw a guy a while ago and he didn't know where he was either. We're hunting for the Foothills Trail. Do you hike here often?

          Yes, I'm from down near TR.

          Where's that? --  Not my first clue these boys didn't know what they were doing, but that confirmed it.

          TR is not to far from here. Do ya'll have a map?

          No.

          Let me give you a map and show you where you are.  --  They look at each other and say

          Sure, that would be great!

          I take my backpack off and pull out the map of the Foothills Trail. I very carefully show them where they are and how to circle up and around ending back at their car. The reverse of my hike.  I tell them where the campsites are along the river and one of them says what they came to see was Ellicott Rock. I ask him if he knows what is important about Ellicott Rock and he does, it is where GA, NC, and SC meet.  The Rock is beside the trail and we easily can see the three state junction on the map.

         Each one has on an internal frame backpack and at least three other things strapped on the outside of their packs. One has a six man Coleman tent riding on the top of his pack. I didn't ask what else they had, they are young and strong. Some where in the course of our conversation I asked where they were from and they proudly answered, Columbia, we go to the Univ. of South Carolina! Being a Clemson fan, I immediately asked that they give me back my map!  [ Just kidding!] That did explain a lot, college kids need more than just book learnin'! They single file walked pass me on down the trail, to I'm sure a new adventure, I watched them pass and the third one had a football strapped on the back of his pack. I loudly and hilariously remarked, "A football!" They laughed and disappeared into the unknown. When I got to the trailhead and parking area I saw a Subaru with a Univ. of SC sticker on the back window and a Connecticut State license plate on the bumper. Not only USC students, but also Yankees!! Put your own adjective before Yankees.


          Now where was I before I got side tracked? Oh yes! I'm hiking down the Fork Mtn. trail and am enjoying the hike. I end up at the Chattooga River and take a break at the wide open camping area near the river.

Chattooga River

       




           


       

Camping Area

  























          A thirty minute snack break is enough and I continue on down the trail, the famous Ellicott Rock is close by, I take a picture of the sign and move along.

One Rock ahead!

          The trail is wet in spots and muddy and slick, a large number of roots and mossy stones to step on and around. My pace has slowed even more then normal, I'm careful not to slip and lean heavily on my trusty trekking poles. I come to a wide creek, about ten feet across and eighteen to twenty-four inches deep, I remove my Bean boots and boldly, no timidly cross wearing heavy smart wool socks which get heavier with each step. The water is cold for only a second, then my feet are numb and I feel nothing. Upon reaching the other side I sit and remove sodden socks replacing them with dry warm socks, thankful that I have brought four pair for such an occasion as this!

Sock Foot Crossing

          The remainder of the hike to Burrells Ford was uneventful, still careful sections of trail near river.

Bridge over the East Fork

Chattooga River in a hurry.

          The trail is nice, flat, and wide after crossing the East Fork plenty of good places to camp.

The water is pooling on the rock, a small stone is holding the leaf in place and the water is spouting out of the pool! I don't know if a human placed the leaf there or if it just happened? Either way--Awesome!!

         At campsite setting up for the night. A picture is worth a thousand words!

Tent

Rainfly

Deflated Pad

Aired up

Sleeping bag

Sleeping bag

Pillow

Pillow

Ready for bed!

          Cold night, but kept warm in bag and tent. Started out at 8:30AM next morning, first part of hike was all up hill with plenty of switchbacks. When I got to the top I stopped for a few minutes and had a snack break on top of the mountain. I could see through the naked winter trees down hill in all four directions. It is an inexpressible and therefore an unspeakable experience  for me to summarize my feelings when I stand on the top of a mountain, so I am silent! Quiet, I feel the quiet, no wind hiding and seeking around the trees. No birds singing, all bugs are hiding in their winter homes, just me and my thoughts. Why I had this thought I will never know - "It is as quiet as the three seconds after the preacher's boy farts in church!" Now that is quiet!

          Continuing on my way I stop and talk to The Three and then make my way to the parking area. All is well, so I put my trekking poles and backpack into the car and drive myself home. A good two day backpacking trip. If you live in the Upstate of SC do this trip, you will enjoy it!



          In the woods or on the water,

          Turtle