A few years ago Carole and I happened upon what both of us consider the most beautiful and most peaceful National Forest campground we've ever used. It's called Hurricane Campground in the mountains of southwest Virginia. This was fitting, considering that southwest Virginia is also one of the most beautiful regions we've ever visited. I could go there to camp and hike every week for a year and still only scratch the surface of wonderful places that should be seen before one kicks the bucket.However, one of the points of the guidebooks and regional propaganda was a waterfall called Comer's Creek Falls. It was supposed to be one of the best waterfalls in an area packed cheek by jowl with waterfalls. Well, if so many had picked it out as a must-see location, then there was no way that I was going to be within striking distance and not make an effort to locate it.My guidebooks indicated that you could hike right out of the Hurricane Campground and climb up to the Comer's Creek Falls. It wasn't a long hike--round trip of about six miles or so as I recall--so I didn't even wear boots. I just put on a pair of good tennis shoes and headed out with my hiking staff, some water, and my camera. I hiked up the mountain and followed the directions and finally came upon what was described as this spectacular waterfall.Holy Humpin' Jove! It was a small cascade of maybe six or eight feet in height. On a tiny tributary to another stream. Well, since I'd hiked so far to see it, I decided to photograph the damned thing. It did have a certain charm to it, so it wasn't going to be a total waste of time. (No time spent in the southern Appalachian forests is ever wasted.)
Comer's Creek Falls. What a rook!
Yeah, I'm smilin'. But if I ever find the guy who wrote that guidebook I'm going to kick his ass.If you're ever in the area, there are quite literally DOZENS, if not hundreds, of waterfalls that are far more spectacular than Comer's Creek Falls. Go see one of those. I'm not saying it's an ugly place--it's not--but be careful how much of the hype you believe in those damned guidebooks.
Rowlands Creek Falls. Down a side trail not far from Hurricane Campground. A genuinely spectacular waterfall well worth the steep hike to see it.
More 2006
Indian Boundary Recreation Area in August, which I've already talked about.
This was our campsite at Indian Boundary. On this trip, we had our first damage to the Casita. A thunderstorm raged over us one evening. The water came down so suddenly and so furiously that it pooled by the gallons in the awning and bent the center awning rod and snapped a screw. I was able to jury-rig a quick fix, but had to order a new center rod for the awning.
As I've mentioned in the past, this is one of our very favorite campgrounds. Our next opportunity to hit the mountains was at Hurricane Campground in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in southwestern Virginia. Two streams run through the campground, so that no matter which side you choose for your tent or trailer, you're almost assured of being waterfront.
I hiked to see a notable waterfall while at Hurricane. The hike was pleasant, but hardly worth the effort. For the waterfall was barely six feet tall, and I discovered after arriving there, that the head of the falls was beside a parking lot with road access to the falls. What a rip!
They had some nerve calling this a "waterfall". A minor cascade (if that).
The old folks take it easy by the campfire.
The next day I walked up a nearby 4,000-foot peak. Nice, but I can't recall its name!
Later that same day I hiked down to Rowlands Creek Falls, which deserves much praise for being a great waterfall in a great, isolated location. But I hiked in very late and almost got caught in the dark. And I hate hiking in the dark, even if I do carry a headlamp with me everywhere I go hiking.
My occasional hiking pal Johnny Corn setting up a photo on a bridge in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Jack Thyen (in front) and Hank Pownell (behind Jack). Haven't seen Hank in a few years, but he and his wife own a historic house in Burlington, NC.
Jack standing before one of the big poplar trees on the Boogerman Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Me, at Rowland Creek Falls in Virginia. One of the nicest waterfalls I've hiked to when I was on my own.
Our old white Nissan Frontier and our Casita at Hurricane Campground in southwest Virginia. This is among the nicest campgrounds we've ever visited. I really want to go back there.
I think this is Rowland Creek Falls again, but I'm not positive.
I've been told this set of falls is called Baby Falls.
Quartz outcrop on Sam Knob here in North Carolina.
Sam Knob, one of the South's sixty or so peaks that exceed 6,000 feet in elevation.
Elk in Cataloochee in the Great Smokies.
In the Bald River Gorge Wilderness Area in Tennessee.
