The Big Hike: Table Rock, 2006

Kelley and I hiked up Table Rock on April 11th of this year. Our original intent was to make it to Governor's Rock, since The Big Hike had been scheduled since late December, but having been couped up all winter, we just couldn't resist ourselves, and we made it to the summit on that day.

And yesterday, we did it again. This time, with company.

A fellowship of nine chose to hike the 3.6 miles to the summit (to an elevation of 3,124 feet.) A diverse group consisting of three Ugandian teens and their adoptive parents, a Cajun, a Californian whose favorite hikes include Half Dome, and us. We arrived at Table Rock shortly before 10:00 am, and after filling out the hiker registration form as required, we turned our face to the trail....

And took off so fast that I thought my lungs were going to bust.

The boys took off at about 100mph, hiking faster than my normal walking gait, and then tried to maintain that speed for the entire hike. Everyone but my husband and I followed suit, leaving me behind the pack. Hikers, the Summit Trail is rugged, steep, rocky, and not for the average person. Pacing is always the best choice on this trail. The group paid a price for this folly. We had to take a long rest at the Trailside Shelter, located just a mile or so up the path, and a longer one at Governor's Rock (where one person took a short nap) just a short distance later.

Duration of the hike from the Nature Center to the rock overlooking the reservoir: five hours and fifteen minutes. This included the two stops, lunch at the end of the trail, a stop to examine the mating rituals of two black snakes (I know more about THAT than I ever wanted to), and a brief stop when I twisted my ankle (hurt for three minutes and that was it.) It should have taken at least six hours just to hike to the summit and back, with one, maybe two stops. Fortunately, I hike often, so I wasn't in pain afterward, but this is NOT the way to handle this trail.

But we survived, and we'll do it again. It's a great hike. 

Table Rock is located off Scenic Hwy 11 in Picken County. For more info, go to the SC's Table Rock website.

NC Arboretum

Nearly three years after moving to the Upstate, we finally went to the North Carolina Arboretum, located near the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance off Hwy 191. Now we're kicking ourselves for not having gone sooner. We drove past this place shortly after our arrival, but having lived in Texas, where flowers bloom only three weeks of the year, flowers were out of reach and therefore, out of mind.

After joining CarolinasAdventures and seeing the magnificent macro pictures members posted online, detailing the uniqueness and delicate beauty of so many different varieties of flowers, we have a new appreciation for them. We'd hoped to see a few on this day, but could spot none along the Carolina Nature Trail. But it taught us a lesson. Had we bothered to check into what the Arboretum has to offer, we would have discovered their numerous hiking trails sooner.

The Arboretum is family friendly. Sitting on over 420 acres in the Pisgah Forest, it offers ten hiking trails, ranging from easy to difficult, ten garden areas, a visitor's center with nice restrooms, a gift shop, small cafe, and gorgeous scenery throughout.

Raven Cliff Falls

Today we found ourselves with time on our hands in the middle of a bright, sunny day. Not wanting to waste it staring at our television screen, Kelley suggested we take a hike to Raven Cliff Falls. We'd hiked this trail in 2004, but after two years of term papers and homework, he forgot. But this hike and falls are worth the visit, so I didn't argue.

Raven Cliff Falls trail is located just north of Caesars Head, off Hwy 276. The trail is about 2.1 miles one way, and we knew it would take us about forty-five minutes to get to the observation platform where we could view the falls. As mentioned earlier, the day was beautiful, and although the mountains are usually a bit to moderately hazy, we could see a fair distance during our trek.

The trail is shaded by a plethora of branches from tall trees, making it a cool and serene walk. A good portion of the path is carved into the side of the mountain, which means one side gradually slopes upward, and the other side drops down to depths I don't want want to think about. The elevation is somewhere in the vicinity of 3000 feet, so the thought of slipping down the side is somewhat unsettling.

Spring is just coming to the mountains, and mountain laurel was blooming alongside the path. We passed a few hikers along the way, including one fellow who mentioned a "new" observation platform that was supposed to have a better view of the falls. I'd heard about it, but without a map or specific directions, we decided to go with what we know.

We made it to the old observation platform without incident, and after spending a half hour or so gazing at the falls, we turned around and began the journey back. A breathtaking way to spend a day in the glorious SC Upstate.

Jones Gap State Park

We recently followed advice from several hiking-group members and visited Jones Gap State Park. The park is located at the end of a long, winding road off Hwy 11 near Cleveland, SC. After paying the required park fee, we walked down a narrow pathway, over a bridge and past a serene open picnic area, and began our hike.

This mulch/dirt trails follows the boulder-strewn Middle Saluda River and is, for the most part, level. However, it had enough natural obstacles in the path to make it more than just a stroll in the forest. We walked beneath a leafy canopy formed by wispy branches, and enjoyed the company of a few passing hikers and the chirping of a lone, yet enthusiastic bird.

We crossed wood bridges, and navigated over several streams/creeks/trickles of water that intersected the trail, but detoured to reach the falls.

A short hike, but a nice way to spend a couple of hours in the Upstate. Jones Gap State Park has several trails, at least one of which extends to Hwy 276 in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. Along with the trails, the picnic area is a popular spot, so the parking lot tends to fill up quickly. If you're planning a visit, arrive early or later in the day.

We’ve returned on more than one occasion, once taking the strenuous hike to Rainbow Falls. We always enjoy our time there.

Another Blog? Why?

Why am I starting another blog, because I like to write? Because I want to share our zany adventures hiking the trails and driving the highways of the Carolinas?

Yes.

So here it is, our Trip Reports blog from our various travels. I wish I would have started this when we moved to South Carolina so I could have shared the wonders of this region as we discovered them (and explain why I offered a Park Ranger $100 for her water.)

I hope you enjoy and benefit from these reports. If so, please drop a comment and let me know.