Cascades Falls.
the waterfall is awesome, I think I enjoy the hike to it just as much!
It follows the creek the whole way
Chasing dirt roads, we found Shawvers Run Wilderness and Virginia’s Hanging Rock
The day before we were racing back to camp as darkness settled over the farm land of back roads but we saw camels on a farm and then buffaloes. We never found the camel farm, but the buffalo were out.
That night, we hiked up to Wind Rock for the sunset
When camping with James and Elizabeth we go through Gazetteers and maps looking for stuff to do, I read about a 200 foot waterfall, Apple Orchard Falls that none of us had seen. It’s a long hike and the end is a lot of scrambling, but the falls are pretty!
Waterfall number 2 of the day, Fallingwater Cascades
James looks for the best angle
Happy Father’s Day. I started early with a bike ride, fixed a lawn mower, then James, Elizabeth and I headed to Morrow Mountain State Park for a hike and picnic before kayaking.
The summit road was closed, so we hiked from the bottom.
Along the way we met a couple walking their cat on a leash.
I can’t take James and Elizabeth somewhere that doesn’t have a waterfall…. Moccasin Creek Falls on Falls Reservoir
For those who know the paddle, the dam was releasing water and the spillway was sending water over the rock island… the water was faster than I have ever seen it. I really thought there was no way we were going to make it to the caves today, but Beth was determined. We tried the right side, Clay attacked the middle and finally Beth said we had to go up the left bank, portage over the rocks and then all we had to do was cross the river – sounds easy enough. I was sure I was going to be swimming again like the last time I tried to make it during a release, so no pictures, I put everything away.
After long effort over the rocks we made it!
Nobody was flipped and Beth got to paddle into the cave.
Time to hike! We decided not to kayak since water was up and fast from recent rains, so we went to the closest waterfalls – Hanging Rock State Park. #1 Tory’s Falls
#2 
and a pretty drop below the pool of Lower Cascades Falls
#3 Window Falls
Window Falls from behind
Pretty unnamed falls above Window Falls
Hidden Falls
#4 Upper Cascades Falls from above
and below
Follow the creek down from Upper Cascades Falls to find this unnamed drop
After hiking we decided to explore, and found this building. Col. Jack Martin Stone House
Rider Falls – it’s on private property and this is the view from the road… it’s not in Kevin Adam’s book?
Maybe a Taco Tuesday picture as seen through an old farm building
Woodruff Branch Falls
Swimming hole on Anthony Creek near Globe, NC
Upper Little Lost Cove Falls – This is an awesome waterfall and better hike, starting at a primitive camping spot, it’s a short hike, but the trip up and down to the waterfall requires a rope.
A snake suns itself near Linville Falls. I found two dead black snakes killed by humans… both on the trail… I hate humans sometimes!
Finally got to climb again!
Silvervale Falls
Silvervale Falls detail
Sunset and clouds
I finally made a start (and finish) in the 2019 North Carolina Cyclocross season.
After a lot of overnight rain, the course in Boone was muddy again!
I had fun, didn’t race well, fell a couple of times, but it was great to be back on the start line this weekend!
After the race, I explored for fall colors
The light wasn’t great, so I went for a hike
Goshen Creek is a pretty little waterway
not much color on the trees
but fun to rock hop
a just enjoy the silence
then I tried another HDR of the sunset
A weekend that changes. Instead of elk, we ended up in Boone again, since I hadn’t planned anything, we searched for a waterfall I had not been to, this is Laurel Creek Falls (I think) but we rock hopped up the creek for a long ways looking for more. Either way this is an awesome swimming hole.
A corn dog and loaded fries with a gose beer at The Cardinal in Boone! Yum!!!
No sunset tonight, only fog!
Today started with a hike to Devils Bathtub. This hike requires at least 11 creek crossings and had been on my to do list for years.
Most pictures of Devils Bathtub show this turquoise pool, but it is a great swimming hole just 100 yards from the actual “bathtub”
The “bathtub” is a 3 foot wide by 9+ feet deep pool at the base of a small waterfall.
I tried to touch the bottom… it’s deep!
The next stop, Stony Creek Waterfall
This one is awesome, you can swim behind the falls!
My cooking success tonight – I melted Hersey Miniatures in a double boiler and poured over cheesecake and strawberries!
Another day in the Jefferson National Forest and the Falls of Dismal
We had the place to ourselves, we hiked up the creek, explored the rocks and I swam around to see if I could jump from the top (I couldn’t) This is a great spot on a warm day to swim and picnic!
The afternoon was spent packing up camp to move further west, getting stuck behind an accident and waiting for Lifeflight (which circled and left) setting up a new camp, and visiting High Knob Lookout Tower for the sunset.
Love
I always tell my students, when photographing a sunrise or sunset, turn around and photograph what is being illuminated by the light!
