Oconee State Park to Bad Creek Access
Day 1 - Saturday, November 1, 2014
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Start Location: Bad Creek Access (31.7 miles) 10:00 am
Mid Location: Lower Whitewater Falls (32.2 miles + 1 miles to falls) End Location: Burrell's Ford Campsite (15.9 miles). Parking Location: Bad Creek Access (31.7 miles); Upper Whitewater falls (29.4 miles); Sloan Bridge SC107 (23.9 miles); Burrell's Ford Access (16.8 miles); and Oconee State Park (0 miles). Views: Lower Whitewater Falls (32.2 miles) down 1 mile side trail; Upper Whitewater Falls (29.4 miles); Lake Jocassee View (26.9 miles); and King Creek Falls (16.3 miles) Water Sources: Literally everywhere. Campsites: Campsite (26.4 miles); Campsite 23.6 miles); and Burrell's Ford (15.8 miles). Siler Bald (114.4 miles)Foothills Trail Distance: 16.3 miles. Hiking Distance: 20.1 miles. |
This hike really begins while I am still at home trying to pack for this hike. This weekend was going a bitterly cold, especially Saturday night. A polar vortex of some sort was making its way down to Georgia/South Carolina, and I was going to be out on the coldest night. I was expecting lower temps in the low 20s, high teens Saturday night. Since I just started backpacking this summer, I had no winter gear. I needed a windbreaker jacket, but didn't want to spend real money. I went to Walmart and found this fairly light 11 oz $10 windbreaker jacket. Epic. Many hikers would spend hundreds to get a 5 oz outer shell. Thank god weight doesn't bother me. I also needed to find something to act as my base layer. I wasn't going to spend $40-$60 for a wool or silk base layer. That is just nuts. Then it hit me. My compression long sleeve gym shirt. Base layer check! I also had this polyester long sleeve shirt to act as my mid layer. Mid layer check!
I don't have hiking pants. I always hiked in gym shorts. They are comfortable, and I grew up in them. But, for this hike, there was no way I could hike in shorts. I go through my closet. Nothing. I had sweatpants, but I wanted something to cut the wind and could hold up at least a little to water. I then go my dresser, and I find a probably 10 year old Nike windbreaker pants. That will do. My winter hiking gear was complete, but what about camp? Damn! I to back to my dresser and I find the warmest sweatpants I have and brought another compression gym shirt. Camp clothes check. My hiking clothes, in a pitch, could be used in camp as well if I could keep them dry.
Clothes check. Pack check.
Earlier in the week I had set up a shuttle to meet me at Oconee State Park at 9:30 am and shuttle me to Bad Creek Access. Nancy was there waiting for me at 9:30 am. Perfect. I introduce myself and put my pack in the trunk. She drives me and two others to Bad Creek.
We get to Bad Creek around 10:10 am. I thank her and soon I am off on the trail. It is cold. I am happy I am wearing my base layer, regular hiking shirt, mid layer and outer shell.
In my last hike, I didn't do Lower Whitewater Falls so I had to go catch that amazing view. I take the .7 mile Bad Creek side trail to the Foothills Trail and when I get there I turn right toward Table Rock. After about a 1/2 a mile I reach the mile long spur trail to Lower Whitewater Falls overlook. I reach Lower Whitewater Falls around 10:50 am. I was making good time. I had done 2.2 miles in about 45 minutes. I needed to keep this pace throughout the day. Today was supposed to be a 20 mile day.
Lower Whitewater Falls is impressive. Even though you are far away from the waterfall, the amount of sound it produces is astounding. I take several pictures and spend 5 minutes just taking it in. After a cliff bar, I start making my way Bad Creek Access to start my hike to Oconee State Park. I make the 1.5 mile trip back just over 30 minutes. I am doing well. From here, I am 31.7 miles away from the beginning of the Foothills Trail, Oconee State Park.
I am 2.3 miles from the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi. The trail constantly ascends until Upper Whitewater falls. During this section of the trail, camping is prohibited given how close it is to water. This section of the trail would make an amazing campsite. A shame, although I understand the need. There is a small section of the trail that is pretty rugged and involved some scrambling, but it was a very short section From there you begin to a more steep climb to Upper Whitewater Falls. After approximately a 700 foot climb, I reach Upper Whitewater Falls (29.4 miles) around 12:20 pm after climbing several steps on a side trail. 2.4 miles of climbing in 1 hour. A good pace. I take several pictures of the waterfall from the observation tower. This place is very popular as there is a parking lot not far from the observation tower. After another clif bar and some water, I go back on the trail, but here, I made my first mistake. I thought the trail actually went up to the parking lot and then out into the woods. Nope. I took a needless .5 mile detour. The silver lining of this mistake is I got to go back down to the observation tower and see Upper Whitewater Falls one more time. I also got to see a nice view of Lake Jocassee in the distance. This was a damn good mistake.
I make my way back down to the Foothills Trail and turn right. It is about 12:50 pm, and I still needed to hike almost 12 miles. I had about 5 hours of day light left. I was going to have to keep up my pace to make it to camp with enough time to set up camp and eat before dark.
The trail continued to climb from the falls to a great view of Lake Jocassee (27 miles). It was 1:50 pm when I got there. I had done another 2.4 mile hour. I was setting a pretty good pace. This is the highest point of the Foothills trail for this section at approximately 3,200 feet. There is a large group hike there. They are with the trail conference. We talked for about 10 minutes before I continued my hike.
From here begins to descend approximately 500 feet over the next three miles. The trail then crosses Sloan Bridge, SC 107 (23.9 miles). It was 2:53 pm when I reached here. I had just done a 3 miles in about 50 minutes. I had lunch on the picnic tables on Sloan Bridge. I didn't feel like cooking so I ate two clif bars and drank a liter of water. Then I was off.
I reached Fish Hatchery Road (20.6 miles) in no time at all. I don't remember any elevation gain of loss in the section. I remember the trail being flat and very kind. I reached Fish Hatchery by 3:50 pm. I had about 5 miles left to hike and about 2 hours of daylight left. Easy. Leaving Fish Hatchery road, the trail largely descends about 1,000 feet until you reach Burrell's Ford Access and campsites. I was happy I was descending. It was starting to get bitterly cold as the sun began to set. What is the old adage? Gain three degrees every 1,000 feet of elevation loss. Well, I just made my night 3 degrees warmer. I reach Burrell's Ford around 5:30 pm. I had a solid hour of daylight left. I strongly considered going another 2.2 miles to the next campsite, but it was really getting cold. I didn't want to be messing around setting up in the dark and cold. That was far enough for 1 day. I had easily done my first 20 + mile backpacking hike. If I had started at 7 am, instead of 10 am, and finished at 6:30 pm, instead of 5:30 pm, I think I could have had close to a 30 mile day.
I get to Burrell's Ford campsite and it is pretty packed despite the cold. It is a popular camping spot for car campers, and that is precisely why I hate camping there. I actually wish the camp spot didn't exist. There is nothing worse than drunk, redneck car campers. Oh well. I find a free campsite, and I immediately put my pack down on the picnic table. I get my tent out, and I set it up. I had a huge problem finding a spot that would work. My tent stakes are flimsy and that gravel campsite just wasn't working. After 30 minutes of messing around, I am losing light, but I finally set up the tent.
I go back to my pack and look at my food bag. I am not even that hungry. I decide to forgo dinner like I did lunch. I ate a clif bar, drink 1/2 a liter of water and decide to get ready for bed. I set up camp and by 7:00 pm, I am in my sleeping bag. Of course, I didn't go to bed at that time. Drunk rednecks make a lot of nice. Luckily, it got bitterly cold and by 9-10 pm, they all passed out.
Another awesome aspect of winter camping was that I had no condensation on my tent. Well that is technically not true. I didn't have to wipe the condensation off my single walled tent all night as it was so cold it just froze. I had a damn good night of sleep. One of my best on the trial.
I don't have hiking pants. I always hiked in gym shorts. They are comfortable, and I grew up in them. But, for this hike, there was no way I could hike in shorts. I go through my closet. Nothing. I had sweatpants, but I wanted something to cut the wind and could hold up at least a little to water. I then go my dresser, and I find a probably 10 year old Nike windbreaker pants. That will do. My winter hiking gear was complete, but what about camp? Damn! I to back to my dresser and I find the warmest sweatpants I have and brought another compression gym shirt. Camp clothes check. My hiking clothes, in a pitch, could be used in camp as well if I could keep them dry.
Clothes check. Pack check.
Earlier in the week I had set up a shuttle to meet me at Oconee State Park at 9:30 am and shuttle me to Bad Creek Access. Nancy was there waiting for me at 9:30 am. Perfect. I introduce myself and put my pack in the trunk. She drives me and two others to Bad Creek.
We get to Bad Creek around 10:10 am. I thank her and soon I am off on the trail. It is cold. I am happy I am wearing my base layer, regular hiking shirt, mid layer and outer shell.
In my last hike, I didn't do Lower Whitewater Falls so I had to go catch that amazing view. I take the .7 mile Bad Creek side trail to the Foothills Trail and when I get there I turn right toward Table Rock. After about a 1/2 a mile I reach the mile long spur trail to Lower Whitewater Falls overlook. I reach Lower Whitewater Falls around 10:50 am. I was making good time. I had done 2.2 miles in about 45 minutes. I needed to keep this pace throughout the day. Today was supposed to be a 20 mile day.
Lower Whitewater Falls is impressive. Even though you are far away from the waterfall, the amount of sound it produces is astounding. I take several pictures and spend 5 minutes just taking it in. After a cliff bar, I start making my way Bad Creek Access to start my hike to Oconee State Park. I make the 1.5 mile trip back just over 30 minutes. I am doing well. From here, I am 31.7 miles away from the beginning of the Foothills Trail, Oconee State Park.
I am 2.3 miles from the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi. The trail constantly ascends until Upper Whitewater falls. During this section of the trail, camping is prohibited given how close it is to water. This section of the trail would make an amazing campsite. A shame, although I understand the need. There is a small section of the trail that is pretty rugged and involved some scrambling, but it was a very short section From there you begin to a more steep climb to Upper Whitewater Falls. After approximately a 700 foot climb, I reach Upper Whitewater Falls (29.4 miles) around 12:20 pm after climbing several steps on a side trail. 2.4 miles of climbing in 1 hour. A good pace. I take several pictures of the waterfall from the observation tower. This place is very popular as there is a parking lot not far from the observation tower. After another clif bar and some water, I go back on the trail, but here, I made my first mistake. I thought the trail actually went up to the parking lot and then out into the woods. Nope. I took a needless .5 mile detour. The silver lining of this mistake is I got to go back down to the observation tower and see Upper Whitewater Falls one more time. I also got to see a nice view of Lake Jocassee in the distance. This was a damn good mistake.
I make my way back down to the Foothills Trail and turn right. It is about 12:50 pm, and I still needed to hike almost 12 miles. I had about 5 hours of day light left. I was going to have to keep up my pace to make it to camp with enough time to set up camp and eat before dark.
The trail continued to climb from the falls to a great view of Lake Jocassee (27 miles). It was 1:50 pm when I got there. I had done another 2.4 mile hour. I was setting a pretty good pace. This is the highest point of the Foothills trail for this section at approximately 3,200 feet. There is a large group hike there. They are with the trail conference. We talked for about 10 minutes before I continued my hike.
From here begins to descend approximately 500 feet over the next three miles. The trail then crosses Sloan Bridge, SC 107 (23.9 miles). It was 2:53 pm when I reached here. I had just done a 3 miles in about 50 minutes. I had lunch on the picnic tables on Sloan Bridge. I didn't feel like cooking so I ate two clif bars and drank a liter of water. Then I was off.
I reached Fish Hatchery Road (20.6 miles) in no time at all. I don't remember any elevation gain of loss in the section. I remember the trail being flat and very kind. I reached Fish Hatchery by 3:50 pm. I had about 5 miles left to hike and about 2 hours of daylight left. Easy. Leaving Fish Hatchery road, the trail largely descends about 1,000 feet until you reach Burrell's Ford Access and campsites. I was happy I was descending. It was starting to get bitterly cold as the sun began to set. What is the old adage? Gain three degrees every 1,000 feet of elevation loss. Well, I just made my night 3 degrees warmer. I reach Burrell's Ford around 5:30 pm. I had a solid hour of daylight left. I strongly considered going another 2.2 miles to the next campsite, but it was really getting cold. I didn't want to be messing around setting up in the dark and cold. That was far enough for 1 day. I had easily done my first 20 + mile backpacking hike. If I had started at 7 am, instead of 10 am, and finished at 6:30 pm, instead of 5:30 pm, I think I could have had close to a 30 mile day.
I get to Burrell's Ford campsite and it is pretty packed despite the cold. It is a popular camping spot for car campers, and that is precisely why I hate camping there. I actually wish the camp spot didn't exist. There is nothing worse than drunk, redneck car campers. Oh well. I find a free campsite, and I immediately put my pack down on the picnic table. I get my tent out, and I set it up. I had a huge problem finding a spot that would work. My tent stakes are flimsy and that gravel campsite just wasn't working. After 30 minutes of messing around, I am losing light, but I finally set up the tent.
I go back to my pack and look at my food bag. I am not even that hungry. I decide to forgo dinner like I did lunch. I ate a clif bar, drink 1/2 a liter of water and decide to get ready for bed. I set up camp and by 7:00 pm, I am in my sleeping bag. Of course, I didn't go to bed at that time. Drunk rednecks make a lot of nice. Luckily, it got bitterly cold and by 9-10 pm, they all passed out.
Another awesome aspect of winter camping was that I had no condensation on my tent. Well that is technically not true. I didn't have to wipe the condensation off my single walled tent all night as it was so cold it just froze. I had a damn good night of sleep. One of my best on the trial.
Day 2 - Sunday, November 2, 2014
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Start Location: Burrell's Ford Campsite (15.9 miles). (16.8 miles).
End Location: Oconee State Park (0 miles). Parking Location: Burrell's Ford Access (16.8 miles); and Oconee State Park (0 miles). Views: Chattooga River (13.4 miles); Lick Log Falls (8.2 miles); Long Mountain Tower (2.0 miles); Hidden Falls (1.3 miles); and Tamassy Knob (0.5 miles). Water Sources: Literally everywhere. Campsites: Burrell's Ford (15.8 miles); several along the Chattooga River. Siler Bald (114.4 miles)Foothills Trail Distance: 16.8 miles. Hiking Distance: 18 miles. |
It got a little cold at night. I went to sleep last night in my camp shorts and a camp compression long sleeve shirt. I can't go to sleep unless it is cold so the cold didn't bother me. However, around 3 am, I legs felt a little cold so I put on my camp fleece sweatpants. Ah better. I had the best night sleep on the trail yet. However, I woke up several times between 6 am and 8:30 am with hip pain. I guess my ridgerest wasn't cutting it anymore.
It was so cold in the morning that I decided to sleep in as long as I could. I had a shorter day today and looking at the elevation profile, it was a much easier hike (if that was even possible). I have also done portion of this hike before so I was familiar with some of the trail.
Around 8:45 am, I get dressed and crawl out of my tent. It was cold, but it was slowly getting warmer. I made a good call to sleep in. I ate a small breakfast (oatmeal and clif bar). I drank about a liter of water and refilled my bladder. I broke camp around 9:45 am.
The trail leaving Burrell's Ford remains level for about three miles. There is a side trail to King Creek Falls at 16.3 miles. I highly recommend this waterfall. The trail then joins the Chattooga River (14.8 miles) for 6 miles. This section of the trail is absolutely stunning with several views of the Chattooga River. There are several great campsites in this section. There is a rock outcrop on the Chattooga River where you can get a great view down river.
The trail then leaves the Chattooga River and reaching Lick Log Falls (8.2 miles). There is a large campsite here. I meet Eric on the way here. He started a thru hike the day before from Oconee State Park. We took a long break here and caught up.
I wished him good luck and we both head our separate ways. I was about 8 miles from Oconee. Here the trail begins to climb about 500 over the next three miles. The trail crosses SC Hwy 107 twice and then begins a small final ascent until you reach Oconee State Park.
I really don't remember much about this second day, except that the Chattooga River is absolutely awesome. The Chattooga and King's Creek Falls are really the high point of this portion of the trail.
It was so cold in the morning that I decided to sleep in as long as I could. I had a shorter day today and looking at the elevation profile, it was a much easier hike (if that was even possible). I have also done portion of this hike before so I was familiar with some of the trail.
Around 8:45 am, I get dressed and crawl out of my tent. It was cold, but it was slowly getting warmer. I made a good call to sleep in. I ate a small breakfast (oatmeal and clif bar). I drank about a liter of water and refilled my bladder. I broke camp around 9:45 am.
The trail leaving Burrell's Ford remains level for about three miles. There is a side trail to King Creek Falls at 16.3 miles. I highly recommend this waterfall. The trail then joins the Chattooga River (14.8 miles) for 6 miles. This section of the trail is absolutely stunning with several views of the Chattooga River. There are several great campsites in this section. There is a rock outcrop on the Chattooga River where you can get a great view down river.
The trail then leaves the Chattooga River and reaching Lick Log Falls (8.2 miles). There is a large campsite here. I meet Eric on the way here. He started a thru hike the day before from Oconee State Park. We took a long break here and caught up.
I wished him good luck and we both head our separate ways. I was about 8 miles from Oconee. Here the trail begins to climb about 500 over the next three miles. The trail crosses SC Hwy 107 twice and then begins a small final ascent until you reach Oconee State Park.
I really don't remember much about this second day, except that the Chattooga River is absolutely awesome. The Chattooga and King's Creek Falls are really the high point of this portion of the trail.