A Rainy Back In The Memorial Day Weekend Backpack In Rocky Fork S.P.

This is the first of my series of  Back in the Days Backpacks from 2018. Because I had problems last year (well that never changes) I didn't get these up. That is what a Back in the Day blog is for, so the one I will cover are Mount Rogers in June, Big Bald in July, August at Cold Mountain, October on the Fire Gizzard Trail and this one to Rocky Fork State Park. The one on Mount LeConte I did a short one and it will also be covered in the Five Trails to LeConte.
What is funny is I had written this one, on my first backpack of the season to Rocky Fork up to Hidden Lake, but just didn't get it posted. My first backpack of the year was supposed to be to Big South Fork, but it was first snowed out in April and to be moved to early May, but it rained on Saturday of that weekend and got pushed back a day. Because of this, I wasn't able to go because of conflict and allergy issues. 

Like the Big South Fork one, the Rocky Fork Backpack was scheduled for Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. Once again rain was in the forecast...for the whole weekend. However, our leader Will, because Saturday was supposed to be the worst day, moved it back a day to Sunday-Monday. When we got to Rocky Fork one of the Rangers there, named Jesse, said it rained all day Saturday so our decision might have been the right one.

This was my second trip to Tennessee newest state park. I was here back in November of 2017, so I knew that all of the trails branches off the Rocky Fork Trail that leaves the parking area. We passed where I went in March up the Whitehouse Cliffs Trail before coming to a junction where I went left on my first visit we went right up the White Oak Flats Trail. We would eventually intersect with the Birchfield Camp Trail which would take us out of the state park and into the Cherokee National Forest.

It was in this section that one of the highlights of the day happened. We got split into two groups, Pete and I were in the trailing group. When we caught up the reason the front group was stopped by a rattlesnake in the trail. The rattlesnake was colled up, but we eventually found a way around him. This exciting event helped break up the relentless uphill slog.

However, there were wildflowers and the familiar woods of this part of the Cherokee National Forest. Finally, we came to the trail down to the Hidden Lake. This lake was built when the area was being logged to have water on hand if needed. However, Will had told us that the dam was leaking, so the Hidden Lake was a shadow of its former glory, and he was right. It was sad, really sad.

Because of the wet weather of the previous day's we basically had to set up camp on the trail as that was the dryest place. Lucky for us we got set up because right at dinner time it started to rain, and while had it eventually quit. Lucky for me my tent didn't leak.

The following day started with a brief shower, but while looking like it might rain it held off. The rain from the previous evening did refill the Hidden Lake...a little. Anyway, luckily for us the hike out was downhill. Besides passing an old logging truck there were a lot of creek crossings and the water, so getting one's feet wet was not an option. We did pass a couple of waterfalls before coming to the main Cascade on this trail... Lower Higgins Creek Falls.

This 60-foot falls was a true beauty. After climbing down & backup we passed one more small falls before getting to the trailhead where the shuttle vehicle was. Will and I were slightly behind so when we got there the rest of the group had decided we all could fit in his vehicle. Let's say it was like a clown car. So, the first backpack of the season is in the books...