After the rain

         Sunday was a rainy day to say the least . Spent the day at my elder son's home enjoying the grandkids . And helping them take naps . 

 

          Monday was forecast to be a nice day with a few clouds so we decided to head back up to check a few places we had bypassed . On our way to Blood Mountain Creek Falls we had to pass Dick's Creek Falls . Yes , the infamous Dick's again . 

        Dick's was running fast and hard making for some fantastic photo ops . Notice I said ''ops''. I'm still new at this photo thing and sometimes , OK most of the time what I think I am capturing isn't always what develops .                                                                                                                                                     

     As we were leaving Dick's an SUV rolled in carrying a couple of kayaks . Of course we didn't think anyone would really kayak here . We headed off to Blood Mountain Creek Falls just a short run down the road after fording Crow Mountain Creek .

    After getting geared up for a short hike up the creek,my first pic came from the bridge crossing the creek .

 

        And the another 10 '- 15'

       According to the directions I had , the left hand side was the route to take . They lied . Less than 20 yards upstream the ''path'' disappeared straight up the mountain into a laurel . So we went back across the little bridge to the parking/camping area and went up the right , and correct side of the creek .  In retrospect  maybe creek left is the same as river left . Oh well ....

      Maybe 100' from the truck was the next set of falls . Giant rocks tumbled into a maze . These boulders are typical of what the name Chattahoochee means , Flowered rocks or painted rocks . These pictures really do not do justice to how beautiful these waterfalls are . You can literally drive any type of car to within an easy 1 to 2 minute walk to view them .

     On the way back out we noticed that the 'yaks had been taken off the SUV . Damn , I bet that was interesting  ! Well lo and behold  as we came around a curve there was a 'yak in the middle of the road and another one poking it's nose up from the steep , overgrown bank . We had to stop and ask how it went .

      We were surprised to see it was the lovely young lady we met at the Walisi-Yi Center last trip . The young man with her had a little bitty kayak and she had an odd looking canoe with full flotation . After turning around we offered them a ride back to the falls . They were going to make another run down the creek and graciously allowed me to take a few pictures . Oh , to be young and adventurous again . Don't believe I would have had the good sense to wear a helmet though .

     I had to make a stop at Byron Reece trailhead again . There was some CCC stone work over Shanty Branch Creek that I hadn't found last time and after some head scratching I figured out where it was  . Kind of looks like either a Troll hole or a Fairy door .

    The parking area wasn't overflowing but it was getting crowded .  The reason I mention this is because as much use as this trailhead gets , these picnic tables didn't look like they saw much use . Odd , considering how pretty and peaceful it was  by the creek .

     We then took 180 east to 348 south or Richard B Russell Scenic Byway . And it is scenic ! We stopped at Hog Pen Gap for a few photos and to water the bushes . 

There was still ice hanging on the rock face from the last cold spell we had  and huge chunks that had fallen to the base of the wall .

    Most of the fall colors are gone or faded but this vista of Lawdamercy Cove was still  nice . And yep, that's the name on the map .

     I read in the Longstreet Highlands Guide that there was an easy , I repeat easy , short cut to the top of  Dukes Creek Falls which is actually on Dodds Creek . That should have rung a bell .  Not only was that a lie , it was a damn lie , not only that ,  it was a damn , boldfaced lie , not only that  , it was also  B. S. You get my drift . 

    In all fairness , there really is a trail . And to be honest , it may be easy if you are young and  in extremely fit condition . Or a mountain goat with low  4 wheel drive feet . Ok , or a damn bird . 

     For old fat guys there should have been a warning sign that said ''Don't even get out of your truck . Just drive on by the trailhead , content that you could hear the falls off in the short distance . ''

    I swear to you that the guide says right there in black and white that the falls are ONLY about 1200' from the road .  Oh , Hell ,Yeah !!!!!  There are about 60'-75' that are actually doable then another 50' or so through a leg breaking tangle of downed trees , then a leaf covered , bobsled of a ghost of a trail down the mountain through a laurel hell . It was so steep and slick I was afraid to let go of the small trees I was clinging to , to  take a picture .

      I stopped just this side of the hell . I could hear the roar of the falls and feel the cool breeze coming off them . Yeah , I know . So close and yet so far away . Boohoo . 

      The gate across Davis Creek was open so of course we forded the creek . One more inch of water and we would have been floating off . Dang crossing was way deeper than it looked . Next time I will have Ron wade across to check the depth . He probably would have gone downstream fast though . Two wheel drive wasn't looking too good today cause we still had to turn around and cross it again to get back But the old Dakota made it through .  We stopped for a photo of Dodds Creek on the way out . Some idjit had spread corn  all around the campsites there . Turned the camping area into a  taco stand for the bears . ( Camper in a sleeping bag or tent . )

      We passed on the Raven Cliffs Falls hike . We will have to make it the focus of a morning trip so we can make the two and a half mile hike up to falls , and more importantly , the two and a half mile hike back to the trailhead . 

     As long as we were in the area we decided to make a couple more easy  stops before calling it a day .  Unicoi Lake is beautiful at any time of the year .

      Stovall Covered bridge was our last stop before heading to Waffle House . 

                                          

                                                  Another good day to be above the dirt . 

  

                                             129/19  Ramble              

       Bogg's Creek                                      

                 

       This was my first visit to the Bogg's Creek  area of the Chestatee WMA .It had been closed due to extensive tornado damage  and for the most part was supposed to be impassable .  The clean up crew did a remarkable job . There were a few remaining tangles but not many .

        The rock formations along Bogg's is impressive . There is one stretch along where 443A fords the creek where the water has worn a trough 20' to 30' long, 10' to 15; wide , and about 4' deep .
                 

   The trough on the other side of the ford isn't quite as large but it  looks as though it was scalloped from the rock .

   The feeder creek along 443A is quite small but very picturesque for the mile or so we followed it upstream . A fallen tree halted our progress right after a small , noisy waterfall .

   
This area has some nice stream side campsites and will definitely be worth a spring time visit . Since this is a seasonal trout stream we didn't get to do any fishing . This would also be a good area to hunt based on the hog rooting and coyote scat along the roads .

      Neel's Gap

     

   A little further north is the Walasi-Yi Center . As many times as I have passed here , this was the first time I stopped in . A tremendous amount of young energy and friendly folks . Mostly geared for hikers , tourists are made welcome too . Used , and abused packs and boots line the walls and ceiling . The young lady at the counter was more than happy to relate a few of their stories . If you need gear , food ,or drinks for the trail , they have you pretty well covered . I even bought the wife a shirt and you know how cheap I am .
  The wind chimes outside the door were getting quite a workout from the icy wind blowing through the gap . The observation area above and behind the store has beautiful vistas . It was a bit chilly so after a few pics ,we headed down .

   Byron Reece Trailhead 

   A short stop at the trailhead for a very short hike up to the switchbacks on Blood Mountain   before turning back for lunch . I need to come back with a hiking companion and attack those switchbacks .
The pic is from across the street . Looks like Mount Fuji .
 

 Helton Creek Falls 

 

  Turning onto Helton Creek Road , I thought I had missed a turn .  A narrow paved road sparsely lined with mailboxes and nice cabins instead of a  dirt road . I think the area is called Vogel Springs Community . Quite a few for sale signs in a really nice area . A sign by a side road pointing the way to the falls confirmed that I was on the right path . I guess they were tired of folks wandering down their dead end street on a waterfall quest .

  

 
 Finally the paved road gave way to a proper dirt Forest Service road . If you miss the signs you can still hear and see the falls from the road . There is a small parking area right at the trailhead . Steps lead down to a view of the falls through the trees . A short , easy trail leads to more steps . You can go down to the base of the falls or up to the top of the first falls . If you go on a cold day , watch for ice and frost on the steps and the rocks .
 

  A short flight of steps go to the upper falls and an observation deck .  You can go around the deck to get a better view ,but use caution . There had been quite a few trees dropped in the area . I wasn't sure if it was for safety or to give a better view but some were behemoths .
 

   The map shows the road going through to 348 (   Russell-Brasstown Scenic Drive ) but we retraced our steps back to  129 to visit Vogel State Park . BTW , internet gossip says you need a high clearance vehicle to go to 348 . I don't know .

    Vogel SP

    Still heading north , we rolled into Vogel State Park . Another place I have passed many times and this was my first visit . I especially wanted to see the Civilian Conservation Corps museum . Unfortunately it is only open on Sundays this time of year . I guess I'll have to come back in the spring so I can avoid the week end crowds .
  We, being old farts , snuck into the no parking area at the Trahlyta Falls trailhead by 180 . The wind blowing a million miles an hour across the lake made for an invigorating walk , but we soldiered on .

  The stone work at the spillway is impressive considering the era and conditions that they were built . The trail to the base of the falls winds downward gently ,but the steps to the observation deck call for some long legs . The deck had icicles hanging off it and there were a few patches of ice , so , again , be careful .

  Well worth the windy walk . Another beautiful Georgia trip that warrants visits in any season . Great campgrounds , cabins, beaches , and kayak,canoe, paddleboat , and bicycle rentals .

       180 / Wolf Pen Gap Road 

  After leaving the park , we hooked a left at Wolf Pen Gap Road . This has always been one of my favorite roads especially when I was on a Harley . A seriously winding road with several hairpins thrown in .  A small pullout at Sosebee's Cove is worth checking out . A short set of steps lead to an easy  trail around part of the cove .  It's not as hard as it looks from the top .Forest giants abound here and the springtime wildflower show is magnificent .
  There is also a small memorial to Arthur Woody , the barefoot ranger . An interesting character in Georgia's history , he was instrumental in much of the land purchase for the Chattahoochee National Forest and also a major player in the reintroduction of the whitetail deer to the mountains .

 

   Further on you pass Lake Winfield Scott S P . There is a great view of the lake from the road and on the other side a fine example of a rock dam . I still haven't visited this park ,but it' on the list .

Continuing on towards Suches you pass two entrances to Cooper Creek WMA . They are both worthy drives when you have time . There are miles of hiking trails and seasonal trout streams . You might even catch a glimpse of the elusive mountain grouse if you know where to look .

A right hand turn on 60 and a left on Gaddistown Road was our final scenic leg of todays trip . FS 28 past the Ranger camp. to Nimblewill Road to 52 to Ellijay . South on 515/575  just as you are coming into Jasper there is a Fatz restaurant on the left . Good food at a decent price and only a ten minute wait on a Friday night .


     Definitely a long and full day .

Dick's Creek Trout Trip

Last time I had been to the Dick's Creek in the Chestatee WMA was quite a few years back on a pre hunt scouting trip .

( Oddity -- Dick evidently rambled all over Georgia . There's a plethora of creeks with the name of Dick . Either that or there's a lot of Dicks in Georgia .)

At the scouting trip ,I had the good fortune to visit with the area manager at the check station . North Georgia mountains have the friendliest greenjeans I have ever met . Including the Feds . This fellow told me of two 600 acre tracts that weren't well known . One was behind the check station . The other was at the end of the road that Wet Pets is on .

(Oddity -- I once did business with WP when I was working for an insurance repair company .A client in the la-de-da part of Roswell had a couple of pine trees fall into his koi/goldfish/turtle pond . WP provided containers and maintenance for the fishies during repairs .
According to the Roswell gent the turtles ''davids'' had been offended by the ''davids'' of the intruding pine trees and had vacated the premises .
Hell ,I didn't know turtles and pines had ''davids''much less what said ''davids '' were until the gent explained that they were the soul or spirit . All living things have ''davids'' . Who'd a thunk it ?
If you ever get a chance to visit Wet Pets , they are great folks and very informative .

OK , back to Dick's , or one of them anyway .

My Yankee compadre  ,Ron , and I decided to try our hand at trout fishing . It was too hot to go to the low country lakes . Ron is from Rochestah , but he's mostly OK . Sometimes .
We rolled up to the parking area by the falls in my trusty (mostly) Dakota . We checked out the falls and started fishing the upper end . Not the first bite . Not a chub or a horneyhead . Ron decided to try his luck in the lower pool while I snapped a few pictures at the top .

I eventually worked my way to the edge to check on Ron . Ron ain't no spring chicken ,plus he ain't from around here if you know what I mean .
Well Ron is facing downstream and his fishing pole was laying on the bank , Damn , Ron must be taking a leak right there in the fishing hole .
I hollered down at him 'cause I wanted to fish that pool too . He couldn't hear me so I took his picture and started working my way down around the falls . In no particular hurry either .

I got down to him and he was still in the water on a huge slab of rock that extended down into the pool . My first thought was he's taking the longest leak on record for an old codger .
Ron looks up and says ''Help''. I started laughing still thinking he had been taking a leak and said ''Like hell I will ''. Ron said ''No ,I really need help . I can't get out ''. Mind you , Ron was wearing Crocs . He had tried to cross a slimy slick and slid right down into the pool . With all the slime on the rock , he couldn't walk or crawl up the incline .
I extended my fishing pole out so he could clamber out to where I could give him a hand . Other than a slight head ache from his screaming hearing aids that had gotten wet ,and being a little wet and chilled , he was OK . Still a Yankee , but OK . Mostly .

We hung out there for a while fishing and drying out . Ron couldn't cast to the base of the falls where the pool was the deepest so he started edging around the top of the rock to get close . Again ! I told him if he fell in again ,I wasn't pulling his sorry butt out . Again ! ! It took a little convincing but finally he relented .

We decided to fish a bit longer . Out of nowhere ,bone chilling screams bounced all over the rocks around us . You cannot imagine the surprise and delight on our weathered old faces when scantily clad young women came raining down out of a beautiful cloudless sky .Unfortunately their randy young boyfriends were hot on their heels . Unbeknownst to us ,this perfect trout pool was also the local diving cliff and swimming hole . The younguns apologized for messing up our fishing . We replied '' No problem , we weren't catching . Y'all go ahead and enjoy your swim .''

Well , ole Ron gets up and starts walking toward the falls and the slick spot . Again !!! I asked what in the hell he thought he was up to . He just grinned like a possum and said '' Don't pull me out when I fall in this time ''.

Damn Yankee