With the kids off school for two days, i wanted to go somewhere for fall break, but schedules (Julie's) and work emergencies (mine) conspired against us. Instead, we took a day trip yesterday into the mountains.
Our first stop was the South Mountains State Park, just over an hour from home. We arrived a little after 11am. The park welcome center is very, very nice, complete with theater for educational field trips. They are also building an exhibit room, but we didn't ask what of. The road through the park is also quite nice and appears to be new. North Carolinians, even my anarchic friends, should be proud of this park's appearance.
We drove to the nearly-empty parking lot, and walked a few yards into the empty picnic area for a chilly lunch. Chilly, as in our bodies, in the low-50s shaded area. Tethered Clancy to a tree, and nibbled on turkey sandwiches, bananas, raisins, and crackers.
Next, we began our hike through the woods, first along the Hemlock Nature Trail, a short, easy stroll along the riverside with the typical exhibit boards for plantlife, animal life, etc. The kids enjoyed touching the animal tracks imprints exhibit. The nature trail, at its end, hooks into the parallel main trail, which leads to the waterfall, this park's main attraction.
This is the High Shoals Trail that is rated "more difficult". I'm not familiar with the trail rating system, so i thought "more difficult" than what? By the time we hooked up with this trail, the signs indicated that the waterfall was less than a mile away, maybe a half-mile. We're toting a hyper golden retriever, who smells another dog that passed by about 10 minutes earlier, and who knows how many other animals. And we're shepherding a 2-year old boy, who is certain that he can walk the trail without help, despite doing a couple of face plants after tripping on tree roots. So, whichever grownup is leading (being lead by) the dog is at the head of our merry band, and whichever grownup with David is well at the rear. Emily & Jackson darted back & forth from front to rear. Fortunately, the place was nearly empty, so we didn't get in anyone's way.
The trail soon did become more difficult, as warned, as we faced steep stairs, sometimes with wood pylons, and sometimes just with big rocks. Leashing the dog became dangerous, as he would pull you ahead too quickly. And walking with David became more tedious, although he finally would let me hold his hand to ascend the steepest steps. It was arduous, but i thought it was worth it to arrive at the waterfall. I plopped down in the corner of the observation desk (we had it to ourselves) and just relaxed in the spray. We decided to backtrack rather than continue with the loop trail, avoiding the higher climb to the top of the falls and the longer return trip.
Since it was still early (before 2pm) when we got back to the car, i decided to continue the adventure with a 2nd waterfall that i had read about. It was further west, north of Marion (by the way, that area is chock-full of stone quarries - that stretch of 221/226 is to stone quarries what Seagrove is to pottery, or what the Las Vegas strip is to casinos). I was going my memory of the website's directions, and we missed the turn. Had to fire up the laptop to find the right road.
This waterfall is called Tom's Creek Falls, and can be found at the end of a moderately easy (a couple of small climbs, and a couple of muddy stream beds) and short trail. It was taller than the first, but had less volume. It was quite a cool walk though. The kids also enjoyed romping around some large stone formations, that look like prime spots for disaffected teens to get away from it all. This would be a great trail for a geocache, but we didn't check for any.
Perhaps the day was more work than thrills, but i think it's good for us to get out together (unfortunately, Caroline couldn't join us as she had a church retreat) and enjoy nature. David gave a plaintive "goodbye animals" as we left the first waterfall. And as i carried him back at the very end of that hard trail, i asked him if he would remember doing this. He said yes (no doubt helped by the sparse video we took), and i told him, good, that's why we do these things, to make good memories. You can think back and remember what a big boy you were to climb that hard trail.
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