Baby Blue Eyes

Spring is blooming along trails and roadsides throughout the Carolinas. We missed the trillium this year but found this beautiful baby blue eye, which had been planted along the Interstate near Asheville:

Copyright 2012 K Buffaloe

While in the western part of the Carolinas, my baby blues got a glimpse of one of my favorite sights in the SC Upstate, Hogback and Glassy mountains from Highway 14. The photo doesn't do it justice.

Copyright 2012 K. Buffaloe

Recently, I've been learning a bit about the history of these mountains, part of a section once referred to as The Dark Corner, both in Distilling the Mysteries of Hogback Mountain and in various documentaries. If you've seen this ridge from afar and marveled at its beauty, take a closer look. Its history is as fascinating as the view.

Paris Mountain, Greenville, SC

I'm a huge fan of Upstate South Carolina. Home to Greenville, the Reedy River, Landrum, Scenic Hwy 11, the Blue Wall, Table Rock with all its scenery and trails, the rare wildflower called Oconee Bells, Caesar's Head, the Mountain Bridge Wilderness, waterfalls, and so, so much more, Upstate SC is a great place to visit, and to live.

Just north of Greenville, near Travelers Rest, sits Paris Mountain. Officially a state park, Paris Mountain provides a place to hike, bike, or picnic, and for G'ville-area residents, a mountain experience without the long drive.

While living in the Upstate, we would often pop over to the park on a Saturday morning or after work for a relaxing hike. We've hiked both the Sulfur Springs Loop and Brassy Ridge Trails, and enjoyed both. Paris Mountain also offers an interpretive trail around the lake, and an Old Firetower Bike Trail.

Carolina Towns and Trails Featured on WYFF's Morning News

Exciting news! Last weekend, WYFF Channel 4 in Greenville, SC featured your humble blog on their Sound Off South segment of the morning news. I traveled to the glorious South Carolina Upstate for the interview, and after a ride down a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, followed by a somewhat sleepless night, I met Kelly Coakley at WYFF's studios.


Part I of the interview is below. I'll post Part II when it's available. I'm told I presented a calm demeanor, but in reality, I was nervous. Consequently, I forgot to mention a few things I'd hope to present. So below the clip are the answers I gave in the pre-interview. Hopefully, I'll get the information across one way or the other.

And the answers I'd hoped to give:

How did you pick the topic and name for your blog?

The topic flowed naturally from our adventures. In the spring of 2006, after two years of exploring SC and western NC, we joined a local hiking group thinking we'd seen pretty much all there was to see in the area. In addition to teaching us we had much to learn about the Carolinas, they introduced me to a creature called the trip report. I wrote several for the group after I joined, and wanted to share them with family members as well, so I started a blog and named it "Where the Buffaloe Roam".

A year later, the Fish & Bird Curator at Cypress Gardens left a comment on my post about that Moncks Corner attraction, which shocked me. I installed a counter and discovered more people than I'd imagined were accessing my posts. That taught me people were searching for information on Carolina destinations, and I had to do a better job presenting our experiences, which entailed including more relevant facts about those destination, and spending less time focusing on us. NCwaterfall.com's Rich Stevenson is a member of my hiking group. I'd accessed his site on numerous occasions before hikes, so I had a good idea of where to begin.

After shifting and improving the focus of the posts, I redecorated the site and included pictures to give visitors a visual portrait as well as a written one. The name change came last. Carolina Trails (which is part of the blog's address) was not only taken, it didn't fit the scope of my content. After brainstorming a bit, I worked out the new name, Carolina Towns and Trails.

How do you decide where to visit?

We have a general list of places we want to visit, but no set plan to get there. Often, we get in the car and one of us asks, "Where to?" Sometimes we haven't figured out the answer until we're well on our way. Other times, we'll have something in mind but will change our plan after pulling out of the driveway. I can't recommend doing that. But then again, it attests to the fact there are numerous destinations to choose from in the Carolinas.

What are your top three destinations in SC?

Off the top of my head, in SC:

1. Charleston, because there's so much to do in that city, and because of the proximity to other Lowcountry destinations. From there, we'll pop over to Edisto Beach, Beaufort, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, Sullivan's Island and more.

2. Murrells Inlet. We love it. Love the restaurants, the Veterans Pier, the Marshwalk, Brookgreen Gardens and now, Huntington Beach State Park. We learn more about it every time we go. It's also close to Pawleys Island, Georgetown, Cape Romain, and a stash of yellow fringed orchids we like to visit.

3. The Upstate. We lived in this area for four years and felt very much at home. Downtown Greenville is a gem. We often drove down Main Street, then dined, and followed that up with a stroll along Falls Park. We love the mountains and hiking trails nearby as well. When family or friends stopped by for a visit, we usually took them to Table Rock Mountain and then up to Bald Rock and Caesars Head before heading to our favorite NC destinations...

(To Be Continued)

Table Rock Trails

As I mentioned in my previous post, my husband and I only hiked two trails at Table Rock: Carrick Creek and the Summit Trail. But we hiked them often.

The Table Rock Summit Trail was our first hike in South Carolina, and our last. We reached the summit twice, Governor's Rock twice, and surrendered at the Trailside Shelter (aka the halfway point) twice. These trails remains our favorite to this day despite the strenuous conditions.

Carrick Creek is great if you don't have a lot of time for an outing, but you still want a nice workout. This 1.9 mile loop branches westward, and takes about an hour to hike. Don't expect a walk in the park, so to speak. There are at least two creek crossings, and in other spots along the trail, it takes a mighty heave to pull oneself up a vertical rise or over rocks.

If you're in the mood for a long, strenuous hike with panoramic views of the Upstate portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Table Rock Summit hike is perfect for you. Ascending nearly 2,000 feet, this 3.4 mile (one way) trail winds to the west and then angles eastward, along the ridge of Table Rock Mountain, and at times, it's a hard hike. You'll encounter numerous sets of wooden or hewn rock steps that often require a rest break before attempting to climb. People in moderate physical condition (or worse) will walk ten steps, stop to breath, and then shoot off another dozen steps before stopping to breath again. Keep walking until you reach the trailside shelter. Rest here and enjoy the view of the foothills, Pinnacle Lake, and the Visitors' Center, located on the south side of Hwy 11.



This is also a great place to make that important decision--continue or slink back? If you brought enough water and have enough daylight (it takes us about 6-61/2 hours to hike this trail. ALWAYS account for the time it will take to return to your car. This would be a terrible trail to get stuck on at night. Bring a flashlight just in case), and you have the strength, continue on to Governor's rock, a large outcropping that provides a spectacular view of jagged peaks.


At Governor's Rock, you're about three quarters of the way to your goal. The only things between you and the summit are a lot of rocks and a gracefully ascending trail. At one point, small steps are hewn along the side of one of the many huge boulders you'll encounter along the way. It isn't a problem going up, but if you're afraid of heights, you may have to scoot down on your rear on the return trip.

If you decide to press on, congratulations! But be prepared: unlike the Trailside shelter and Governor's Rock, the only thing you'll find at the summit is a sign and a lot of trees. Don't be discouraged. Rest a few minutes and continue about 400 more feet. That's where you'll find the view:


It's worth every exhausting step you've taken to reach it.

Warning: as with my hiking partners in the photo above, throughout the hike you might be tempted to walk to the edge of places such as the angled boulder hugging the mountain at the trailside shelter, Governor's Rock, or the top of the sheer face one sees from Hwy 11. Please don't do this. Lichen and algae growing on the rocks, and slick leaves covering the dirt can making footing dangerously unstable. The only place you'll go is down.

Pinnacle Trail is another favorite destination at Table Rock State Park, though it's more strenuous than the Summit. Sadly, we never took advantage of this trail. Those who have hiked it agreed that, while not scenic along the way, one can find good views at trails end. If you decide to try it, give yourself plenty of time. Estimated round trip time is about eight hours, including rest breaks.

Table Rock is a great Upstate destination. Camping is available, and people often canoe or kayak on Pinnacle Lake, or let their children frolic in the shallow pools near the cascades at the Nature Center.

Table Rock State Park, SC

Our favorite hike in the Upstate.

Table Rock State Park is located off Hwy 11 in Pickens County. If you're coming from Greenville, travel up Hwy 25 and turn left on Hwy 11. This road seems to end, but turn right at the T-intersection (still Hwy 11.) Several miles down the road and past Hwy 276, you'll see the Visitor's Center on the left across from the mountain. Stop here to use the facilities and to take photos. To reach the trailhead and camping area, take the entrance to the right. There is a small fee to enter the park.

Pass the camping area and drive until you reach a parking lot located near the lake. Park here and walk across the street to the Nature Center.

Copyright 2012 Kimberli Buffaloe

NOTE: Restrooms are located in a wooden building off the far end of the park lot across from the lake and at the Nature Center. Consider using them before you start your hike. The trails are often crowded, and there aren't many places to sneak off to relieve yourself along the way.

After you leave the Nature Center, cross over the bridge but stop at the main trailhead and fill out the Hiker Registration form. I cannot express how important this is. On our first visit to Table Rock, we saw paramedics load a hiker onto a stretcher. Later, during a chat with a park ranger we during our hike, we learned hikers are injured every year when they take chances along the trail, underestimate their ability to hike, or when they slip on rocks or trip on exposed tree roots. My husband cracked his tailbone in a fall on the Carrick Creek Trail. Injuries do happen, and rangers need to know the general vicinity in which you'll be hiking and the time you left in the event they find your abandoned car. Please, fill out this form before you begin your hike.

Copyright 2012 Kimberli Buffaloe

Next, head toward the trail through a shady area alongside a creek that will tempt you to stay where you are. The presence of several small cascades are inviting, and you'll find yourself lagging behind, enjoying the beauty and serenity the view brings.

If you make it past the falls, you'll reach a juncture where the trails branch off. There are several trails to choose from, including a segment of the Foothills Trail. The shortest trail is Carrick Creek. The toughest, from what I understand, is the Pinnacle Mountain (not counting the Foothill Trails.) Know where you're going before you reach the park, give yourself plenty of time, and be prepared for a rugged hike. The Summit Trail is particularly strenuous, yet people attempt to hike it in wearing street sandals and hauling purses or babies.

As with all hikes, carry recommended equipment including (not limited to) a first aid kit, a flashlight in case you get stuck after dark, a compass, and plenty of water and/or Gatorade. On our first attempt to hike the Summit Trail, I took one 16-oz bottle of water. It wasn't enough and I ended up offering a park ranger $100 for a drink of her water. No kidding. Good ranger that she was, she handed over the water and refused the money. I now take ten bottles (total) of water and Gatorade whenever I hike this trail. Yes, it's heavy, but I overheat easily. The trail is strenuous and it's important to stay hydrated. A walking stick is also quite helpful on these trails.

Why bother? It's a great hike with fabulous views.

When out in nature, please be careful. So often we're accustomed to walking around streets and in buildings knowing we can generally tread without injuring ourselves. Nature has its own rules and it doesn't care about liability. Please watch where you're walking and stay off precipices and rocks in creeks. Don't take chances. Hike smart so you can return to hike another day.

Winding Stairs, and an Attempt at Kings Creek Falls

My husband rarely has a specific travel destination in mind, but this week he suggested we go to Kings Creek Falls in South Carolina's Oconee County. It's a short hike, about a half-mile one way, so I went to a well known (at the time) to hunt for additional possibilities. After tossing around a few suggestions, we decided on the Winding Stairs trail first, and then drive up the road to Kings Creek Falls.

There are two trailheads for Winding Stairs. Both are off Hwy 107. We headed to the southern trail first, and ended up passing it. Directions from the trail site said to turn right onto Tamassee Road (FS 710). We didn't see that, but we did find Cheohee Rd with S 710 painted beside it, so we took it.

Cheohee Road is a gravel road that winds down the mountain past thick masses of rhododendrons (and I mean THICK, THICK MASSES. I would love to drive down that road in the spring!) The directions said the trailhead would be 2.5 miles on the left. If what we found was that parking area, our odometer said 3.0.

Kelley took one look around the isolated area, and, failing to see a trailhead, said forget it. We headed back to 107 and parked in the small parking area just south of the Cherry Hill Campground entrance (the same area we parked in when we hiked Big Bend last fall.) The Winding Stair trail is adjacent to the south side of that parking area.

After hiking for about a half hour, we found ourselves at a junction that had absolutely no arrows that would help us determine which way to go. The trail to the left narrowed just feet from where we were and then seemed to disappear. The trail ahead dropped down a steep bank to a creek. Kelley walked down a few feet, peeked through the trees, and saw a trickle of water falling over rocks. Apparently, folks got tired of hiking around to the falls and made their own path. The trail to the right appeared to be the most likely path to that pitiful falls, so we took it. Fifteen minutes later, after failing to spot a blaze and hearing thunder moving toward us, we turned around. Once at the junction, we took the steep path down to the creek and drank Gatorade while admiring the iddy-bit of water cascading over those rocks. Beautiful!

We headed back to the car when the thunder grew louder, and made it shortly before the rain fell.

For those of you who can't remember:

Main Entry: Rain
Function: noun
1 a : water falling in drops condensed from vapor in the atmosphere

As that condensed vapor fell on the earth and lowered the temperature, we drove a couple miles north on 107, turned on Burrells Ford Road, and spent the next half hour waiting for the rain to end.

I checked a waterfall site for information on Kings Creek before we left, but didn’t print the information. Mistake. We walked down the gated road (instead of the path right in front of our car), made a few turns, and ended up back in the parking lot. At that point, called it a day.

Next time, we’ll take a map. 

Glassy Mountain- Pickens Co (not Glassy Mountain near Greenville)

It's hot in the Upstate—Texas hot—and we needed a brief mountain getaway to escape it. A member of my hiking group recently mentioned Glassy Mountain (Pickens Co., not Glassy Mnt off Hwy 11 near Hogback Mnt.) A bit of research indicated it would be a nice half-day outing, so we went.

After learning the road to Glassy Mountains ends at the summit, we decided to go up, park, ohh and ahh over the view, and leave. However, when we reached the top, we found a paved circle lined with pick-up trucks and vans. No sign of the "crushed stone" parking lot we read about.

Unable to find a parking lot and unwilling to take the long drive home without seeing something, we decided to hike the nature trail located just below the summit. The blurb on a hiking site I used describes the Glassy Mountain Pickens trail as a "narrow, steep, rugged, rooted, unmarked footpath". It is. The description also says "From rock out-croppings near the top of the mountain you may enjoy breathtaking views of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge Escarpment including Table Rock and Caesar Head mountains." You can. Those outcroppings were also the most interesting thing we found along the trail. I doubted this was a mountain bog, but we did find lichen and cactus along the edge of the rocks.

The hike is short, and switchbacks leading to the summit ease the grade. It offers nice views in spots, and I have to agree with others who said this would be a nice place to enjoy a sunset.

Big Bend Trail

It snowed in the mountains this week, so we changed our hiking plans. Surfing to a popular hiking trail site, we perused a couple of South Carolina counties for hikes we'd missed, and discovered the Big Bend Trail.

According to the website, the trailhead for this 2.7 mile (one way) hike through a "predominantly hardwood forest" is located just south of the Cherry Hill Campground. However, the website failed to mention the trailhead is on the west side of the road and difficult to see if driving past. After a few drive-bys, we finally located the small wooden sign that marked the beginning of the trail, and we were on our way.

Almost immediately after getting on the trail, we entered a clearing. The trail isn't clearly marked in this area, and we weren't sure which direction to go. We walked up a small rise and found FS 709, which is always a bummer when you want to be on a trail and not a road, but within a minute, we saw another entrance to the path and finally, we were on our way. Again.

Conditions for Big Bend this time of year are interesting. The entire ground is covered with a mix of fallen leaves and pine straw. In other words, we couldn't see the actual path. However, the general indention was there, and after we figured out the trail was a series of switchbacks, determining where to go became much easier.

The ground cover was thick and hid roots and other hazards, and we did a fair amount of tripping, stumbling and grabbing on to one another for support. It was also slick, and hiking became even more interesting when the trail narrowed to little more than a slight ledge on the side of a steep hill (dandy for someone who is afraid of heights.) It was a bit tedious at times, but challenging, especially when we came across one of the many tree trunks lying across the path.

Being January, it was cold, and I have a lack of experience hiking in low temperatures. To overcome this, before I left the house, I followed advice and layered my clothing. Good call, bad choice of clothes. In addition to silk thermals under my jeans, I chose a leather jacket (mistake), my pink Mt. Mitchell hooded sweatshirt (mistake), and a clingy thermal shirt, which I wore beneath the Mt. Mitchell hoody (loblolly of a mistake). The physical exertion in addition to the simple act of walking quickly warmed us up. Forty minutes into the hike, I was burning up. When hiking in cold winter, layer wisely.

The website stated Big Bend Falls is located .6 miles after the trail dead ends into the Foothill Trail. However, the site doesn't mention the fact that the trail splits. After going over a small bridge to our right and walking down that branch for a few minutes, we saw the Chattooga River below us through the trees but no falls, so we retraced our steps and took the other path. While we didn't locate the cascade, we did find steps that led to a solitary spot on the gorgeous Chattooga.

We stayed for awhile, but it was nearing three in the afternoon and the temperature was dropping. Time to head back. We never found the falls, but we had a good time.

Mountain Bridge Wilderness - Part II

Coldspring Branch intersects Bill Kimball at a clearing near the Middle Saluda River, two and a half miles into the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. A small sign indicates camping is permitted there, and we saw what appeared to be a fire pit. We decided we wanted to go back in the spring, have a picnic lunch, and then return to the parking lot the way we came, because we never, ever, ever, ever want to hike the Bill Kimball trail again.

Never.

The trail at the Coldsprings/Bill Kimball junction is deceptively tranquil--and level. After a short repast of water and my undamaged Clif bar, we began the return trip to the car via the Bill Kimball trail, hiking along at a nice pace thanks to the second walking stick. We enjoyed the view of the valley we'd hiked into (hint, hint, hint) with the bubbling Middle Saluda River to our right and wispy rhododendrons lining our path to the left. At one point, Kelley stood at the top of a rise I had yet to traverse, and when I looked at him, I saw a tall peak in the background. I commented on how high it was. Little did I know....

Not long after, the trail veered left, up a steep rise, and I huffed and puffed and joked as we made our way upward. I took the lead a short time later and within minutes, had to stop when the "trail" suddenly ended. We searched for the pink blaze that would indicate we were on the Kimball trail. Kelley saw it off to our left. It was the first of three times that we would get turned around. Fortunately, we paid attention to our surroundings and quickly found our way back to the trail each time.

I was really surprised at how steep that hill was, and how long we stayed on it. Seems we missed the tiny lines and the even tinier 2400 on the map that indicated the elevation gain in this area. It felt never ending, and at one point, when I turned a corner and saw an even steeper slope, I called time out and drank one of my three bottles of Gatorade. Gosh that stuff really works. Within minutes, I was ready to go and we pushed forward.

And somehow, the trail became even steeper.

In broken, breathless words, I told my husband I would either have a heart attack or I would accidentally slip down the mountain on all those leaves. Meant it, too. Dry, dead leaves made the ascent so incredibly slippery, only the rocks and roots that created natural steps kept us from sliding down. At this point, one of us mentioned turning around and heading back to the car via Coldsprings. After a bit of discussion, we decided we were too far into the trail. And besides, how high could that hill go?

*sighs* Really, really high.

The path leveled a time or two, but we soon discovered we weren't near the top. We were simply preparing for the worst part of the hike--the rocky part. A sheer rock face parallel to the trail peeked through bare trees. Imagine our surprise when we walked straight toward it!

To our dismay, the dirt path gave way to large boulders. We carefully navigated through patches of slippery mulch on very narrow paths with steep descents beside it. I was so tired, and my body ached so bad that I no longer cared. And it didn't end. It just kept going.

"Please tell me that isn't the trail," I said soon after. Too tired to talk, my big, strong husband pointed to the blaze and shrugged. Then we saw the chain.

"Kelley, why is there a chain there?" He shrugged again and climbed up the four and a half foot boulder that stood between us and our destination. He reached down to help me, but I still had a hard time climbing up. I scraped my knee and my elbow in the process, but I made it and found out why the chain was there.

The trail was even steeper!

A short while later, Kelley shouted back (I'd fallen way behind by that time) with the good news we'd reached the top. He was wrong. Sometime after that, as the sun inched toward the horizon, we were still climbing. Finally, we reached a ridgeline. Bone tired, I trudged along, my two walking sticks dragging behind me as Kelley led the way. It was around three o'clock. Night would fall in a couple of hours and we had no idea how much trail remained.

As Kelley began discussing a camping plan, I remembered failing to include the Bill Kimball trail and an emergency number on the hiker registration form. I had a Cobra walkie talkie in my pack, but no jacket. Along with night would come the cold, so we hastened our pace.

I have no idea how long after that Kelley spotted a sign--the map we saw at the beginning of the hike! We only had a half mile or so to go. My whoo hoo! echoed through the hills.

I could barely walk by that time. My ankle was sore. I'd strained the hip that I hurt during our Georgetown/Pawley Island trip in August. My left knee hurt (I was wearing my knee brace on the right one) and my calves and arms--and back and lungs--ached. But I walked on as if I'd walked so long, my body didn't know what else to do.

Near the end of the trail, we opted to take 276 back to the car. The walking sticks served as crutches by this time, and I hobbled across the road to put the pink portion of our hiker registration form in the box. I called out to Kelley, who struggled to fold his body in the car, and asked for the time.

Three fifteen. We hiked the entire loop in three hours and forty minutes. How? I don't know.

I limped for days, and had to wear a wrist brace, an ankle brace, and my knee brace, but by golly, we did it. Yes, we made a few mistakes that we need to correct, but we did it. We hiked Bill Kimball.

Never again.

Coldsprings Branch Trail - Mountain Bridge Wilderness

To ensure that your state park experience is enjoyable, please be aware of the dynamic characteristics of the natural environment. There are some areas that may be potentially hazardous. All visitors should exercise caution when visiting any state park. Anyone who is unsure about possible hazards should contact a Park Ranger.
--Sign at Mountain Bridge Wilderness trailhead

Our hiking plans changed this weekend, so we chose another trail on the list: Coldsprings Branch in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness.

Months ago, the moderator of the CarolinasAdventures hiking group had provided excellent details on this trail. Unfortunately, I remembered only that there was a loop and that it was about five miles long. I also remembered strong suggestions that one not hike the Mountain Bridge Wilderness without a map. I'd downloaded one from the groups files section, but left it sitting on my desk.

Without that guide, we studied the map at the trailhead and noticed Coldsprings itself wasn't a loop, so we opted to hike to the end--that being the Middle Saluda--and then turn around. About a half mile into the hike, we found another display which showed Coldsprings intersecting with the Bill Kimball Trail, which led back to the spot where we now stood. It sounded good, so we took a picture of the display and went on our merry way.

I need to back up a bit. As always, when we arrived at the trailhead, we filled out the hiker registration form. Under Trails To Be Hiked, we wrote Coldsprings since at that point, that's where we planned to go. We also neglected to include a emergency name and phone number.

Is someone keeping track of our mistakes? Good, let's continue.

The first section of the Coldsprings trail follows 276 southward, but a short distance later (so short we could still see our car parked on the side of the road) the trail turned onto an old road, which we followed for approximately .6 miles. At that point, the trail splits, with Coldsprings branching to the right, and Bill Kimball continuing straight ahead.

Like the Big Bend Trail we'd hiked the previous week, a thick layer of leaves that had been colorful just a few short weeks ago covered the trail. Though having to contend with the groundcover, which hid roots, rocks, and dips along the trail, we enjoyed hiking through this area. As mentioned in so many posts of late, with the leaves off the trees, we could see farther than we could during the blooming months. The sound of rushing water roared to our right, and we walked along, enjoying the view and the privacy. About a mile into the hike, I twisted my ankle on something hidden on the pathway. Judging by the pain, I pronounced it manageable, and after resting an appropriate amount of time (approximately two minutes), we continued on. Hey, I could handle it. After all, I'm a hiker.

There a Reason They Call it Coldsprings

About a mile and a half into the hike, the leaves changed from dry to wet, and soon after, we crossed over the first of many creek/stream/river crossings. At this point, I realized we had neglected to pack extra clothes. Consequently, we had to work harder to stay dry. In an attempt to be somewhat wise--though why start then, I didn't know--I removed my outer shirt and wrapped it over my shoulders. If I did fall, I would have something dry to put on.

We crossed the first two or three streams without incident, but as we traveled, the streams became wider, and the stepping stones across the water further apart. I finally gave up and stepped into a shallow section of a stream and was pleased to discover the soles of my Salomon hiking shoes are so thick, and the seams sewn so tight, it kept the water out.

As we headed toward the fourth? fifth? creek crossing, I slipped on wet leaves and fell backwards. (Fortunately, I wear my pack so low, I landed on it instead of my rump. The only thing injured was the granola bar stored inside the pack. To my relief, the chocolate bar was undamaged.) Lesson learned: if a trail is named after water, prepare to encounter some.

According to the map on the display, at the end of the trail, we should have found a .6 mile connector that led from the Coldsprings Branch Trail to the Middle Saluda River. While we saw a path, it was hardly half a mile. We took it anyway, but found we weren't in the mood to see more water, so we walked back to the beginning of the Bill Kimball trail, and took a short break.

Little did we know...

Next Post: Bill Kimball Trail

Paris Mountain, Brissy Ridge Trail

A quick weekday trip is always a treat, and after a couple difficult days at work, Kelley suggested an evening hike at Paris Mountain. I agreed before he finished talking.

Since it was getting close to sunset, we choose the 2.4 Brissy Ridge Loop. This trail is marked easy to difficult. Part of the trail is for hikers only. This is the "difficult" section. It's quite steep in places, narrow at times, and littered with rocks and roots, but makes for a terrific workout. The other part of the trail is shared with mountain bikers. Shared in name only, that is. When those bikes came bursting through the trees, we jumped aside as fast as possible!

As I mentioned in our post regarding our short trip on the AT, I noticed we were hiking faster. We noticed it again on this trip (until we hit an incline and I had to slow down to breath.) Some of the bikers commented that we were making good time when they passed us a second time. Of course we were making good time, we were running from the bikes!

While a good workout, this isn't an attractive trail. Fallen trees lay in several places, and we spotted only a few wildflowers idling with the end of the season.

We made it back to the car as the sky was beginning to turn pink. It won't be too long until opportunities like this are lost in winter's short days. Such a shame that we rediscovered this place three years after moving here.

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.

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.