To Whites County and Beyond.

For about a month or so I've been  in touch with the facilitator or coordinator of the Newnan Hiking Club.  I've never got into physical contact with these folks, the September Meeting was at a conflict with my work schedule.

I got information from them about a schedule hike up in White County, which is up in north Georgia.  It’s the county where Cleveland and Helen, GA. are located. 

The hike was scheduled for October 23, 2010 and it was to visit the waterfalls of Raven Cliff, Duke Creek, and Helton Creek, (Helton Creek Falls does not have it’s own wikipedia entry but is briefly mention on the "Waterfalls of North Georgia" entry in the Union County Section and consists of : 

Helton Creek Falls–a pair of falls in a rhododendron  grove in the Chattahoochee National Forest; the approach includes a well-maintained stairway and an observation platform. (34°45.2′N 83°53.7′W / 34.7533°N 83.895°W / 34.7533; -83.895))

Well, the coordinator sent an e-mail cancelling the hike, but I was already geared to go so I decided, “I’m going up there anyway”.  I had the information already of where each trail was and programmed the coordinates into my GPS, so I got all my gear ready.  I am going.

Well, I got up and got an early start and was on the road by 7:30,  and made good time. I stopped and got some breakfast and gas, (not from the breakfast), and made it to Raven Cliff Falls Trailhead  by 10:30 and the trailhead lot was full.  I ended up going pass the trailhead and down a dirt road until I could find a turn around spot and then head out.  I decided to go to Dukes Creek first in the hopes of the Raven Creek lot thinning by the time I return.  Also, that’s when I realize that my tent and other gear to camp wasn’t in the back of the truck as I had thought I placed them.  Looks like this is only going to be a day trip.

Dukes Creeks entrance was a mile before Raven Cliff on the Richard Russell Scenic Highway so I return there and parked.  The Raven Cliff parking was free but Duke Creeks was three dollars.  Duke Creek didn’t seemed to be as popular as Raven Cliff.

At the trailhead of Dukes Creeks is a spectacular view of  the surrounding country side and a paved path leading towards the falls.  There is an observation deck that allows you to look at the falls from a distance and then you have to trek a mile down hill to get to the observation decks at the foot of the falls.  It’s a decent of about 400 ft.   (The bad part is climbing that 400 ft. coming back up).  There were a lot of folks that brung their dogs and I saw one or two that made their dogs use little baggies and carry the poop out.  Really, the nutrients that would go back into the forest.... Sometimes I have to wonder about the common sense of some.

But there is one point where the trail t-bones another trail that follows the creek and you can either go right or left.  I went right, and it wasn't.  But when I got to the end of that part, maybe a tenth of a mile, I notice some primitive campsites that looked awfully familiar to me on the other side of the creek and then I realize that I had passed them when I passed the Raven Cliff Falls trailhead.  I had been contemplating walking down the road to Raven Cliff Falls trailhead and just leaving my truck where it's parked and this was a good a sign as any that, yes; the leaving the truck where it was parked was a good idea.

Well, I reach the observation deck, there were a few folks there, and I spent a little time just drinking in the beauty of the place.  The trees had turned and when the wind blew, the leaves were coming down, twirling in the wind, catching the sunlight, and seemed to be dancing on the sunbeams.  Add the sounds of the cascading water from the falls and the rustling of the leaves with the occasional hardy song bird that hadn’t gone south yet and I was just enfolded in the handy work of the Creator, in awe of the insignificant magnificent that God had done.

Then the bellowing herd descended.

I know, that’s unkind, but these folks seems like all they wanted to do was show up, take a snap shot or two to prove that they were there and then after they got their wind back, return.  I stayed a few and watch them as they talked to themselves and then holler at their kids who were more interested in expelling their pent up energy then anything else. 

After a while I left that carnival atmosphere and trekked back up the trail and crossed over the stream and went to view the Raven Cliff Falls.

The trailhead was still packed with autos and I figured that the trail was going to be quite busy as well.  This trail was 2 1/2 miles in length and covered some beautiful country.  The trail snakes through miles and miles of rhododendron along Dodd Creek, which promises to be spectacular in the spring.  This trail gently ascends for the first couple of miles and yes, there was heavy traffic.  I believe that this trail needed to be widen to about six lanes to be able to handle the traffic.  However, along the trail were primitive campsites and this looked like a good area for camping, but maybe during the week.

I took my time and played around with the camera on taking pictures.  About 1/2 mile from the falls is where the trail ascends sharply and is quite narrow.  Navigation can be a bit tricky especially when there are hikers descending.  But I made the falls, looked around and had a bite to eat.  At the falls the trail ascends even more sharply, (i.e.: almost a crawl up) t0 the tops of the cliffs.  I got up to view an upper pool but decided against going all the way to the top, this time.  However, there were some that were carrying their dog down from the top of the cliff.  Me, I’d never had allowed the dog to get up there in the first place.  As I was getting ready to leave, I over heard someone tell his group that there was another trail down from the top of those cliffs but I decided not to follow them up because I was getting worried that I wouldn’t be able to make it out in time to get to Helton Creek. 

The trek back was uneventful unless you count the black bear an event.  Then, I guess, it was eventful.  The bear just came up from the stream and stopped on the trail.  Everyone else was sitting there gaping at it and inching away.  The bear looked towards my area like he was wanting to come that way but I just yelled and banged my staff against a tree which made a loud enough noise that it didn’t like, so Mr. Bear decided to ascend straight up the hillside and leave the trail to the humans.

Oh, then there was another event where I had gone on a side trail to view the creek and when I got back to the main trail these two families were at the intersection having a congregation.  I don’t know who the 5 y/o ish male child belonged to, but when he looked at me and pointed and yelled, “You’re too old to                     be here” and no grownup corrected him or even paid attention to him, I just smiled and said to him, “cute”.  I really wanted to invite him to go fishing with me, I was in need of some bait.

But I made it back and then went to hunt for Helton Falls in Union Co.  I ended up going across the Appalachian trail at one point on the trip and thought to myself, “eventually”. But the approach to this fall is down several county roads and you even end up on a dirt road and crossing a few creeks that were bridgeless, just driving over the ford.  There are a lot of private residence down through here and almost all were a lovely sight.  And I’m not talking about anything fancy but it was the way that the homes and grounds were kept up.  This was a nice drive and I’ll not spoil it for anyone that wants to go.

(I know, I’m such a tease).

I arrive at the falls and with a little daylight to spare.  You may have about a 1/4 mile walk down and then back up to the main observation deck that overlooks the main fall and then there is a staircase that descends to the foot of the secondary fall, which is more of a gentle cascade from the higher pool to the lower pool.  I can imagine folks, especially kids, there in the summer sliding down the secondary falls into the lower pool.  I think I may even be foolish enough to make the trip and do it myself.  I only spent about a half an hour there because of the failing light and tried to take a few pictures.  After that I packed myself up and after stopping in Cleveland for a bite of Chinese food, I headed on home.

And when I arrived home, there set my gear that should had been packed and should of been placed in the truck, right where I left it on the ground.