Mar 29 Finally, Sheila Falls

 

It all started about a dozen years ago after attending a slide presentation prepared by former Hanging Rock superintendent Dave Cook. The title of the presentation was "Everything you have not seen at Hanging Rock". Dave, having lived in the middle of the park for many years, had a large playground to explore and over time, visited many places which get very little or no visitation. One of the slides was of a waterfall which was only a waterfall after wet weather. Not having a name, he named it Sheila Falls in honor of his wife. Several of my scrambling buddies used the slide show as a challenge, trying to find the various places. Of particular interest is this waterfall. Who doesn't love a waterfall. One that is often dry, needs to be found when it is active. Hiking with me today is Will. He has narrowed the search down to an area not far from the 1963 plane wreckage. First we had to get out there which consumes some time but takes us through one of the most scenic spots in the park, Hanging Rock Ridge. 

It's the first time I have had the opportunity to hike the new trail to Hanging Rock. The old way replaced an older way. Both those were quite rocky and utilized many stone staircases. The new trail is a much longer two track trail with gravel in spots. There are no steps at all. It is quite the trail and makes for a pleasant hike to the top. 

The new trail swings much further away from the Hanging Rock before curving back for the final walk out on the rock. We turn off before there and begin our offtrail trek along the top of Hanging Rock Ridge. The photo above and below are of both the southern and northern views along the ridge. 

It is in this area that we visited some of the unique spots, the keyhole, balanced rock, the vulture cave and anvil rock. 

Balanced Rock

This remote spot get some visitation. I normally pick up trash here. I was very pleased to see that the spray painted graffiti had been removed. How do you do that? I suspect Elephant Snot. Yes that is an actual product for removing spray paint. $100 a gallon on Amazon. 

There were several veins of quartz flowing through balanced rock. This was the largest.

Balanced rock provides a lot of shelter. So much, that this had become a rogue campsite complete with rock furniture. That was missing as well. I'm glad to see this place so cleaned up. 

The balcony of balanced rock.

From the rock, it used to be a scramble through briars and laurel to get to vulture cave but now there is a cleared manway. 

To get back up on the ridge, we look for anvil rock to guide us back. This is the end of the rock outcrop. Now it is downhill to the gap before the First Sister. We reach the gap and drop down further angling toward the plane wreckage. 

We may have looked at our navigation app while heading here but I think we both could have made by seat of pants method. There was a very faint trail here but not one you could rely on. In the 12 years I have been visiting here, it hasn't changed. There is a memorial marker now but it has gotten dirty. I tried cleaning it with a wet wipe but it needs soap, water and a plastic brush to do that job. 

The grand piano rock looms overhead. Since the plane that crashed out there was owned and operated by the Grand Piano Furniture Company, I think this a fitting name for this rock. It is about a quarter mile from the wreckage. It is part of a wall which Sheila Falls cascades over. The trip here is through a laurel thicket and slightly downhill but side sloping along a steep hillside making this pretty a  inaccessible place. 

The wall is about 100 yards long and covered in this thick luxurious rosette moss. The moss is very delicate and would not survive if this was in a more accessible place. 

Grand Piano Rock

We were thrilled to see this waterfall and remained here for a while to enjoy it. It's treacherous terrain and slick of course. Water was dripping over the entire ledge and there was even one spot where water appeared to be spouting out from a tiny hole. 

After a nice visit, we headed back in the direction of the visitor center where we had parked. This cube rock was just downhill from the waterfall. About this point, we needed to change our course to avoid going down much lower. 

Along the way, we passed several rock complexes including this one. I first visited this back Dec 2010. Then, there was a small rug laying under the large overhang. There were a few dried mushrooms next to it. 

Upon seeing the rock again, I was impressed by the size of the space under the overhang. I looked above to see if there had been smoke stains from campfires. Sure enough, someone, sometime had used a fire to stay warm. How long ago could that have been? I don't know.

The overhang

After a tiring trek through more laurel, we ended up on Indian Creek Trail right at Window Rock. Wow, what a hike.