Classic Southern Appalachians

A great waterfall known simply as "The Cascades". Despite the fact that the spot is often crowded during warmer months (when we were there), I like it. It's classic southern Appalachian territory with great cove hardwood forests, rushing streams, and familiar wildlife.

We'll go back.

Familiar territory for me.

The hemlock wooly adelgid has been active in this area for a long time, and so there are almost no living hemlocks remaining. That component of the lush forests is now gone. The remaining hemlocks are just huge, dead snags with a few living saplings scattered here and there throughout the forest.

The local streams are full of dead hemlocks.

A tiny flying insect of some type was busy down in this little blossom.

Butterflies were common on the trail.

Great stream to go with the classic Appalachian terrain.

Our reward for the short hike: One of Virginia's greatest waterfalls and also one of its finest swimming holes.

The author takes a self-portrait.

From above. A highly recommended hike.