Quick trip to western North and South Carolina

[mtnbike28]

So I had a little time to kill, and was doing a montain bike race in western South Carolina, so I decided to spend a little extra time and explore the area.
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This is a solo trip and I still filled my truck. My first questions is, how do folks with several hobbies pack? I clearly had my mtn bike stuff, kayak, a small fishing set-up and camera gear. For cloths, I packed super light, the rest was for the above activities.

[mtnbike28]

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My first stop was Spartenburg, South Carolina and a pre-ride of Stump Jump race coarse. I love these trails, I might have over done the recon ride with 2.5 hours in the saddle, but the last 45 minutes were the best as I rode the coarse backwards to find a lost 9 year old who was supposed to be on a different course... There were some happy parents (they had already called 911)
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The race went great, I lead a lot of the race before fading to third.
After the race, I headed to Keowee-Toxaway State Natural Area near the Jocassee Gorges.

[mtnbike28]

I was the only one in the camp ground and at $10 a night, worth the stay for hot showers rather than free primitive camping in Jocassee Gorges. The set-up started with a hail storm. After dinner I wondered around the shores of Jocassee Lake looking for sunset pictures, but didn't have much luck.
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As part of this extended solo trip, I wanted to test some ideas for my planned west coast trip... one was the overland washing machine. The idea is bucket of water, dirty cloths and a little soap on the roof rack and drive, the bumps wash your cloths and that night all you have to do is rinse and dry. It works great, I washed the last two days of riding cloths (including the muddy race stuff) and when I got to camp, they were clean and the dirt had settled on the bottom of the bucket. The bucket even fits cleanly into the cockpit of the kayak.

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[mtnbike28]

Monday, I planned to kayak the coves around Lake Jocassee, but 40 mph wind gusts kept the kayak on the roof. So instead I drove the rarely open logging roads inside Jocassee Gorges. The roads are only open for a couple of weeks in the spring and fall. Another change for this trip was the drawers I posted earlier about used as food and cooking, this also worked great, once I set up the sleep platform, I never had to unmake the bed.

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The first goal of driving was Jumping Off Rock. This would be a major hike, but instead was a great drive and wonderful view. After that I started exploring each open road, one ended at a giant old boat ramp.... best I can guess, it must have been used by loggers to float logs out of the gorge or pull the logs out of what is now a lake. I was surprised to find a couple of ATVers, they were the first people I had seen all day!

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[mtnbike28]

A couple of stops during the day:
Longshoals Park, right off Hwy 11. This looks like a great swimming hole in the summer.
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Laurel Fork Falls. I saw the name on the map while driving and couldn't remember why I didn't have info on the falls, once I hiked the 1/2 mile or so in, I remembered, no access to the bottom of the falls, only this overlook, although I did walk across the top looking for another trail down.
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Virginia Hawkins Falls. This is a ~2.5 mile round trip hike, 1.2 downhill and 1.2 up. The sky clouded up and made for some pretty pictures.
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I am not the greatest landscape photographer, and these three picture show how much difference slight changes in position make. All three are of the Twin Falls. I almost skipped these falls because the DNR map showed a trail head with a fairly long hike, 5 miles or so round trip. But the ATVers said there was a shorter way in, I followed their directions which started with turn at the biker bar... I later found the directions they gave in the "Waterfalls of the South Carolina Upcountry" pamphlet.

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[mtnbike28]

As I said, I almost skipped this hike since it was getting close to dusk, but it was my favorite hike of the day.
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Tuesday I went riding in DuPont State Forest. This was a last minute add, I had planned to ride in Pisgah NF and Bent Creek trails, but at the last minute saw these trails. I really enjoyed myself here. A local warned me about this trail, the only way across is through the Little River. The advise is throw your shoes across and walk over the very slippery moss in your socks. I choose not to throw my shoes since I have learned, I can not replace my buckles... but man is it slick!

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The reason I choose these trails today was the Cedar Rock Trail (or slick rock of the east) The exposed granite is a lot of fun to ride!

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The airstrip trail starts across an old.... airstrip, it is cool to ride down hundreds of yards of mountain top before descending down the fast single track on this trail.

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The waterfall is Bridal Veil Falls, you may recognize it if you have seen "The Hunger Games" it was filmed here.

[mtnbike28]

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Wednesday was riding in Pisgah NF. I choose one the "classic loops" and headed up Clawhammer Road (closed, old logging road) and across Clawhammer Mountain and Black Mountain and down Black Mountain trail. I had forgotten I rode in the Wilson Creek area of Pisgah in the late 1990s and didn't care for the trails, in fact, as I recalled, I gave up, looked at the topo map and bush whacked my way down the mountain to a paved road. Turns out I still don't care to ride these trails.... this loop was recommended by the local bike shop and another group of riders. It is such a classic it is listed on the map I bought. The climb is a hour long up (which I enjoyed) but then you have to hike a bike to the summits of the two mountains, this overlook, between the summits was awesome and worth the trip, good thing since I am not going back.

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The loop's big moment is the descent, but it was so rough, large drops and eroded, I could only ride half it, and that was with a lot of braking! After the ride I took a nap and realized I was really sore, I knew I could not ride again, the wind was too much for kayaking and the waterfalls are shorter hikes, so I want to save them for family outings, so I showered and headed for home.

It was sad to come home, I never had a chance to wet a line and paddle, but my family was happy to get me home before I leave again this weekend for another race in South Carolina.

[Haggis]

Nice report Jay and those are some nice pics. Thanks for a preview of our upcoming week...your photos have us stoked.

[jim65wagon]

For someone who is "not the greatest landscape photographer" you've got some beautiful photographs there. Looks like you had a fine time!

[mtnbike28]

Thanks James! Mark, I have some reading material for you to borrow.... I know Michelle likes the waterfalls and I didn't scratch the surface. We can talk when you stop by!