Mar 13 White Oak Canyon

Planning a hike in Shenandoah National Park was not difficult. The only trail I have hiked there is Old Rag but many times when I would tell someone that, the response was "Have you hiked White Oak Canyon?". I read some descriptions. It was a scenic hike along a creek. No mention of waterfalls. So it didn't jump out at me at first. Then on the eve of heading to Connecticut, I planned a side excursion to SNP and thought I'd hike that scenic creek. Looking a bit more in depth at other reviews and descriptions, I did read about waterfalls and lots of them. It sounded great and with all the rcent rains, those waterfalls would be putting on a show.

The parking area is large and there is a private home nearby with a $10 per car parking sign. It must be a popular trail! Starting out, the trail is wide, like a boulevard. There is a metal footbridge to begin. Then it is a mile of walking alongside a cascading creek. I was thinking, perhaps, the term "waterfall" was being used liberally. Then the scene above presented itself. 

The trail turned steep and canyon tightened. Waterfalls became commonplace. Even side creek had waterfalls. At one spot, an entire cliff face was a shallow but wide waterfall. So many were obscured by trees and probably would only be heard once the leaves arrived.

Looking back down the canyon to Weakley Hollow and the parking area, a lone cedar leans into the sunshine.

Some falls have social trails to get a better look. This was an interesting one.

There were so many large waterfalls, the small ones and the cascades were completely overshadowed.

When I reached a trail junction, I realized I had not properly prepared. There were several choices. I had read it was a 9 mile mile loop but now I had to figure out which trails comprise the loop.

One final waterfall on White Oak Creek before I head off on a horse and fire road to get to the next drainage, Cedar Run. The White Oak Canyon Trail continues to follow the creek up to the Skyline Drive. To access the horse trail, I have to cross the creek. The crossing looked ominous. Easy for horses but today it was going to be iffy for me. Then I looked upcreek and saw the bridge.

The hike on the horse trail was 2.2 miles, a two track which I could have driven on. It did go through very pretty forest landscaped with boulders and rock outcrops. Once I had hiked to Cedar Run Trail, I was right next to the Skyline Drive and a parking area with a couple cars. I had not seen anyone all day but thought I might on the descent back to Weakley Hollow. Cedar Run didn't appear for about a half mile. As it made its way downhill, it picked up water from its side creeks. Finally, when it came time to cross it, it was a formidable rock hop.

I think this is "the slide", a popular spot to cool off on Cedar Run. When I stopped for a late lunch nearby, my first hiker sighting occurred. I later, caught up to Tessa, a seasoned AT thru hiker, and spent most of the remaining hike with her. We met another couple along the way. They were doing the loop in my direction but had started at the Skyline Drive. 

One more crossing of Cedar Run occurs here, looking upcreek at this waterfall. 

It felt good to take my knee brace off back at the truck. The hike had taken over 5 hours to do the 9 miles.

Mar 11 Uwharrie River Float

This paddle is from Lassiter Mill to Low Water Bridge at Ophir. Will is scouting this float for an outing he is leading at the end of the month. We are looking for any hazards that might be along this section. Strainers from recent flooding are our main concern.

We start be offloading the kayaks and stashing them under the High Pine Church Road bridge on river left. As we make the drive to Low Water Bridge, a "High Water" signs greets us. Fortunately, the water level has receded to just below the bridge surface. While checking out the take out spot, we watch a couple fellows shove their loaded canoe off for a 2 night river trip. We both note that nothing is tied down in the canoe. 

As we peel off into the Uwharrie, we note the very quick current we are in. Will thinks it is 3-4 mph. That will make for a pleasant float. Recent flooding has swept the banks clean of everything. We see debris lodged in trees, well above us. Something there is a sizable log lodged 10 to 15 feet above.

After a quick stop at Burney Mill, we spot some Black Vultures taking turns eating something in the river. Although, we could smell it, we could not get a good look at what it was. The Vultures do not fly off, even as we paddle right up to them. 

Our next stop is a creek on river left. We paddle up for a short distance, beach the boats and hop out. This area also suffered from the recent flooding. The structure on stilts was turned over. Some of the roof was wedged in a tree at the mouth of the creek. 

Many tributaries are flowing nicely today. We paddle up another one - Big Creek. Again we beach the boats and explore a bit. This creek has suffered some damage from downed trees and lots of debris along the banks. This is a very pretty creek with a nice water color.

Big Creek

Shortly after we left Big Creek, a Bald Eagle flew up in a tree right in front of us. We watched it for a minute or two. It tolerated us being right below it.

Then it was a quick paddle to Low Water Bridge and an easy take out.

Mar 9 More Birkhead Sign Setting

Uwharrie Trailblazer "Trail Champion" Don Childrey gives us instructions on setting signs in the Birkhead Wilderness today. The UTB had the signs made by Andy Newcomb. Most have been set by master sign setter, Daniel Alexi and his scouts. The plan today is to enter the wilderness via the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission property on High Pine Church Road. We'll be installing 3 signs and carrying out the replaced ones.

We begin by walking about a mile on a very muddy, recently dozed access. Once in the wilderness, we followed an old road to the Camp 3 Trail. Here we split into 2 groups, just after I took a group photo.

One group hiked the Camp 3 Trail 1.1 miles to Camp 5 where their sign was to be placed. I walked with the group setting signs at the junction of Birkhead Mountain Trail and the old road we walked in on, and another at the junction of Birkhead Mountain and Robin Branch Trails. 

The signs were heavy and it appeared as if we were headed to a crucifixion. The first thing I noted when it was my turn to shoulder the load, Daniel has rounded the edges of the posts, making it a bit more comfortable that having sharp edges.  

Once we had set our signs, we regrouped with the others and headed back through Fern Valley visiting Bootleg Hollow along the way

We decided to leave the old sign with the new sign here. The old signs have character. I hope this one stands for a while.

The hole and the metal apparatus which looks like a crank used to haul buckets of dirt, or ore, from below, has been the subject of many stories and rural legends. I've heard it was leftover from the gold mining era. I've heard it is the Rush Mine. I'm sure there are other stories. Recently, Don met with Joey Moffitt, son of Uwharrie Trail founder, Joe Moffitt. Joey told Don he and a buddy fashioned the piece of metal and dug the hole. So, I will call it an "unnatural natural heritage spot". 

Thanks to all the Trailblazers who turned out to work today on the Walker Creek section of trail as well and the sign setters. 

Feb 25 White Oak Creek Bike Ride

Finally, the connection between American Tobacco Trail and White Oak Creek Greenway is complete. Just south of the White Oak Church parking area, you can ride onto the White Oak Creek Greenway to Bond Park. There you can connect to the Black Creek Greenway and ride all the way to Umstead State Park. 

 The new greenway here, eliminates a road ride which I had previously done to gain access to the trail from the ATT. It is stunning to see how much of this new greenway is boardwalk. One of the boardwalks took two and a half minutes to ride. You also have to pass under the 540 toll road. There is still a one mile road ride which requires crossing a busy street.

As I approach Bond Park, the greenway surface deteriorates. Tree roots make the ride bumpy and slow.

Once at Bond Park, I got on the Black Creek Greenway and headed off. After a couple miles, the greenway utilized a sidewalk for a ways and the map indicated there would be other such spots. At this point I turned around, not wishing to roll along a sidewalk. A bit of artwork appeared here (above).

I retraced my route back, noting the tremendous number of new homes in this area. There is a huge complex of new homes being built near the junction with the ATT. I expect this trail to get very crowded. I'm glad I got to bike it today since it will probably not be a suitable bike path in the future.