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It is chilly start to a day that never warms up much. On the Greenbrier Rd in the Smokies, I find my parking spot right next to where Rhododendron Creek enters the Pigeon River. This is former Whaley land. The manway I intend to follow roughly follows the creek to Grapeyard Ridge Trail which continues to follow the creek for several miles. The manway starts out on level ground for about one tenth of of a mile, then crosses the creek. The crossing can be creative but was rather straight forward today.
Sarah Owenby grave off Injun Creek
Now the waterfall show begins. They are all rather small falls but they come right after one and another for an entertaining upward hike. I'd guess you pass 10 waterfalls but several are quite obscured by vegetation even in winter. The trail narrows and has several "too close to the edge" moments. This is the area in which I encountered 4 boar last month. None today.
Christmas decorations
Eventually I make it to the top and join the Grapeyard Ridge Trail. Just below this intersection are the ruins of a Messer homesite. The Grapeyard Ridge trail is like a highway compared the Rhododendron Creek manway. The trail crosses the creek several times. They are easy enough crossings with today's water flow but they can all be wet crossing very easily.
Not a chimney
The steam engine wreck
Dodgen-Rayfield cemetery
Oyster mushrooms
Snakeskin liverwort
First waterfall headed up Rhododendron Creek
More waterfalls
More Waterfalls
