AUGUST

 

 

Team Waterfall’s most recent adventure was planned and led by Josh.  He came up with an ambitious plan that would include an exploration of August Cave, a scramble to the top of Panthertail Mountain, views from Cold Mountain and Shelton Pisgah Mountain, and a hike and bushwhack down to the East Fork of the Tuckaseegee River to check out Lichen Falls and the other waterfalls in the gorge.

 

It was a great day, with a big group of adventurers.  The group was so big, it seemed like I spent most of the morning trying to keep track of everyone.  That’s me, Team Waterfall’s official border collie.  In fact, as I started writing this report, I found myself trying to recall where everyone was at any given point in time.  To try to explain that in writing would be tedious and confusing.  I’m going to this one a little differently.  Welcome to my first-ever graphical trip report!  This will probably also be tedious and confusing, but at least it will be unique.

 

Originally I was going to give each person a symbol using their first initial.  That was a great idea, except that we had 4 people with “S” names and 3 people with “J” names on this hike.  For most of those folks, I used the first two letters of their first name.  That almost worked, except that Stan and Stephanie would both be St.  Since everybody knows Stephanie as Stephanie Blue, I’m using SB for her.  I’m also using various other symbols in the report just for the fun of it.  For the full cast of characters, see the key below:

 

[A] – Andy

[B] – Bob

[D] – Darrin (the Salmon)

[Ja] – Jack 

[Je] – Jeff (Stephanie’s second-cousin)

[Jo] – Josh (trip leader)

[Sb] – Stephanie

[Sc] - Scott

[Sp] – Spencer

[St] – Stan (friends with Josh)

[T] – Thomas (Badger)

[W] – Wally (friends with Josh)

[?] – Mystery person or persons

(X) – Male person, not part of our group

{x} – Female person, not part of our group

> - Moving forward

>> - Moving forward rapidly

< - Moving backwards

<< - Running away!

_ - Hanging out

0 – Cave entrance

zzz – napping

$ - Rope

^ - Tent

u – Hammock

w – two hammocks side by side

# - Heavy pack!

## - Really heavy pack!!

### - Seriously, how is he even walking with that?

~ Moustache

 

 

 

I worked in Greenville the week prior to the trip.  I packed ahead of time, so that I could go straight to Panthertown Valley from Greenville on Friday afternoon.  I decided to camp near Greenland Creek Falls, since that is a short, easy hike from the Cold Mountain trailhead.  The plan was to meet at that trailhead at 8am on Saturday.

 

Jack had a vacation day to burn, so he decided to head up there early on Friday.  I got stuck at work later than expected, so it was Friday evening before I made it to the trailhead.  While I was working, Jack did an extensive hiking in Panthertown Valley including Big Green Mountain, Little Green Mountain, and the Great Wall.  So, in graphical terms:

 

[Ja] >

 

I arrived at the Cold Mountain trailhead, loaded my pack and a small cooler, and headed down to the campsite.  I met Jack there.  After setting up camp, we took a short hike up to Greenland Creek Falls at dusk.  Then we headed back to camp, made dinner, and enjoyed a few beers around the campfire.

 

[A] [Ja] ^^ zzz

 

The next morning we hiked back up to the trailhead to meet everyone.  Most of us piled into Jeff’s truck for the drive to the trailhead.  A couple of people initially decided to walk, but quickly realized that was a bad idea.  Somehow we got everyone in or on the truck for the long, slow drive to the starting point of the hike.  At that point, Jeff drove his truck back up to the Cold Mountain parking area and then rode his bike back down to rejoin us.  Spencer and Stephanie were absent, but that wasn’t a shock.  Stephanie works until 5am on Saturdays.  We knew they would catch up.  It was about 9am when we started our hike.

 

[A] [B] [D] [Ja] [Je] [Jo] [Sc] [St] [T] [W]  > 0

[Sb] [Sp] zzz

 

A steep bushwhack brought us to one of the entrances to the cave.  Apparently there are 7 entrances to August Cave, but we only found 4 of them.  August Cave is quite extensive – apparently it is the 5th or 6th largest fissure cave in NC.

 

Jeff led the way into the cave.  It got really interesting right off the bat.  After scrambling over or crawling under a chokestone, it was necessary to stem across an apparently bottomless shaft to access a slick ledge.  I balked at that.  It was a bit too exposed for my tastes.  Instead, I followed a few others up a side passage that led back to the surface.  At the surface was another entrance.  We explored down that tunnel, which ended abruptly at a narrow, vertical drop.  I’m not sure if that is passable to anyone, but it certainly wasn’t passable to me!

 

Part of the group explored the main passage until they were stopped by a vertical descent.  They then backtracked and found their way out through another entrance.  Meanwhile, the rest of us were exploring the mountainside looking for other entrances.  Scott stumbled upon another entrance, which was the same one that the lead group emerged from. 

 

Just below that entrance is a deep pit.  I found a way to access it, though it required a bit of wriggling.  That led to a steep, leaf covered ledge.  There was nothing to hold onto there, and it was a pretty fair drop to the bottom of the pit.  I thought I might be able to get down safely, but I had serious doubts about coming back up.  Later, Jeff and some of the others made it down in there.  From the bottom of the pit they found two descending passages, but both of them were too vertical to allow further exploration.  That group had a tough time climbing back out without a rope, but somehow they managed.

 

While they were doing that, a few of us explored Scott’s entrance.  A bit of scrambling brings you into a large chamber.  The rocks here were covered with cave crickets and spiders.  We explored all around the chamber, but once again narrow passages and vertical terrain halted our progress.

 

We all emerged from the cave late that morning, ready to move on to the next part of the adventure.

 

 

THE TALE OF THE ROPE ON THE TAIL OF THE PANTHER

 

 

Josh suggested checking a nearby canyon for potential waterfalls.  Initially enthusiasm was mixed.  Ultimately though, everybody decided to go.  That worked out well.  The initial plan was to check out the canyon and then return to the cave area to begin the climb up the mountain.  However, as so often happens on these adventures, we improvised.

 

We contoured along the base of impressive cliffs to reach the mouth of the canyon.  From there we began scrambling and bushwhacking up the canyon.  The going was tough, as the doghobble was thick and the briers were profuse.  I’m not sure if anybody else has ever hiked up this canyon.  If so, there certainly wasn’t any sign of their passage.  This part of the hike was rough, but it was worth it.  The scenery was spectacular, with sheer cliffs towering above us.  At one point we passed under an overhanging cliff that was somehow supporting a huge, dead tree.  I’m not sure how it had defied gravity for so long.

 

Progress up the canyon was slow and challenging.  We kept looking for a route up, but the cliffs were continuous.  Eventually we were funneled into the streambed at the base of the canyon.  We didn’t see any legitimate waterfalls on that creek, though there were a couple of small tributaries that probably have waterfalls after a heavy rain.

 

I was afraid that we would get cliffed out, but Jeff did an excellent job leading while I kept a close eye on my GAIA App on my phone.  Eventually the cliffs relented, and we began a long, arduous scramble up Panthertail Mountain.  The climb was never technically difficult, but it was quite a workout, and some of the bushwhacking was thick.

 

Somewhere along here we passed the point of no return.  Doubling back to the cave and going up from there was no longer an option.  I sent my GPS track in progress to Spencer so that they would know where we were.  I got a message back a bit later, and it sounded like they were on our rouote.  Later I found out that they literally were tracking us – the old fashioned way.  Apparently 10 people bushwhacking through the jungle leave an obvious path.  I also discovered later on that they were carrying full backpacks with overnight camping gear.  So….

 

[Sb#] [Sp##] > …………………………………..[A] [B] [D] [Ja] [Je] [Jo] [Sc] [St] [T] [W]  >

 

The grade finally began to ease as we neared the summit of Panthertail.  The bushes remained relentless though, until we stumbled upon a faint trail.  After a bit of confusion about our goal, we decided to bag Panthertail Mountain and look for views.

 

I messaged Spencer and told him that we were heading for the summit.  However, the trail we were following had other ideas.  After a short distance it dropped off the crest of the ridge to contour around the south side of the mountain.  Before long, we merged with a more obvious trail.  This is a constructed path, with steps and water bars and even a short ladder in one spot.  The trail headed down and ahead.  We didn’t want to go back down, so we continued forward.  I do regret not exploring that path, as it may lead to another view – or maybe it goes all the way down to the road?

 

A short hike in the woods brought us to the first great view of the day.  First we could see Lake Toxaway below, with Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee in the distance.  Toxaway Mountain was across from us, but the most exciting view was the jagged peak of Whitesides Mountain beyond.

 

The trail re-entered the woods and continued past another cliff.  Just beyond we reached another overlook.  This one has a nice view of Lake Toxaway, but it is partially obscured by trees.  We stopped there for a quick lunch.  While we were eating, I got a message from Spencer that they were on the summit and that they were going to look for a viewpoint.  I told him we’d head up there and wait for them.

 

I was about half way through lunch when Jeff got restless and suddenly took off back down the trail in the direction we had come.  Josh hesitated, but then went after him, closely followed by Stan and Wally.

 

[Jo] [St] [W] >>…….[Je] >>

 

The rest of us were puzzled.  Where did he go?  I started packing up while everyone else milled about wondering what to do.  We were just about to follow after them when Spencer and Stephanie popped out of the woods from the opposite direction.  They had been hunting for an overlook when they’d heard our voices. 

 

Spencer wanted to continue east in search of a viewpoint he’d identified in pre-trip research.  I was conflicted.  I felt like we should try to catch up with the rest of the group, but I also wanted to go with Spencer.  Spencer’s ideas rarely end in disappointment.  Plus, I was growing weary of trying to keep up with everyone.  Splitting into two groups might be the best option all around.  Scott decided to join me, while Jack, Darrin, Bob, and Thomas went after the main group.

 

[A] [Sb] [Sc] [Sp] <  (using the backwards symbol here to denote that we were heading away from the main group)

 

[B] [D] [Ja] [T] > ………………[Jo] [St] [W] >…….[Je] >

 

That was the last anybody saw of Jeff.  It was a bit of relief that his car wasn’t in the trailhead parking area that evening.  Later Josh found out that Jeff had gone up to the summit, apparently to look for Spencer and Stephanie.  He didn’t find them there, of course, though Spencer had left his pack on the summit.  Not finding them there, apparently he followed a trail (I’m not sure which one) that eventually brought him to Cold Mountain Road several miles down from where he’d left his bike.

 

Bob, Darrin, Jack, and Thomas eventually caught up with the main group.  They would skip Cold Mountain, but would climb over Shelton Pisgah Mountain and then descend to the Devil’s Elbow above the East Fork of the Tuckaseegee River.  More on them later.

 

Spencer, Stephanie, Scott, and I continued down the trail beyond our lunch spot overlook.  We followed good trail as it descended on switchbacks.  After a few minutes we could see our destination – a rock tower – ahead.  A few switchbacks later we realized that the trail wasn’t going there.  Most of us doubled-back to the crest of the ridge, though Spencer bushwhacked directly up to it.  We found a fainter path there, and followed it out to a wonderful overlook.  The best view was out over Lake Toxaway, directly below.  From the other side we enjoyed impressive views of the Balsam Mountains, including Pilot Mountain, Looking Glass Rock, and Cedar Rock.

 

We took a long break there and enjoyed the moment.  The need to catch up with the rest of the group suddenly seemed unimportant. 

 

Eventually we headed back that way.  We followed the trail back to the ridgecrest west of the summit of Panthertail Mountain.  We reached a junction with an old road that connects the summit with the headwaters of Little Green Creek.  Spencer had left his pack (##) on the summit, so Spencer and Scott ran up there to retrieve it while Stephanie and I waited. 

 

[Sc] [Sp] >## $

[A] [Sb] _

 

They returned a few minutes later, with an interesting story.  When they reached Spencer’s pack, they found a rope piled up next to it.  This was interesting, because the rope hadn’t been there when he’d dropped his pack there an hour earlier.  Where did it come from?  Who put it there?

 

We were regrouping when we heard voices.  Well, I heard voices.  To be honest, I’d heard distant voices several times during our hike that morning.  It could have been my imagination.  Still, we were a bit spooked.  Was it the people that had left the rope next to Spencer’s pack?  It was time to go.

 

[A] [Sb] [Sc] [Sp] <<

 

We boogied on down the old roadbed to a junction.  Here, a trail continues ahead.  After a short distance it splits, with one fork going down into the headwaters of Little Green Creek.  That route splits after a short distance, with the left fork heading towards Cold Mountain.  We skipped Cold Mountain and followed the ridge to Shelton Pisgah Mountain.  A bit beyond the summit we reached a cliff with a nice view of Cold Mountain and Panthertown Valley.

 

 

THE TUCK NESS MONSTER

 

 

 After a break we continued down the ridge towards Devil’s Elbow.  We passed a confusing intersection and reached the gap above the Devil’s Elbow.  We met a couple here looking for a place to camp.  They were considering heading up the trail we had descended, but we discouraged them from doing that since he was carrying one of the biggest backpacks I’d ever seen.  We directed them back towards the East Fork of the Tuckaseegee River, which is loaded with great campsites.

 

[A] [Sb] [Sc] [Sp] >

[X###] {x#}

 

At that point we had a decision to make.  The original plan had been to bushwhack directly down to the river to hit Lichen Falls, which is on a tributary of the East Fork of the Tuckaseegee River.  However, we were still well behind the main group.  Spencer had a great suggestion.  His idea was to follow the trail to Elbow Falls.  We could head downstream from there, and hopefully cross paths with everyone else.

 

That’s what we did.  We hiked to Elbow Falls and took a break.  From there, we followed a trail downstream.  Spencer stashed his pack in the woods and we continued on towards Red Butt Falls.  Before long, we met the main group heading our way.  Spencer’s plan worked out perfectly!

 

[A] [Sb] [Sp]  >< [D] [Ja] [Jo] [Sc] [St] [W] 

 

The only exception was that Bob and Thomas had skipped the trip to Lichen Falls and had hiked directly to Jawbone Falls.  And Scott decided to skip Lichen Falls and hike with the main group to Jawbone Falls and then on to camp.  Oh, and Josh, Stan, and Wally weren’t camping, so they headed straight out.

 

[A] [Sb] [Sp]  < (again using the backwards symbol to indicate going in the opposite direction from the rest of the group).

[B] [D] [Ja] [Sc] >

[Jo] [St] [T] [W] >

 

I understand that the trip to Jawbone Falls featured the typical Team Waterfall hijinks – meaning the Salmon swimming and sliding down waterfalls.

 

Spencer, Stephanie, and I followed the trail down to Red Butt Falls.  Red Butt Falls is another scenic, sliding cascade.  At the base is an impressive cliff, which prevents easy progress downstream.  Stephanie dropped her pack there and we prepared to hike downstream to Lichen Falls.  First we crossed the river in the middle of Red Butt Falls.  If you slip here, you’ll find out why it is called Red Butt Falls!  From there we rock hopped and waded downstream.  The going was fairly easy most of the way, though we did have to watch out for Tuck Ness Monster.  Shortly before Lichen Falls things got interesting.  The river was littered with giant boulders, with the river racing between them.  We worked our way over to River Left and scrambled up to the base of Lichen Falls.

 

Lichen Falls is cool.  The stream is small, but the waterfall is scenic and it is deep in the wilderness.  If you hike to this one, you’ll probably have it to yourself.  From there we scrambled downstream a short distance to an impressive sandy beach.

 

After a long break we started the hike back upstream.  The return hike was quick.  We retrieved Stephanie’s pack at Red Butt Falls and Spencer’s pack from Elbow Falls.  From there we returned to the main trail and headed for camp since it was getting late.  Spencer actually suggested stopping at Jawbone Falls and Stephanie and I laughed.  Stephanie was still going strong despite only 3 hours of sleep, and we were struggling to keep up with her.

 

When we reached the main trail downstream from Schoolhouse Falls we split up.  I needed to return to my car at the Cold Mountain trailhead to grab food and beer.  That meant climbing up to the trailhead and then descending to the campsite just downstream from Greenland Creek Falls.  Spencer and Stephanie didn’t need to do that, so they decided to take the trail upstream along Greenland Creek.

 

[A] >

[Sb] [Sp] >

 

I made the hike up to the car in record time.  I switched out backpacks, loaded up my cooler with food and beer, and headed down to camp at dusk.  It was only a short hike (less than a mile), but the sight and sound of the campfire in the distance filled me with cheer.  It was great to rejoin my friends, who I’d only seen briefly that afternoon.  Bob, Darrin, Jack, Scott, I settled in around the campfire to relax after a long but thrilling day in the wilderness.  Spencer and Stephanie arrived a few minutes later.  Although their route had been shorter, they had been distracted by 2 more waterfalls and an encounter with some other campers along the way.

 

I made dinner at 10:30 and shared it and some beers with Spencer and Stephanie.  Meanwhile, Jack generously passed the moonshine around.  That’s just how we roll in Team Waterfall.  Just before midnight Spencer, Stephanie, and Jack took a midnight stroll up to Greenland Creek Falls.  Jack claims no recollection of that hike.  It was long after midnight when we staggered, stumbled, or in my case, crawled, to our tents / hammocks.

 

[A] [Sb] [Sp] [B] [D] [Ja] [Sc]  ^^^uuw  zzz

 

 

WHAT HAPPENS IN PANTHERTOWN VALLEY STAYS IN PANTHERTOWN VALLEY

 

 

Everyone was feeling a little rough the next morning.  Spencer and Stephanie slept in, while everyone else packed up and headed out.  Eventually the 3 of us had breakfast, hiked out, and headed down to pick up Stephanie’s car.

 

Our original plan for the afternoon was to revisit August Cave since Spencer and Stephanie had missed it.  We weren’t really feeling up to it though.  We decided to go with plan B.  The idea was that I would show them some secret waterfalls and they would return the favor.  None of us were really up for the bushwhacking and scrambling necessary to hike to my waterfalls though.  We took an afternoon nap instead.  That evening, Spencer and Stephanie took me to their waterfall, which is absolutely magical!  I owe them one, since I didn’t deliver on my end of the bargain.

 

After the hike, we drove to Brevard.  We took a little shortcut on the way, which probably saved us 5 minutes.  We arrived at Dugan’s Pub at 8:58, 2 minutes before they stop serving food on Sundays.  That’s a great shortcut!




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