Sunday, September 18, 2011

A Walk in the Woods...Round I

I cannot believe it has been a year since I've updated the blog...apologies. Here is a nice autumn drive/hike/walk series that coordinates with the Albums A Walk in the Woods I and II on our FB page.

Take 19/129 South out of Blairsville. Left onto Hwy 180 (also known as "the road that takes you to Brasstown Bald, Georgia's Highest Point). Stay on Hwy 180 until you get to Hwy 17/75. Hang a right. NOTICE on your left the entrance to High Shoals, but recommend leaving this for the end of the trip, because you'll be very tired afterwards.

Continue on 17/75 for approx. a mile or so. You'll see Unicoi Gap - and the AT crosses the road here. On the RIGHT is Forest Service Road 41 (gravel and NOT marked as such, but there are signs to a camping area - so you know you're on the right road). Continue 5 miles on this well maintained gravel road until you get to the day use parking lot. There is a parking fee ($3).

The signs to the falls are clear. Water volume was low when I was there (Sept. 18, 2011) owing to lack of rain in August. Photographers, light is best in the a.m.

You'll find an easy walk of 0.30 miles to a viewing platform. Before the falls you will cross a bridge over a creek that is the headwaters of the Chatthoochie River. This is a child and family friendly trail and strollers would be easily managed.

When you return to Hwy 17/75 (come back the way you went in, or you're going to be on a looooooooooong gravel drive into Helen, GA.), hang a LEFT and go back to where the turn off for High Shoals is. If you hit 180 again, you went too far. It is easy to miss.

Turning at the sign for High Shoals, you'll ford a creek (I would not recommend this road for sports cars...anyone else will be fine), and travel a total of 1.5 miles to High Shoals Trail #19. Park. The trail goes steeply downhill for about a mile. Remember you will have to walk back up this. Take plenty of water.

This is NOT particularly young-child or walking impairment/mobility challenged friendly as the trail is narrow and entirely covered by roots in some areas (i.e., you're walking on uneven tree roots.)

The trail will level out nicely for a bit and you'll stroll through some lovely camping areas. There are several wooden bridges, and then the trail resumes an up and down topography. You will see a side trail to the upper falls (there are steps that kind of bend around to the left) and the walk to the viewing platform is extremely easy.

Return to the main trail and continue to where the steps bend around again to go to the lower falls.

Photographers - morning light would provide direct lighting, afternoon the sun is behind you. I shot at ISO 100 with 0.9 NDF and f/16 to get sufficient blur/exposure times that I wanted at about 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon at the lower falls. Upper falls are shadier.

When you return to the trail, you'll see that it continues on to the left but is not as well "worn". THIS DOES NOT GO ANYWHERE WORTH GOING. It will add 0.75 miles to your hike, it's all downhill on the way and it's a major schlep back up. Do not recommend. Just hang the right at the top of the stairs and start that long hike upwards.

Total trip length purported to be 2.4 miles but it felt significantly longer to the lower falls. Just sayin'. This is a 'bring water and some trail mix' hike.

Return the way you came, hang a right out onto 17/75 and Hwy 180 is less than 1/4 miles on your left. Left onto Hwy 180 to return home via Blairsville.