1/08/06
New falls on Fowler Creek and Scotsman Creek

On page 487 I mention Morgans Shoals on Fowler Creek. Bernie Boyer visited that falls (with permission from the owner) and also ran into a guy who knew about another waterfall upstream. Bernie says it's about 40 feet high and in the geological mold of the Waterfall on Scotsman Creek, page 485. Unfortunately, like Morgans Shoals, the waterfall is on private property.

The person who told Bernie about the falls on Fowler Creek also said there was a falls on Scotsman Creek upstream from the McCall Road crossing. This might be the waterfall that a forest ranger told me about long ago, but I wasn't able to find from his directions. I'm sure Bernie will follow up and let us know what he discovers.

09/25/05
Cane Creek revisited

Bernie's at it again! He went back to Cane Creek and has provided us an update to the one posted on 09/20/05. Here it is:

“I went back to check out the lower end of Cane Creek (from the old trail to the Chattooga). While there, I did some bushwhacking to see how close I could get to the nice waterfall from the road. Well, I couldn't get close enough to see more than the very top. I did take several GPS readings and aggregately they point to the waterfall being just less than 2,760 feet in elevation. (Directly north of the first E in the word Creek on the Highlands Quad). So, there is still a chance of another 20-footer in there! I'll wait 'til winter so I can see some of the lay of the land better. With respect to the creek below the old trail crossing, there are more shoals, with the biggest being 15 feet or so.
That old trail that goes from FR 2050, crosses Cane Creek and heads downstream is actually a very good trail. It intersects the Chattooga River Trail where the trail crosses Cane Creek via an iron foot bridge. Use of the Forest Service road and this connector makes for EASY access to this part of the Chattooga.
All in all, Cane Creek is a very scenic creek with at least 10 shoals and one really nice waterfall.”

09/20/05
New falls on Cane Creek

Bernie is up to his usual adventures. He checked out a portion of Cane Creek, which parallels a short section of Whiteside Cove Road before turning and dropping down to the Chattooga River. Forest Road 2052 starts from Whiteside Cove Road and provides access to the creek. Check the Highlands topo map. Here's Bernie's account:

“I used FR 2050 to access Cane Creek but I haven't made it all the way to the Chattooga. Yet! After crossing Cane Creek at about 0.25 mile, the road makes a loop away from the creek. I went down over the bank where the road approaches the 2,800-foot contour. After a couple of shoals I came to a nice 20-22 footer, then another couple of shoals and a bigger drop. I scaled the northeast bank and when I got back in the creek I was too far downstream to see what the "big drop" looked like. I continued downstream to the old trail, which crosses the creek at about the 2,630-foot mark. I went back today and hiked upstream from that crossing. I ran into three shoals, the last of which is at the 2,680-foot contour. Since it started to rain and the third shoal was going to be tough to get around, I backtracked out of there. It could turn out that the "big drop" is made up of several "chutes and ladders" because I think the really nice waterfall is at the 2,720-foot level. I think I got a peek of the falls from the road but it would be a really tough climb down from there. No good way to do it without just getting in the creek and enjoying the whole 3/8-mile creek walk. Even that is not easy. Will check out the lower 0.25 mile of Cane Creek later.”

Thanks for sending this along, Bernie.

09/13/05
New waterfalls on Scotsman Creek

Rich is at it again. He and his friends checked out Glade Creek, which I mentioned on page 487, but they didn't find anything worth mentioning. They also checked out Scotsman Creek from its confluence with Chattooga River upstream to the Waterfall on Scotsman Creek (page 485). Bernie went with them on this trip. They found some nice cascades close to Chattooga River and a really nice falls not far downstream from the waterfall I discuss in the book. They hiked down the trail (#434) I mentioned on page 487 and followed Chattooga River downstream to Scotsman Creek. Rich says it's tough going, so if you attempt it, plan on wading and be careful.

08/11/05
Fowler Creek

Bernie Boyer checked out the waterfall I mentioned on Fowler Creek (page 487). He said there are two waterfalls near where the creek flows into Chattooga River. The first one is small cascading falls and farther upstream is a nice two-level waterfall. He says this is a terrible hike if you don’t wade the creek and river. I have not field checked this waterfall, but Bernie sent me a photo and it looks like a nice one.