Yeah I know, it’s not even Christmas yet. What am I supposed to do, wait until January 1st to start setting goals for next year? Negative.
So what’s on the agenda? And what do I know of these places?
1. Bonas Defeat Gorge
Bushwhacking a boulder choked canyon that lies adjacent to Panthertown Valley to the north. There is an automatic spillway that opens when water levels are high, and floods the gorge. High sketch factor. I heard there was some work being done in the area, so I don’t even know if it is accessible or not. No attempts in wet weather.
2. Waterfall exploration on Highway 11
If you driven towards Table Rock or Ceasar’s Head on Highway 11 in upstate SC, you’ve no doubt noticed Lower Wildcat Falls along the north side of the road. There are 2 sections of Wildcat further up. Close by are a couple sections of New Millenium Falls and Sweet Thing and Last Thing on Slickum Creek. These are not connected as far as I know, so there’ll be bushwhacking and route finding.
3. Art Loeb Trail
30 something miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway to Cold Mountain, cutting straight through Shining Rock. I’ve never backpacked for more than 1 night, and this will take some shuttling and definite planning.
4. Henson / Westface / Fantasy
Only 1 sure goal for the Linville Gorge, although I doubt that will be my only trip. I had this trip planned for the end of July 2012 buy it fell through. It will be route finding, scrambling down Henson Creek to the Linville River, up a gully to the top of Westface Rock, if there’s time search for the caves along Fantasy Creek and then backtrack up Fantasy along Futuristic Wall. Snakes likely.
5. Falls Creek Falls
East of Jones Gap in upstate SC, the pictures are impressive! An uphill slog to a complex falls.
Beyond those, I have some things in mind. I’d like to visit Daffodil Flats when it’s in bloom, do a traverse of Big Pisgah Mountain, explore below the cliffbase of Blackrock Mountain and general backpacking for a night or two in Panthertown Valley, go to The Stool at Table Rock, hike down to the Gorilla at the Narrows of the Green River Gorge, bushwhack to the base of Raven Cliff Falls, visit Jocasee Gorges, Congaree National Park, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
I’m opening this up for people who would like to join, so by all means, let me know if you’d like to go out adventuring in 2013.
So many things to do and places to explore. I love the Carolina’s. Hopefully I can check one or two of these off my list.
