Friday, March 28, 2014

Ending My Day At Dukes Creek Falls



Dukes Creek Falls.

Well, my hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) last Friday was just part of my trip; the other was to a place I have wanted to visit for a while, Dukes Creek Falls.

Raven Cliff.

Unlike my trip to DeSoto Falls in February, which was on the spur of the moment, this trip was planned from the start. The first time I almost came here, to Dukes Creek Falls, was back in June of last year when I hiked the some of the same stretch of the AT that I visited earlier on this day.  Instead of going to Dukes Creek I decided to go and hike the five miles to Raven Cliff Falls (another future blog.) which is just a little over a mile above Dukes Creek Falls as both are off the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway (GA 348).  


In the past I had thought of just doing a waterfall day and hit Dukes Creek and DeSoto in the same trip. Also, I thought maybe if or when I hike Tray Mountain I could also do Dukes Creek in the same day. However, when my day got cut short when section hiking the AT in February (chronicled here & here), and after going to DeSoto Falls on that day, I decided that when I went on my hike to finish the AT section, I sat out to do in February, that I would also do Dukes Creek the same day.
Information board & fee box.

I knew it was going to be over a two-mile hike there and back, I know it doesn’t sound like much but
I had already put in about 11 miles on the AT, so I was a little tried, but I decided to press on. Anyway, when you enter you will come to an information board and the payment box. Yes, because of the popularity of the falls it cost $3, which I didn’t find paying. I guess I mentioned this before, but I forgot to pay at DeSoto Falls which also has a service fee.

Once you park the next thing you will notice is the vault toilet, but it the view behind it that will most catch your eye. Here one finds an incredible view of Yonah Mountain, one of the best I know of. The final thing I came to my attention was that unlike DeSoto Falls, when I was the only person taking in the sights, there was a lot more cars and people here on this day. It might be because it was a good 25 degrees warmer than that day in February.

Vault toilet &...

...Yonah Mountain.
After taking in the view it is on to the tail. Just 0.1 miles down the path one can get a look at the falls from an observation deck here. It is wheelchair accessible and for those you can’t hike the trail down it provides a good view of the falls. However, I came for a closer look at the water, so it is on the trail down for me. 


Start of the trail.
Dukes Creek Falls from upper viewing deck.



The first part of the trail is mostly on a footbridge before it finally gives way to a wide well maintained dirt path. This next part of the trail is not to steep and gives one the first sounds of rushing water. The creek that runs down below the trail is Dodd Creek, which the above mentioned Raven Cliff Falls is fed by. After about 4/10 of a mile one hits a turn and heads down the third part of the trail, which is the steepest. The closer one gets the louder the falls got. I will say a little over halfway there is a sad site in the valley. It is here that one see the ravages of a little evasive pest (which I mentioned in this blog), the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. The dead husks of some once mighty Hemlocks can be seen from this spot on the trail, just sad.
The sad state of the mighty Hemlock.

Yes.

Finally, almost simultaneously one sees the footbridge that leads to the falls and the outline of the falls themselves. I must say that Dukes Creek Falls are impressive. It is a 300-foot cascade that flows down the mountain side to the valley below. However, that is not the only thing one notices, the area is filled with flowing water.  I guess it is here I should mention that the whole complex of falls reminds one of Anna Ruby Falls near Helen. Dukes Creek Falls are actually on Davis Creek and Dodd Creek flows down to converge and they both form Dukes Creek.

First look at the falls.

Upper part of Dukes Creek Falls...

...& the lower.


While I could have taken the stairs down to the base of Dukes Creek Falls, I first decided to walk down the footbridge to the falls on Dodd Creek at the end of the deck. This waterfall, Lower Dodd Creek Falls, while not near as big as its large sibling it is impressive (just 35-feet) for a small waterfall. There is also some impressive water that flows down Dodd Creek as it approaches the junction with Davis Creek.



Lower Dodd Creek Falls.
Small falls below Dodd Creek Falls.
Dodd Creek makes it way down.
The main event is the viewing deck at the bottom of Dukes Creek Falls. Not only does one get a get look at the big falls it also gives a up close look at where the two creeks merge to form Dukes Creek. I will say while I like DeSoto Falls, Dukes Creek is much more impressive, so much so it could be in my Top five Georgia waterfalls (look for this blog in the future). I will add that if you want to get the full view it is probably best to visit here before summer because it will be somewhat obstructed by leaf cover.



Winter/early spring offers the best view.

Where Davis & Dodd Creeks merge.
Anyway, after a good half-hour admiring the beauty of the falls it was time to head back up the trail. But, these falls had one more surprise in store. As I was headed up the middle part of the trail, through the trees I spotted…you guessed it a waterfall. This one, Upper Dodd Creek Falls, was at least a 20 footer. How I missed it on the way down I have no idea. Like Dukes Creek itself, this falls is one that needs to be viewed in winter/early spring.  Well, it was back up the trail and the upper viewing deck with one last look at the valley and falls below.  After 2.2 miles here and over 13 miles on the day I was glad to see the good old Green Hornet.



The almost hidden Upper Dodd Creek Falls.

The valley of the falls.
Still, these falls were well worth the trip and should be near the top of anyone’s list of waterfalls to visit in Georgia.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

A Change In Season: The Differences Between Summer & Winter On The AT




The idea for this blog comes from my just complete hike I did last Friday and how the area from Tesnatee Gap to Wolf Laurel Top and Hog Pen Gap was so different than my first trip here back in early June of 2013. So this blog will be a compare and contrast between a winter/early spring hike versus one in early summer. The summer photo will be first (or on the left) and the winter/early spring second (or on the right). Also I just want to put up so of my trail pictures from last June which are some of my favorites.

Tensatee Gap: June, 2013 & March 2014

Tesnatee Gap sign June, 2013.
Same sign March, 2014.
AT headed up from Tesnatee Gap.
Same spot in early spring.



















Tesnatee Gap & Neel Gap sign in summer...


...winter/early spring.




















AT Headed Up Cowrock Mountain: June, 2013 & March 2014

AT with foliage.

And without.




















AT with my shadow.
AT, fog & no shadow..



















No vines or fog.





Vines on the white blaze & fog.
















Hard to believe this is the same spot...
...as this.
Summer.
Winter/early spring.

Cowrock Mountain: June, 2013 & March 2014

Head up to Cowrock Mtn. in the fog.
Trip up on a clear day.

Early in the day fogged in...
...In March, 2014 totally different.

Later in the day in June still plenty of clouds...
...Visibility is much better in March.
Can't see Yonah Mtn. in June, 2013....
...Then in March, 2014 it is there.
Wildcat Mtn. in summer...

...Same mountain winter/early spring.
June, 2013.

March, 2014.
Looking north on AT...
...Same view 9 months later.




















AT To & From Wolf Laurel Top & Back To Tesnatee Gap: June, 2013 & March 2014

Cool tree & green trail...
...In March the tree is more viable.



















The AT is so lush in summer...
...Not so in winter/early spring.





















Wolf Laurel Top in June...

...view was much better in March.



Summer trail & a log to the side covered....
Early winter/spring log is viable.




















Green AT...
...Brown AT.




















That tree was leaning in June...
...and still is in March.



















Tell it is the same spot...
...by the split tree.



















That pine is hidden in June...
...but, stands out in March.




















How Deb doesn't like the AT...

...she likes it much better.

Green AT...

...the brown AT.


That old log...
...is still there.




















The only thing recognizable...
...is that tree.




Logan Turnpike Trail: June, 2013 & March 2014

Green in summer...
...not much vegetation in winter/spring.




















AT And Wildcat Mountain

Tesnatee Gap & Hog Pen Gap sign in summer...
...and winter/spring.




















Towns Creek Gorge in summer.
Towns Creek Gorge in winter/early spring.

Cool tree in June...
...and in March.

Wildcat Mountain: June, 2013 & March 2014

The blue blaze Whitley Gap Shelter Trail...
...9 months later.



















Summer trail headed toward Wildcat Mtn...
...same spot in winter/spring.




















Summer vista at Wildcat Mtn...
...& a winter/spring

Cowrock Mtn. from 2nd outcrop in June...

...then in March.
 
Evil Dead tree in summer...
...but it looks more evil in winter/spring.

Difference here in not as stack as others...

...but March is not as green.

Whitley Gap Shelter sign June...

...and March notice someone has changed the miles.

Hog Pen Gap: June, 2013 & March 2014

Headed back down to Hog Pen in summer.

...same spot in March.

No sign...

...sign.

June AT at Hog Pen...

...now March.
AT crosses GA 348 lot more green...

...than March.

Hog Pen Gap little harder to spot in summer...

...not so much in winter.

Headed to the parking area in June...

...& March.

Hog Pen rock peppered with green...

...barren here.
Not the AT, but the overlook #1 on GA 138...

...the Richard B. Russell Scenic Highway.

Here are some of my favorite AT trail photos from my trip June, 2013

AT near Cowrock Mtn.
AT headed up Cowrock.

AT near Wolf Laurel Top.


AT near Wolf Laurel Top.
Another shot near Wolf Laurel Top.

AT headed back to Cowrock Mtn.

Trail beauty.

Straight section of trail.

Headed down Cowrock Mtn.

AT on Wildcat Mtn.

Whitley Gap Trail.

Another from the blue blazed trail.